Victory for Daniela Ryf in Texas

Daniela Ryf has won the North American Ironman Championships in Texas and secured her qualification for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii for the sixth time.

Ryf secured the early season win - completing 3.8km swimming, 180km cycling and 42.2km running - in 8:37:48. Leading the race out of the swim, Daniela finished the bike leg in second place. The Solothurn local overtook the leader, American Jocelyn McCauley, with just six kilometres left in the run, finally taking the win  1:53 minutes ahead of McCauley.

Daniela said: "I did not find my rhythm or felt my usual power for a long time in the race. But that's what is good about long distance races, you never give up because that feeling can always come back. So I pushed on and found some energy. It was a special win."

The next start is scheduled for June 2nd, with the 70.3 Ironman Switzerland in Rapperswil-Jona.