Lauren Brandon Secures Victory During The Women’s Ironman VR2 Pro Challenge
Following last week’s historic launch of IRONMAN Virtual Racing Series, the second edition of the IRONMAN® VR™ Pro Challenge women’s race hit the virtual pavement with four professional women going head-to-head in a 5150® Olympic distance race simulation, with Lauren Brandon (USA) taking the
Following last week’s historic launch of IRONMAN Virtual Racing Series, the second edition of the IRONMAN® VR™ Pro Challenge women’s race hit the virtual pavement with four professional women going head-to-head in a 5150® Olympic distance race simulation, with Lauren Brandon (USA) taking the day’s victory.
Utilizing Official Virtual Cycling partner ROUVY’s augmented reality to race, the four professional women of Brandon, Rachel Olson (USA), Chelsea Sodaro (USA), and Michelle Vesterby (DEN) all conquered the 40km bike on IRONMAN 5150 Boulder’s virtual bike course. Brandon completed the 5150 race simulation in a time of 1:14:40 while Sodaro finished in second place with a time of 1:15:07. Vesterby (DEN) finished third with a time of 1:16:39 and Olsen (USA) rounded out the four, clocking a time of 1:21:52.
Professional women’s results:
| BIKE TIME | ||
| 1. Lauren Brandon | USA | 01:14:40 |
| 2. Chelsea Sodaro | USA | 01:15:07 |
| 3. Michelle Vesterby | DEN | 01:16:39 |
| 4. Rachel Olson | USA | 01:21:52 |
In total, over 22,000 other athletes from more than 130 nations and all 50 states set out to participate in the IRONMAN Virtual Racing Series event, which began Friday, April 10 at 6 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. ET). The race requires athletes to complete three segments, including a 3km Run, 40km Ride, then 10km Run by the race close on Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m. GMT (7:59 p.m. ET). Competitors can complete the segments in any order and are not required to do the segments consecutively. Athletes are able to compete anywhere, indoors or outdoors. Bringing the IRONMAN community together virtually, the IRONMAN® Virtual Club™ continues to grow and now has 50,000 members on the platform with thousands completing IRONMAN Virtual Club Challenges since its recent launch.
LOOKING FORWARD
On Sunday, the professional men take to the virtual IRONMAN 5150 Boulder bike course using ROUVY’s augmented reality beginning at 2:30 p.m. GMT (10:30 a.m. ET). Live coverage of this Sunday’s professional men’s race can be viewed exclusively through the IRONMAN Now Facebook Watch page. The professional field will feature, Sam Appleton (USA), who has garnered 15 IRONMAN 70.3 titles, most recently at IRONMAN 70.3® Waco and IRONMAN 70.3® Santa Rosa; Sam Long (USA), one of the youngest phenoms in the sport who posted 2019 IRONMAN wins at IRONMAN 70.3® Chattanooga and IRONMAN 70.3® Victoria; David McNamee (GBR), who placed back-to-back podium finishes at the IRONMAN World Championship in 2017 and 2018; and Tim O’Donnell (USA), one of the most successful IRONMAN athletes on the circuit, including nine IRONMAN 70.3 first place finishes and two full-distance IRONMAN wins as well as top five finishes at the IRONMAN World Championship. O’Donnell will get his chance to race after the “Trip Heard Around the World” during last week’s IM VR1. O’Donnell accidentally disconnected his wife and three-time IRONMAN World Champion, Mirinda Carfrae’s, smart trainer from the outlet and her from the race. Both
The live coverage, hosted by Michael Lovato and Dede Griesbauer, will include check-ins on the age-group IM VR2 race, and special guests including top pros Skyping in from around the globe.
