The 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 season opener saw Daniel Bakkegard (DEN) and Daniela Ryf (SUI) claim top podium spots, winning the men’s and women’s races respectively. Bakkegard putting in a solid run coming from behind to finish in 03:33:02, while Ryf held off the defending champion, Imogen Simmonds, to finish in 03:56:54 to cap off a successful day of racing.

Top five professional men’s results:

 SWIM        BIKE          RUN            FINISH
1. Daniel Bakkegard            DNK    00:23:21    01:55:45    01:10:01      03:33:02
2. Filipe Azevedo                 POR    00:24:13    01:54:40    01:10:58      03:34:03
3. Rasmus Svenningsson   SWE    00:24:55    01:54:03    01:09:20      03:34:04
4. Andrea Salvisberg           SUI    00:23:21    01:55:38    01:11:06      03:34:05
5. Antony Costes                 FRA    00:24:12     01:54:37    01:11:51      03:34:36

Top five professional women’s results:

SWIM         BIKE          RUN            FINISH
1. Daniela Ryf                     SUI    00:26:39    02:08:36    01:16:50       03:56:54
2. Imogen Simmonds          SUI    00:26:31    02:08:54    01:22:10       04:02:02
3. Sara Svensk                   SWE    00:29:18    02:09:32    01:21:22       04:05:17
4. Elena Danilova               RUS    00:26:34     02:16:39    01:19:40       04:07:37
5. Cecilia Perez                  MEX    00:26:32     02:16:38    01:20:19       04:08:27

Alongside the professional field, close to 1400 age-group athletes raced under IRONMAN Safe Return to Racing protocols. Athletes took on a one-loop 1.9km swim course against the backdrop of the world-famous Burj Al Arab hotel. The one-loop 90 km bike course lead the athletes through the city before venturing out into the Araban Dunes. Lastly, they took on a one and a half-loop 21.1 km run course which started at Jumeirah Public Beach and lead athletes along the coastline.

More race week details are availble on the website, https://www.ironman.com/im703-dubai.