Lucy Buckingham took 2nd place at Challenge Barcelona after racing in front all day long. The BMC athlete completed the 1.5k swim, 60k bike and 15k run in a time of 2:52:38. Imogen Simmonds (SUI; 2:49:44) came home victorious with Caroline Pohle (GER; 2:53:09) snatching the final podium spot.
Coming off her victory in IM70.3 Knokke-Heist three weeks ago, Lucy Buckingham toed the line in Challenge Barcelona ambitiously. The race offered something special with the start and finish line separated by a 1.5k swim, 60k bike and 15k run.
The non-wetsuit swim in the Mediterranean Sea suited Lucy well. She exited the water in the lead, accompanied by Perez Sala. They opened up an advantage of 50 seconds starting the technical 5 loop bike course.
On the bike, Buckingham took the initiative to push the pace and control the race from the front. Halfway through the bike, she and Perez Sala were joined by Pohle as 4th place was trailing by 1’13 at that point in the race. Towards T2, Lucy kept riding attentively in front of the lead. She racked her bike in the lead, together with Pohle and Simmonds. Those podium spots would be decided on the closing 15k run. Buckingham took off and settled into 2nd place. Halfway through the run, she was 2 minutes down on leader Simmonds and had a 20 seconds advantage over Pohle. The BMC athlete kept her pace high to secure her 2nd place towards the finish line. Lucy crossed the line in a time of 2:52:38.
