Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team’s Kristin Möller put in a commanding display to snatch the Ironman Wales title this weekend, making it her second consecutive Great Britain win after smashing the Ironman UK female course record in Bolton last month.

The newest recruit to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed high-performance outfit certainly earned her stripes in the stunning Welsh countryside, finishing in a cumulative time of 10:01:19 ahead of second placed Anja Ippach (10:15:58) of Germany and third place Stefanie Adam (10:40:58) of Belgium.

“It was definitely one of the toughest races I have ever done. The bike and run courses were so hilly and there were no flat areas to relax and recharge your energy. Also, the swim leg was changed due to the high winds, so having to start a race in choppy seas, really takes it out of you and means you have to pace yourself. I think I did that well,” said Möller.

Faced with rolling waves in what is arguably her weakest discipline, the 28-year-old from Fürth dug deep to put in a lung-bursting swim display to keep in touch with the leading pack. A strong start on the subsequent bike leg helped Möller, who over the course of the next eight hours gently chipped away at Ippach’s lead to overtake on the final marathon run.

Having already qualified for Ironman’s 2011 World Championship in Kona Hawaii this October, the sport’s pinnacle competition, the Wales win means Möller’s points haul will be added to her 2012 season tally – giving the young German star a major advantage next year.

It is the fourth major Ironman win for Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team this season after the UK’s Rachel Joyce also clinched her way to a maiden victory in Lanzarote with a compelling wire-to-wire victory, and team captain, Faris Al-Sultan, took honours at Frankfurter Sparkasse European Ironman Championship in Germany.

Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team, created by ADTA to further the emirate’s performance athletics’ credentials globally, will compete in more than 30 top international events this season, including the Ironman and 70.3 series, and the World Championships.

For more information on the team and Abu Dhabi as a training destination, visit http://www.abudhabitriathlonteam.com/

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