Kristian Blummenfelt overpowers Pieter Heemeryck to secure his first PTO win at Asian Open in Singapore

Updated 20/08/2023 at 16:13 GMT

It was a wonderful day for Kristian Blummenfelt, who claimed his first PTO Tour win in an intriguing Asian Open in Singapore. This was the third race in the series after the PTO European Open and PTO US Open, and this event lived up to expectations on a topsy-turvy day in the South East Asian country. The overall podium was completed by Pieter Heemeryck and Jason West.

Blummenfelt overpowers Heemeryck to secure first PTO win

Kristian Blummenfelt secured his first PTO Tour win after storming to victory at the PTO Asian Open in Singapore.

The Norwegian ended the season in style ahead of Belgian Pieter Heemeryck and the resurgent American Jason West, who finished second and third respectively.

Blummenfelt came out on top after a gruelling race over 100km, that included a 2km swim, 80km bike ride and 18km run.

Asian Open

Blummenfelt overpowers Heemeryck to secure first PTO win

00:03:08

20/08/2023 at 16:26

After two pulsating contests at the PTO European Open and PTO US Open, the race in Singapore did not disappoint.

The victory was all the more remarkable for Blummenfelt after only arriving in the country on Saturday, following an Olympic test event in Paris a day earlier.

His crowning glory came on the run after overtaking Heemeryck, while West ended the race in scintillating fashion to snatch third.

It all began in the water, with Australians taking all three of the top spots, as Aaron Royle finished ahead of compatriots Sam Appleton and Josh Amberger.

Overall winner Blummenfelt was 15 seconds further adrift of the leader and began some way off the pace, as Royle took the lead with one third of the race completed.

It was on the bike where Heemeryck brought himself into contention, with the USA's Sam Long and Germany’s Mika Noodt 1m51s and 2m45s further back respectively.

This biggest portion of the race made for some intriguing viewing, with little time separating the leading pack of five athletes on lap two of eight on the bike.

Noodt led the way ahead of Heemeryck, Blummenfelt, Royle and Ben Kanute, but it was the Belgian Heemeryck that showed impressive resolve to eventually power his way into top spot.

He had a lead over 1m30s over Blummenfelt and 1m37s over Noodt as the race entered its penultimate lap, while there was disappointment for British athlete Tom Bishop. He registered a DNF due to a mechanical fault.

Heemeryck further established his dominance as the race entered its final lap, as he further increased his advantage over Blummenfelt and Noodt to 2m18s and 2m22s respectively, in what would be the final top three on the bike.

However, then came Blummenfelt's time to shine. He showed his class to erode Heemeryck's lead and eventually overtook the Belgian in a superb individual display in the final 18km run.

The distance began to take its toll as the Norwegian overtook Heemeryck as the run passed 10km, and he managed to increased his lead over the Belgian.

He would win the overall race by 1m59s ahead of Heemeryck, while West was 3m15s further back in third.

- -

Stream the PTO Tour live on Eurosport and discovery+

Asian Open