The winners of the 22nd Powerman Zofingen are the same as two years ago: Andy Sutz from Schaffhausen and Erika Csomor from Hungary, who won for the seventh time. The couple ist therefore World Champion on the Duathlon Long Distance of the I.P.A (International Powerman Association). Great results for the local cracks: Jacqueline Uebelhart, born in Welschenrohr and living in Aarwangen becomes second, Lukas Baumann from Zofingen seventh. This years Powerman Zofingen was a great success in every point of view. In front of the eyes of councellor Ueli Maurer almost 1‘300 athletes started in the last two days, as many as last time in the year 2000 - Alessandro Casablanca/Raphael Galliker

The 22nd Powerman Duathlon World Championships Zofingen were a success on every behalf. Sunny weather, a lot of spectators and as many participators as Zofingen had in the year 2000 for the last time. This was possible despite the fact that the event of the International Powerman Association (I.P.A.) in Zofingen and the Short Distance World Championships of the ITU (International Triathlon Union) took place the same day. Joerie Vansteelant who last year has won the I.P.A-Word Championships Longdistance started this weekend in Edingburgh and not in Zofingen. The Belgian has set a new track record (6 hours 11 minutes and 35 seconds) and was 16 minutes ahead of the Swiss Andy Sutz. On the 4th of September 2011 will be the next showdown of this two cracks. Vansteelant has promissed to the organisators of the Powerman Zofingen to start the next five years at their race.

Sutz wins again

Exactly for this battle Andy Sutz is looking forward. The man from Schaffhausen has won in Zofingen for the second time. «This perspective is a big motivation for me.» Sutz did not speak of a easy victory. «The victory two years ago was wunderful because it was the first one. Today’s victory makes me happy, because I put myself under pressure willing to win.» Sutz didn’t start very fast. Like a rocket the French Thibaut Humbert began. After 17,5 kilometers on the last 30 running kilometers Sutz took over the lead and till the end he was 54 seconds aheas of Humbert. Third became the French Anthony Le Duey who already last year had the last position on the podium. Lukas Baumann was very very happy with his seventh place. «That’s world class and it is my best result ever so far.» Before this success the man from Zofingen had to suffer. On the second bike course going up to the Bodenberg I had problems with my leggs. «Take it easy» he told himself and that helped.

Csomors Ruhe

Overall winner became Andy Sutz who in the end was neun minute before Erika Csomor at the finishing line. Sutz started with a handicap of 53 minutes.The man from Schaffhausen could take back home besides his victory award of 9‘000 US-dollars an additional amount of 2‘000 US-dollars. The total amount who was payed in Zofingen is 50‘000 US-dollars. That she didn’t win the overall title did not much bother Erika Csomor who won in Zofingen for the seventh time in a row. «The last three victories where the best for me.» At the beginning it didn’t look like an other success for the Hungarian lady. Martina Krähenbühl from Münsingen/SUI was leading clearly.The winner of the Swiss Duathlon Cup races in Marbach and in Spiez fell down after five kilometers running and went on with a bleeding knee. More than 25 kilometers more to run ahead she then has given up the race at the Heitere. Erika Csomor: «I expected that she couldn’t go on racing with the same speed till the end.» The same thoughts had Jacqueline Uebelhart who made her own race, the race of her life. «12 minutes after Csomor becoming second is a great result, the best I’ve ever had so far in my career.» Third became Camilla Lindholm from Sweden. She lost 4 minutes compared to Uebelhart.

1300 participants

In the Powerman Magazine Martin Ryser (chief athletic marketing)  said: «For the two Powerman Zofingen days we’re expeciting more than 1200 participants from all over the world.» In deed there were 1‘293 participants in total: PowerKids 243, PowerYouth 12, Charity 210, Short 423 (138 relay competitors included) and Long Distance 405 (69 relay competitors included). Already last year there were more than  1‘000 athletes racing in Zofingen. Stefan Ruf: «I’m very very glad that we had so many participants. That is a big thanks for our hard work during the whole year and proves that we’re on the right way.»

