{"id":24642,"date":"2023-08-05T22:34:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-05T20:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=146087"},"modified":"2023-08-06T15:41:17","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T13:41:17","slug":"extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold\/","title":{"rendered":"Extreme conditions at Norseman see Sebastian Kienle second to record-holder Jon Breivold"},"content":{"rendered":"

Harsh weather, competition from Ironman champ Sebastian Kienle and difficulties with his stomach made a third victory hard-fought. <\/p>

By Helen Webster\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 05 August 2023 at 20:34 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Nothing is ever straightforward in the mountains \u2013 and if competitors in the 20th anniversary Norseman race thought they were in for an easy ride, they quickly learned that wasn\u2019t to be the case.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to the extreme weather conditions, they couldn\u2019t make it to the top of Mount Gausta this year for the traditional mountain top \u2018black t-shirt\u2019 finish.<\/p>\n

Roars of thunder and lightning rumbling around the valley from early afternoon were Mother Nature\u2019s way of telling the participants who is in charge.<\/p>\n

\"Athletes<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Athletes jump from the ferry for the start of the 20th Zalaris Norseman race.<\/span><\/figcaption> Sylvain Cavatz \/ Zalaris Norseman<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The weather is always a talking point at Norseman<\/strong><\/a> and with an unsettled forecast, most competitors had one eye on the clouds as race morning dawned cool and breezy.<\/p>\n

For 2021 and 2022 champion and course record holder Jon Breivold, there was another threat on the horizon \u2013 Ironman athlete Sebastian Kienle<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

First out of the fjord<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kienle was first out of the water in the Hardanger fjord, but Jon Breivold overtook him on the bike after 120 km, where he stuck to his wheel and proved challenging for the course record holder to shake.<\/p>\n

Shake him he did though, taking a definitive lead by the end of the 180 km bike and leading the modified run course from beginning to end.<\/p>\n

\"Sebastian<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sebastian Kienle exits the water first at Norseman 2023<\/span><\/figcaption> Sylvain Cavatz \/ Zalaris Norseman<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

As the current Norseman and XTRI World Champion, Breivold felt the pressure leading up to the event.<\/p>\n

During the press conference before the race in Eidfjord, hosted by 220<\/em>\u2018s Editor Helen Webster, Kienle received a question about Jon\u2019s accomplishments and performances. His humorous response: \u201cJon who..?\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the race Kienle got his answer. \u201cNow, I hope the triathlon world remembers my name. It\u2019s Jon Breivold, not \u2018Jon Who\u2019\u201d the Norseman winner responded with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a good swim today, and I planned to catch up with Kienle before 40 km into the bike leg,\u201d he continued. \u201cI pushed hard on that first climb and gained quite some time on Kienle. When I overtook Kienle after 100 km on the bike, I was not keen to do all the work, and the pace slowed.<\/p>\n

Challenged on the course<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cOn the final climb towards Imingfjell, I decided to push hard, and in the final switchbacks, I managed to get a gap. The race unfolded perfectly after that, despite stomach issues on the run leg.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The bike course is famed for being beautiful but isolated at Norseman<\/span><\/figcaption> Sylvain Cavatz \/NXTRI<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cNorseman challenged me this year with Kienle on the start line, but I\u2019m still the King of Norseman and Zombie Hill,\u201d concluded Jon \u2018Who\u2019 Breivold. \u201cI\u2019m up for meeting anyone in this course.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his second place finish, Kienle said: \u201cToday was tough. Of course, it would have been cool to have another hour or two in the mountains, but for about 20 seconds, I was quite relieved to turn around, to be honest!\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a powerful bike today and am pleased with the performance and experience. This was my professional career\u2019s last long-distance race in Europe, and I\u2019m so happy that I chose to race Norseman. I\u2019ve been watching the videos from Norseman, and I understand why the race is on many triathletes\u2019 bucket lists.<\/p>\n

Feeling like a Zombie<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe battle with this unknown Norwegian guy Jon Breivold was fun and brutal,\u201d continued Kienle. \u201cHe did a powerful bike leg, and his running in Zombie Hill was impossible for me to follow today.<\/p>\n

Zombie Hill also proved its reputation, and I was a Zombie at some points \u2013 I was unsure how to move my feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m officially a Norseman ambassador after this experience in Norway. The people, the Norseman crew, my support team, Team BOB, and the other supportive athletes were amazing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was my first race with support, and it was great. In retrospect, I should have done races like Norseman earlier in my career, so my advice to up-and-coming pros is to try races like Norseman and experience something completely different in a very positive way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sebastian<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sebastian Kienle receives a hug from his two-year-old son after crossing the finish line<\/span><\/figcaption> Alexander Koerner \/ NXTRI<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Norwegian Allan Hovda was third in the men\u2019s race having previously completed Norseman 11 times and achieving nine black t-shirt mountain finishes as well as the overall win three times.<\/p>\n

After some health problems this year, he was overjoyed to finish on the podium, crossing the line with whoops of joy.<\/p>\n

Victory for GB\u2019s Flora Colledge<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the women\u2019s race, it was a close competition between several athletes. Still, after sitting a few spots back for the bike, British athlete Flora Colledge made a decisive move on the run and worked hard to overtake several competitors to take the lead by Zombie Hill.<\/p>\n

\"GB's<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
GB\u2019s Flora Colledge crosses the line to take the women\u2019s victory at Norseman 2023<\/span><\/figcaption> Paulina Monesterska-Tronina\/NXTRI<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Finally crossing the line in first place after previously placing second twice at Norseman \u2013 and competing five times \u2013 her delight was obvious to see as she raised her arms in victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt still hasn\u2019t sunk in yet,\u201d she said at the finish. \u201cEver since I first saw a photo of Norseman I remember saying \u2018That\u2019s the race I want to win!\u201d<\/p>\n

Her coach Arild Tveiten, head coach of the Norwegian Triathlon team and now training Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, was at the finish to congratulate her.<\/p>\n

Emilie Klev Bergheim from Norway was second in the women\u2019s race. She lost Flora while they climbed Zombie Hill but continued to finish strong. Another Norwegian, Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen became third. The three women battled each other during the whole day.<\/p>\n

Top 3 results<\/h3>\n

Men<\/h4>\n

1. Jon Brieivold, 9:09:57<\/p>\n

2. Sebastian Kienle, 9:34:16<\/p>\n

3. Allan Hovda, 9:39:27<\/p>\n

Women<\/h4>\n

1. Flora Colledg, 11:20:10<\/p>\n

2. Emilie Klev Bergheim, 11:31:44<\/p>\n

3. Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen, 11:36:43<\/p>\n

Official results will be published later on nxtri.com.<\/p>\n

Top image credit:<\/strong> Photo by Alexander Koerner\/NXTRI<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Harsh weather, competition from Ironman champ Sebastian Kienle and difficulties with his stomach made a third victory hard-fought. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":24643,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold.jpg",2433,1622,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/08\/extreme-conditions-at-norseman-see-sebastian-kienle-second-to-record-holder-jon-breivold-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Harsh weather, competition from Ironman champ Sebastian Kienle and difficulties with his stomach made a third victory hard-fought.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/24642"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}