Phuket Sports: Zack attack as clock is turned back

PHUKET: “It was when I got on the bike that the old racing instincts began to kick in and I got a little bit excited,” says Jürgen Zack, Thanyapura Senior Head Coach of Triathlon Academy and five times Roth winner.

At this year’s international triathlon highlight, Zack, Thanyapura’s Triathlon Academy Senior Head Coach and legend of the sport, notched up a second place finish in his age group.

Over 6,000 racers and 250,000 spectators turned out on a warm, sunny Sunday for the 2013 DATEV Challenge Roth in Germany.

Finishing with a time of 41 seconds, 18 minutes and nine hours, Zack finished 71st overall; Dirk Bockel of Luxembourg won the event with a time of 07:52:01, followed by James Cunnama of South Africa (8:04:13) and Timo Bracht (08:08:18) mens.

Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen was the top women finisher with a time of 8:40:35, followed by the Netherland’s Yvonne van Vlerken (08:46:22) and Germany’s Julia Gajer (08:51:04).

Zack’s sensational showing led a charge by Thanyapura triathletes, which resulted in a string of personal bests and podium places, including a Thai record for Jaray Jearanai, best-ever times for Arnd Hill, Michael Lindinger, Stefan Scherer, Johannes Rabl, Joey-Lynn Musselman and Kathrin Puff, who came third in her age group.

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