Blummenfelt Wins Ironman Frankfurt with New Course Record!

After spending much of the last two years focused on short-course competition and the 2024 Olympic Games, Blummenfelt proved that he’s still a force in Ironman racing with a brilliant win in Frankfurt. Just 13 days after racing the mixed relay triathlon at the Paris Olympics, where he also finished 12th in the men's individual triathlon, the 30-year-old Norwegian earned the win with a strong ride on his CADEX Tri bike followed by a scorching run to take the win.
 
“I must say I’m quite surprised,” Blummenfelt said after winning and setting a course record with a time of 7:27:21. “I came in with really not much preparation, a lack of riding the TT bike, and I had barely done any long runs.”
 
Having not raced a full Ironman distance since the World Championships in 2022, Blummenfelt said he came into this race—which is also the European Championships with an $87,500 prize purse and six qualification spots for Kona on the line—without many expectations. It was on the 180km bike leg that he realized he was feeling strong enough to contend.
 
“After 160k I was informed there were only two guys in front of me,” said Blummenfelt, who was riding with his CADEX Aero WheelSystem including an Aero Disc rear wheel and 4-Spoke front.  “At that point I started realizing if I’m feeling OK coming off the bike, I could actually run for the podium.”
 
Kristian Hogenhaug of Denmark led the bike leg, with Blummenfelt powering a three-man chase that went through the second transition about three minutes back. From there, the Norwegian poured it on, saying, “I was surprised with the run legs I had.”
 
Blummenfelt surged on the marathon leg, catching Hogenhaug about 10km into the four-lap race to move into first. Despite some stomach problems, he poured it on, continuing to extend his lead.
 
“When I started puking up on the third lap of the run with 15k to go, I knew it would be crucial to take in nutrition even though I had just lost everything,” Blummenfelt said. “But then when I managed to find a rhythm and realized I was running faster than second and third, I thought I could hold it together.”
 
Blummenfelt went on to win by nearly five minutes over second-place finisher Kieran Lindars of Great Britain. Italian Gregory Barnaby finished third, another half-minute back.