Joe Gambles is the unofficial full-distance Ironman champion of Boulder. It just took a calendar year for the Australian triathlete to dominate for 140.
It just took a calendar year for the Australian triathlete to dominate for 140.6 miles on the course at Boulder Reservoir.
Gambles repeated as the Ironman 70.3 Boulder champion on Sunday, crossing the finish line with a winning time of three hours, 44 minutes and four seconds.
The Boulder-trained Gambles broke his own course record of 3:45:35, set in 2011.
“Joe is just phenomenal on this course,” said Jordan Jones of Golden, who finished second on Sunday with a time 3:47:41. “Every year he just blasts this course.”
Gambles was the ninth man out of the water after completing the 1.2-mile swim in 24:02. But the respected competitor, affectionately known as “Smokin Joe” for his lively pace on the bike and run, didn’t disappoint.
Gambles shredded the 56-mile bike Phinney-style, completing the leg in 2:00:21 to take a comfortable lead. He finished the 13.1-mile run in 1:17:33 to hold off Jordan’s late push.
“I haven’t been riding as well as I did last year and I wanted to see if I still had it, so I pushed it on the bike,” Gambles said. “I just wanted to pace myself on the run and hopefully not drop off too much.”
For more: Joe Gambles repeats as Boulder Ironman champ | Daily Camera
August 5, 2012 by By Ryan ThorburnDaily Camera
Regional News