The world's fastest Ironman, Belgian Marino Vanhoenaker, produced a withering final 5km to take out the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand in Taupo today.
The race was postponed from yesterday and reduced to a 70.3 (half Ironman distance) because of the storm that hit the region.
Vanhoenaker came from behind with a 1hr:12min run to win in 4:22.46, less than a minute ahead of early run leader Tim Reed (Australia) and 10-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown who was only a further 30 seconds back.
American Meredith Kessler, the Ironman Canada winner, was a standout in the women's race. She was second out of the water and into a sizeable lead on the bike before clocking the fastest run split to win in 4:22.46.
She was nearly eight minutes clear of Australia's Kate Bevilaqua who just held off the flying Kiwi Joanna Lawn for second.
