Sixth overall: Daniela Ryf wins triathlon in Alpe d'Huez

At the legendary Alpe d'Huez Triathlon only five men were faster than Daniela Ryf. The four-time Ironman World Champion left her female rivals behind with almost 30 minutes on the tough course with more than 3,000 meters of altitude difference.

Daniela Ryf competed for the first time at the TIME Triathlon Alpe d'Huez. Since this year the competition belongs to the European Triathlon League; in the third race of the series Ryf's team «Daniela Ryf Birds» was also present, whose coach she is.

The women started 15 minutes ahead of the men and Daniela Ryf was the first to climb out of the Lac du Verney. On the bike course it was first necessary to defeat two passes before the legendary ascent to the Alpe d'Huez, known from the Tour de France, followed: «With over 3000 meters of altitude difference it is an incredibly demanding and hard bike course, but definitely one of the most beautiful I have ever seen», says Daniela Ryf.

But then, according to Ryf, the hardest part followed: «Running 20km at this altitude and with this bike course behind was definitely very intense and hard». On the bike course she had a head to head with Roman Guillaume (FRA), the male leader, and was the first to start on the running course. In the meantime she was overtaken again by the overall winner from France, but she caught herself again and crossed the finish line first – with 15 minutes start advantage on the men she only lost a little more than 13 minutes. «Overall, it was a good performance, which also gives me confidence with regard to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice», Ryf says.