CHARITY, a great success

The Powerman saturday had a successful opening with the two events PowerKids and Powerman CHARITY . Together with some Swiss prominence from policy, economy, entertainment and sports there were all in all 210 people taking part in the programme. «When I went to the starting line I saw the street full of bicycles and a lot of spectators. Then I felt real happiness», said Stefan Ruf, the president of the organising committee. Just the entry fees of all the participants brought much more than 10`000 Swiss Francs to the Childrens Fund  Sternschnuppe. This organisation tries to fullfill ill chlidern’s heartly wishes. The prominence just loved this CHARITY event. Oliver Bono for instance said:  «The large participation is just amazing. Most of the prominent people promissed to come back again next year. Curling beauty Carmen Schäfer wants to take along her whole team which is leaded by the skip Mirjam Ott. And Ranko Jakovljevic, the coach of the FC Aarau, wants to take part at the Powerman CHARITY on the 3rd of september 2011 with the complete challenge league team. «I hope we won’t have a championship game on that weekend.» 

Many «PowerBabys»

The children and young people were very active as well. In the categories PowerKids and PowerYouth went 250 participants at the starting line. 50 thereof were «PowerBabys» (1 until 6 years old), a category which was started for the first time. The eleven-year-old Dominik was excited after the PowerKids run: «The event was very nice and after all I was successful finishing second.» The seven-year-old Justine spend a lovely saturday together with her girlfriends and was still full of power after the race: «I could have even gone on Ich würde eine längere Strecke cooler finden.»

Text: Alessandro Casablanca/Raphael Galliker

22. Powerman Duathlon World Championships Zofingen 2010, Long Distance
men ( 10 k running, 150 k bike, 30 k running)

1. Andy Sutz (SUI) 6:19.03,0
2. Thibaut Humbert (FRA) 6:19.57,3
3. Anthony Le Duey (FRA) 6:27.56:2,6
4. Soren Bystrup (DEN) 6:32.20,0
5. Esben Kaczmarek (DEN) 6:39.24,1
6. Karl Prungraber (AUS) 6:41.31,7
7. Lukas Baumann (SUI) 6:45.33,9
8. Marc Widmer (SUI) 6:46.59,1
9. Sebastian Retzlaff (GER) 6:49.16,5
10. Kenneth Poulsen (DEN) 6:51.38,3

22. Powerman Duathlon World Championships Zofingen 2010, Long Distance
men ( 10 k running, 150 k bike, 30 k running)

1. Erika Csomor (HUN) 7:20.52,5
2. Jacqueline Uebelhart (SUI) 7:32.44,0
3. Camilla Lindholm (SWE) 7:37.08,0
4. Maja Jacober (SUI) 7:39.18,9
5. Victoria Beck (NZL) 7:47.58,8
6. Susanne Svendsen (DEN) 7:51.37,5
7. Bev Thomas (AUS) 8:00.00,9
8. Carolin Dür (AUT) 8:12.51,7
9. Angela Mueller (SUI) 8:19.31,9
10. Annamaria Halasz (HUN) 8:29.53,5

women ( 10 k running, 150 k bike, 30 k running)

1. Andy Sutz (SUI) 6:19.03,0
2. Thibaut Humbert (FRA) 6:19.57,3
3. Anthony Le Duey (FRA) 6:27.56:2,6
4. Soren Bystrup (DEN) 6:32.20,0
5. Esben Kaczmarek (DEN) 6:39.24,1
6. Karl Prungraber (AUS) 6:41.31,7
7. Lukas Baumann (SUI) 6:45.33,9
8. Marc Widmer (SUI) 6:46.59,1
9. Sebastian Retzlaff (GER) 6:49.16,5
10. Kenneth Poulsen (DEN) 6:51.38,3

For further questions please contact:
Alessandro Casablanca (chief media center Zofingen), Mobile: 079 378 10 41.
Raphael Galliker (chief media Powerman Zofingen), Mobile: 079 330 40 16.