Olivier Marceau takes the victory in the first TriStar111 Monaco 2010!

05 Rujan 2010

It was a fantastic and exciting race for all participants. The first TriStar111 in Monaco and the fourth in general attracted over 660 athletes and elated lots of spectators all around Monaco. Olivier Marceau (SUI) won the race with Mikel Elgezabal (ESP) on the 2nd place and Regis Maniora (LUX) on the 3rd. On the women’s side Christel Robin (FRA) crossed the finish line first. The best relay team was the Livestrong Team No. 2 with Gregory Mallet (SWIM), Geoffroy Lequatre (CYCLE) and Marcel Zamora (RUN).

1km of swimming, 100km of cycling and 10km of running are the unique TriStar distances, which are adding up to 111km! This was the total distance that had to be mastered at the TriStar111 Monaco. With a cycling course covering an altitude of about 700 meters and a 2 lap 10km run on the worldwide well known Formula 1 course. At 8.00 am today the sea was calm when over 660 athletes rushed into the waters of Larvotto beach. It was Olivier Marceau who came out of the water first, namely in 12:10 minutes – only four seconds ahead of Hervé Banti from Monaco. Behind him, Chris McCormack (AUS) and Romain Cadiere (FRA) were the first to follow him to the transition area. Christel Robin was the first of the female professionals to touch solid ground (14:41), leaving Sara Tavecchio (ITA) and Charlotte Loaring (CAN) behind her.
Right after the first competitors came out of the water, the Relay Teams got started. Gregory Mallet from the Livestrong Team No. 2 (12:13) was the first one in the transition area. Behind him Fred Sultana from the Livestrong team No. 3 came out of the water one minute and 30 seconds later. On the third place after the swim course: Paul Lanat (ACF Tri Team), one minute and 46 seconds down.

The bike course from the Larvotto area – right 2km through the Principality of Monaco in the direction of Roquebrune Cap-Martin, then to the hinterland, is a very demanding one. Climbs alternated with very technical downhills. Olivier Marceau was leading on the bike for the whole race and raised the gap to the next competitors on 2 minutes and 29 seconds. The second athlete in the Transition area 2 was Mikel Elgezabel. On 3rd place: Regis Maniora (LUX), 6:16 minutes down. On the women’s side Christel Robin made a souverain race. She enlarged her advantage up to unbelievable 17 minutes and 18 seconds. The leading Relay Team was again Livestrong Team No. 2 with Geoffroy Lequatre on the bike.

The Mirabeau curve, the Rascasse and the Tunnel Louis II are the key areas of the Formula 1 Grand Prix track in Monaco. On the 2 loops run the triathletes had the opportunity to experience how steep the climbs and the descents are on the track. Olivier Marceau kept his lead throughout the whole course and finished in an amazing race first (3:44:51). The chasers Mikel Elgezabal and Regis Maniora crossed the finish line 2 minutes and 47 seconds and 9 minutes and 5 seconds later.

On the women’s side Christel Robin crossed the finish line first in 4:07:40 leaving Coralie Lemaire (4:30:26) and Annika Seeg from Germany (4:40:02) behind her.

The best Relay Team was the Livestrong Team No. 2 (Gregory Mallet, Geoffroy Lequatre, Marcel Zamora) in 3:34:48, followed by Azur Perf Cycles Antipolis 1 (Raphael Smolin, Cedric Barret, Didier Roux) and the 4vita team (Marion Hillenbrand, Fred Philippe, Brice Gauffier).

But what about all the particpating celebrities?
Jenson Button for the Livestrong Team No. 2 (Button, Wurz, Rosberg) had a quite impressive Swim leg and came out of the water in 9th position (15:03). The Cycling course was, like created for Bruno Senna. He overtook Alexander Wurz after about 80 kilometres. Team Button/Wurz/Rosberg finished after a strong run of Nico Rosberg on the 18th position. Just one minute and eight seconds behind Lucas di Grassi (20. rank) crossed the finishline right under the terraces of the famous Café de Paris.

All the results and photos can be found at www.tristarlive.com