OCTOBER 21, 2018
THE ÖTILLÖ SWIMRUN WORLD SERIES FINALS CONCLUDED AT A FURIOUS PACE
This first-ever ÖTILLÖ Cannes ended the 2018 ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series season on a perfect note. Almost no wind, sun and warm temperatures along with very fast racing at the front made for a perfect setting.
The very tough competition in the Mens class with the current World Series leaders – Team Garmin – George Bjälkemo & Pontus Lindberg (SWE) pitted against the current World Champions Team ArkSwimrun – Fredrik Axegård & Alex Flores (SWE) and Team Envol – Nicolas Remires & Julien Pousson (FRA) – promised a brutal race and also delivered a brutal race. The magnificent backdrop of the city of Cannes and the Lerins islands became the arena of modern- day gladiators. Chasing and trying to break each other.
Team Garmin – George Bjälkemo & Pontus Lindberg (SWE) – The 2018 ÖTILLÖ World Seires Winners – managed to pull away in the end and to win the overall race in 04:36:59, 19 seconds ahead of Team Envol – Nicolas Remires & Julien Pousson (FRA)).
Team Garmin also claimed the title as winners of the 2018 ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series with a near perfect record of 5 wins this season.
In Mixed Team Aneheim Consulting – Henrik Wahlberg & Helena Sivertsson won the race in the impressive time of 04:53:43, 16 seconds ahead of Team Envol/ Vivobarefoot – Knut Baadshaug (NOR) & Diane Sadik (SUI). and in 4th place overall.
The first women’s team – Team Envol – Desiree Andersson & Fanny Danckwardt (SWE) completed yet another impressive race and concluded their season with the title as the 2018 ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series winners. They finished after 05:14:50, 10:55 minutes ahead of Team Envol _ Anna Hellström & Susie Moonan (SWE)
The race
“It has been a fantastic and a very hard day. We are very happy to be back on top after our hardest day of racing until date. All day has been at full tilt and a constant battle for the win.” said the very happy George Bjälkemo (SWE) after winning with Pontus Lindberg (SWE) Team Garmin.
This was the final stop of the 2018 ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series and the beautiful city of Cannes in the South of France set the stage for the finals of the World Series.
ÖTILLÖ prides itself in having unique races in unique places, Cannes really fits into this mold. It was the first time that ÖTILLÖ combines nature and an urban environment. The nature part of this course is magnificent with the start and beginning of the race being on and around both the Lerins Islands. With a long swim back to the mainland the racers then came back to an urban environment with the world famous Croisette, two big hills in the form of La Croix de Gardes and La Californie, the beautiful Suquet and the old town before finishing in the Square Verdun. The course was very much appreciated by the racers.
More than 500 racers from a total of 24 nations took part in this last ÖTILLÖ Swimrun weekend for 2018, the second qualifier for the 2019 ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship in the Swedish archipelago. Next stop is in Hvar and the beginning of the 2019 season on April 6/7.
Water temperatures have been just over 20 degress and close to 27 degrees in the air. A perfect end to the season.
Several teams had to struggle to make it in time for the two cut offs. Some had to abandon along the way. The top teams pushed each other hard, chasing each other in a tight group all the way to the finish line. The level of competition has really exploded!
At all ÖTILLÖ swimrun World Series events teams race in pairs. Using each other’s strengths will push boundaries. The team experience is incomparable and is part of why swimrun is growing so fast in popularity.
The day prior to the race two shorter, more accessible race were organised, the ÖTILLÖ Sprint and ÖTILLÖ Experience, offering the same flavours as the longer, more challenging race but in a smaller format.
Eight top teams at ÖTILLÖ Cannes qualify to the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship 2019, on 2 September 2019 in the Stockholm Archipelago; top 3 men, top 3 mixed, top 2 women.
Fast facts ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Cannes 2018
- Cannes, France
- Total race distance World Series: 36,8 km
- Trail running: 28,4 km
- Swimming: 8,4 km
- Swim sections: 9
- Longest swim: 2 100 m
- Longest run: 8 305 m
- Teams of two; for safety reasons and for the unique experience
Top 3 results ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Cannes, October 21st, 2018
Men
- George Bjälkemo & Pontus Lindberg (SWE) – Team Garmin
- Nicolas Remires (FRA) & Julien Pousson (FRA) Team Envol
- Fredrik Axegård & Alex Flores (SWE) Team ArkSwimrun
Mixed
- Helena Sivertsson & Henrik Wahlberg (SWE) – Team Aneheim Consulting
- Diane Sadik (SUI) & Knut Baadshaug (NOR) – Team Envol/ Vivobarefoot
- Anna Fält (SWE) & Nina Ellmark (GER)
Women
- Fanny Danckwardt & Desirée Andersson (SWE) – Team Envol
- Anna Hellström & Susie Moonan (SWE) – Team Envol
- Anneli Wall (SWE) & Jenny Ramstedt (SWE) Team Envol/ Head Swimming
About ÖTILLÖ and swimrun
Swimrun is one of the fastest growing endurance sports in the world where you alternate trail running and open-water swimming on a marked course. ÖTILLÖ is the leading brand and the origin of the sport.
The ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship (ÖTILLÖ meaning island to island in Swedish) is the original swimrun race, renowned as one of the toughest one-day races in the world.
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series 2018
ÖTILLÖ Cannes is part of the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series and a qualifier to the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship in the Swedish archipelago. Eight teams qualify from each World Series event.
Six qualifying races to ÖTILLÖ:
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Hvar, Croatia, 8 April -18
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Utö, Sweden, 20 May -18
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly, UK, 10 June -18
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin, Switzerland, 8 July -18
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun 1000 Lakes, Germany, 30 Sept -18 (qualifier to ÖTILLÖ 2019)
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Cannes; France – 21 October – 18, First edition!
At each World Series event a sprint and experince race is organised the previous day.
ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship
- 14th edition on 2 September 2019
- 75 km over and between 25 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago
- Renowned as one of the toughest one-day races in the world
Media contacts
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series
Hannes Hofer
+41 79 818 98 28
media.requests@otilloswimrun.com
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship
Josefine Ås
+33 6 79 04 23 46
pr@otilloswimrun.com
