BMW brand ambassador Alessandro Zanardi successfully passes his first endurance test of the year, the IRONMAN 70.3 Italy in Pescara.

Pescara. BMW brand ambassador Alessandro Zanardi has
successfully passed his first endurance test of the year. This
Sunday, the Italian competed in the IRONMAN 70.3 Italy in Pescara
(ITA). He completed the total distance of 113 kilometres in a time
of 4 hours, 26 minutes and 58 seconds. In the overall
classification, he claimed 26th place. Nearly 1.100
athletes took part in this triathlon at the Italian Adriatic coast.

For Zanardi, the highly competitive event marked a good
opportunity to gain more triathlon experience while preparing for
the World Championship in Hawaii (USA) in October.

 

The swimming portion of 1.9 kilometres was held in open water. It was
followed by a 90 kilometres bike section through the foothills of the
Abruzzo Mountains that Zanardi tackled with his handcycle. The
competition was completed by a running section on a 21.1 kilometre
course along the beach promenade and through downtown Pescara. For
this part of the triathlon, Zanardi used his Olympic wheelchair.

 

“The atmosphere was just fantastic at Pescara. There are not only a
lot of athletes taking part, but also many spectators. And it was
great as everybody showed their support for me,” Zanardi said. “The
race itself was very good, although the swimming portion was hard. The
sea was rough and they changed the course, but it was still very
difficult, especially for me. In the big waves it is really hard for
me to swim with no legs. I drank a lot of sea water. But nevertheless,
I think regarding the performance I swam really well.”

 

“In the cycling portion I was really powerful, and this confirms that
the training I did so far this year pays off and that I am a better
athlete than I was in the past in this type of competition,” Zanardi
continued. “After that, I jumped into my Olympic wheelchair and I know
that I also have a big improvement in that area, but the time I did in
Pescara did not show that. A big portion running section was held in a
park and the roads were very narrow and twisty, which made it
difficult to race there with an Olympic wheelchair. But overall I am
pleased and encouraged with my performance. I think that I still have
a lot to do, but I know that everything goes into the right direction.
Now let’s wait and see what I will be able to do in Klagenfurt.”

 

In only two weeks’ time, Zanardi will tackle his next triathlon, the
Austria-Kärnten event in Klagenfurt on 2nd July. This
competition will be held over the same distance as the Hawaii
triathlon on 14th October: 3.8 kilometres of swimming, 180
kilometres of cycling and 42.2 kilometres of running.