Tim Berkel and Rebekah Keat win Challenge Copenhagen

Australia scored a one two in the womens race with Rebekah Keat comprehensively beating a strong field in Copenhagen, which included her friend and compatriot Belinda Granger who came in second. In the men’s race another Aussie favourite, Tim Berkel,  took out the men’s race ahead of New Zealands Keegan Williams by more than five minutes.

Adam Molnar from Hungary established a solid lead in the swim exiting the water ahead of Denmark’s Jensen and Borch, and three and a half minutes ahead of a big pack that included Australia’s Berkel, Holborow, Reed, Granger and McDonald. However by the end of the bike leg Berkel had hit the front, finishing the bike at 5.19.38, nearly 3 minutes up on Denmark’s Nielsen with kiwi Williams down by 5 minutes in 5th place. Berkel then ran a 2:46:54 marathon to hold off Williams and put time into all his other challengers, finishing in 8:07:39.

In the women’s race Keat and Granger exitited the water nearly a minute down on America’s Hillary Biscay who swam 49.33. However Keat was dominate on the bike and a the end of the 180k leg had established a 16 minute lead over her nearest challenger, fellow Australian Belinda Granger. Keat cycled   4:48:28.

Keat was then able to futher extend her lead on the run to nearly 21 minutes finishing in 8:54:36, a time only bettered by the first 11 of the elite men. You can read the full race report by Tim Reed.