Trevor Wurtele and Uli Bromme both come-from-behind to capture inaugural Ironman titles at Subaru Ironman Canada

Trevor Wurtele (CAN) and Uli Bromme (USA) both came-from-behind to capture their first-ever IRONMAN titles in the postcard beautiful setting of Subaru IRONMAN Canada. Wurtele a British Columbia native won in front of his home crowd with a finish time of 8:39:33 while Bromme earned her first win with a time of 9:28:13.

In the men’s race Bryan Rhodes (AUS) was the first out of Alta Lake with Dominik Berger (AUT), Andy Russell (CAN) and Jonathan Caron (CAN) following the Kiwi into transition. A pair of race favorites, Wurtele and Matt Russell (USA) were looking at 5:42 and almost ten minutes, respectfully, to make up early into the race.

Out on the bike, Rhodes rode hard but paid for it dearly as he later cracked from the effort, but not before he won the Timex Bike Course prime. Meanwhile, Dominick Berger (AUT) was the recipient of Rhodes misfortune during the opening half of the ride and laid claim to the lead while Andy Russell worked his way into third.   Lieto and Paul Amey (GBR) were just under five minutes biking in fourth and fifth, with Wurtele and Matt Russell fading back to over seven minutes out of the lead.

Over the final 50 miles, Matt Russell found his legs and hastily made his way towards the front of the race as did Wurtele and Lieto. Coming into T2, Lieto, Matt Russell and Wurtele dismounted their bikes together and headed out on the run to settle the battle.

It was apparent from the beginning of the run that the race would come down to either Matt Russell or Wurtele, as Lieto fell off the pace. The lead pair ran together for five miles when Wurtele methodically inched away from the 2012 Subaru IRONMAN Canada champion. By seven miles, the elastic had snapped as Wurtele had stretched his lead to almost a minute. He continued to extend his lead until he reached the finish line to capture the 2013 Subaru IRONMAN Canada in Whistler with a 5:42 winning margin over Matt Russell. Amey had an amazing race, considering he raced last weekend at Subaru IRONMAN North American Championship Mount-Tremblant.

In the women’s race, Christina Jackson (USA), Christine Anderson (USA) and Keiko Tanaka (JPN) exited the swim and headed to their bike within six seconds of each other. Race favorites Uli Bromme (USA) and Lisa Ribes (USA) dug themselves an early hole as both were sitting almost eight minutes back of the leading trio of women.

Early on the bike, Anderson and Tanaka exchanged leads as Bromme was storming towards the front of the race. Bromme powered her way to the lead before the first half of the bike was completed and managed to carry a seven minute advantage over Anderson and Fletcher at the conclusion of the 112 mile ride.

Out on the run, Bromme dominated the field as she powered her way over the gorgeous two-loop run course. Bromme was never pressured over the 26 miles as she ran her way to win the Subaru IRONMAN Canada title with a time of 9:28:13. Ribes ran her way into second and recorded a 09:38:34 finish time, while Gillian Moody (USA) finished on the podium with a 9:49:09 clocking.