IRONMAN AUSTRALIA DELIVERS BREAKTHROUGH WINS FOR BELL AND HOSCHKE

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May 5, 2013

Luke Bell and Rebecca Hoschke have turned adversity to victory to claim breakthrough wins in IRONMAN Australia, Port Macquarie today.

Injury forced both to pull out during the bike leg of the URBAN Hotel Group IRONMAN Asia Pacific Championship Melbourne last month. Rather than waste all that training both decided to front up in Port Macquarie today.

It proved a fortuitous decision as they both went on to record their maiden Ironman victories.

For Bell the win means he can finally add the tag of Ironman champion to an already impressive list of credentials.

The top spot on the podium was the only thing missing from the trophy cabinet that contains 19 IRONMAN 70.3 wins and four Ironman runner-up finishes.

“It’s been a little over 10 years so it’s nice to be able to tick it off for sure but it makes it more special that it’s here at Ironman Australia,” Bell said.

“This is where it all started, so it’s only fitting that I achieved it here. I do a lot of races around the world but it’s always nicer to win one at home, your family friends, all the other Aussies here, it’s a different feeling having the Aussie support out there that’s for sure,” Bell said.

Bell dominated his competition leading out of the water and racing solo to the finish line in a time of 8:30:22. American Patrick Evoe was second in 8:42:57 with Australian Luke Whitmore rounding out the podium in 9:03:28.

It was a fitting victory for Bell who wore the favourite tag from the moment he entered. He built a five minute lead in the water and by the end of the bike leg he had extended that to 11min 30sec buffer over Evoe.

The American battled hard during the run but could not eat into Bell's lead eventually finishing 12min 30sec behind the Victorian. Whitmore finished in third 33min 06sec behind Bell.

"I guess you could say the monkey is off the back. I can go to press conferences now and instead of being asked when I'm going to win one of these things, they can call me an Ironman champion," Bell said.

"Hats off to Luke today, he raced wire to wire and I'm really happy for him winning his first in his home country," Evoe said.

There was some synergy to Bell's win today, as a 24-year-old he announced himself as an athlete of the future when he recorded a sixth place finish in his first ever Ironman race at the 2002 IRONMAN Australia.

The following year he finished third at Ironman Australia and fifth in Hawaii, and in 2005 he finished second at Ironman Australia.

Now the tag of Ironman's ‘nearly man’ is a thing of the past, Bell has his first title, and it couldn't have come at a better time or place.

“It’s a long solo day out there and you know you’re playing mental games with yourself all day and trying not to think about the big picture and get ahead of yourself.  It’s more about ticking off the little goals, little sections throughout the race and making sure that you’re in control and when you feel good go with it and that’s the way I tried to race today,” said Bell.

For Hoschke the win came after a stellar 2012 saw her finish third at IRONMAN Western Australia.

In the women's event 40-44 category age grouper Leanne Southwell lead the pro women out of the water, and held onto the race lead until she was caught by race favourite Nicole Ward, fellow Aussie's Rebecca Hoschke and Ange Castle.

By the end of the bike leg Hoschke, and Castle had separated themselves from the rest of the field. Hoschke held onto a two minute lead for first half of the run.

Castle, competing in her first Ironman as a professional, battled hard all day but just couldn't reduce the gap to Hoschke's to make the more experienced athlete panic.

Ward rounded out the podium in third place.

"Two days ago I woke up sick and didn't think I could race today, but I'm so glad I did the locals and the support from the crowd is amazing,"

"I loved every minute of the bike today, I felt strong, and I loved that course,” said Hoschke.

A full set of results – Click here

Photo Credits: Emily Dimozantos