Els Visser embarked on a rigorous racing schedule over three weeks, initially doubting its feasibility but ultimately triumphing. Her recent victories included a sensational third place at the PTO T100 in Singapore and a win at Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu, culminating in another triumph at Challenge Taiwan. This final victory marked the apex of her career as a professional athlete amidst a field of over eight thousand participants.
In Challenge Taiwan, Visser emerged from the swim with a slight deficit, trailing behind Switzerland’s Alanis Siffert by 3:15 minutes. However, her determination became evident as she swiftly bridged the gap during the bike leg. Within twenty kilometers, Visser surged ahead, turning her initial deficit into a lead of over one minute. She remained focused and relentless, distancing herself from her competitors.
Throughout the bike leg, Visser maintained her dominance, steadily extending her lead. By the halfway point, she had amassed a nearly insurmountable advantage, arriving at T2 with a lead of over four minutes ahead of her closest rival, Lucas Lottie, with Siffert trailing by seven minutes in third place.
During the run, Visser’s task was to preserve her lead, a challenge she met with composure and resolve. Despite a late surge from Siffert in the closing kilometers, Visser’s victory remained secure. She crossed the finish line in 4:08:39, clinching the win convincingly, with Siffert securing second place in 4:14:20 and Lottie taking third in 4:18:48.
In the men’s race, Jack Moody emerged victorious with a time of 3:49:16, followed by Filipe Azevedo in second place with 3:50:10, and Joel Wooldridge securing third place in 3:57:52.
