Photos: 2011 Alpe d’Huez Triathlon

The soggy conditions made a tough race even tougher. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

The long course race gets underway. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Daniel Hallsworth of Great Britian was the first person to complete the two-loop 2200m swim course. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Manuel Kung of Switzerland was the second person out of the water at the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon on Wednesday, July 27. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Amy Marsh from the United States was the second woman out of the water. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Marcus Ornellas from Brazil performs a running mount of his bike after the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon swim. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Competitors exit T1 ready to race a grueling 70 miles of extreme climbing and fast descents at the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Female pro Eimear Mullan from Great Britain leaves T1 to begin the grueling bike course at the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Steve Dean of New Zealand bikes through the French town of La Paute during the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Alessandro Sciarrone from Italy rockets through the small French town of Entraigues during the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

riathletes arrive at the French village of Entraigues. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

A triathlete fuels up while slowing down for a bend in the Col d'Ornon descent. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Dean Rosenlof from the United States rides through Huez during the bike leg. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Cyclists had to contend with slick roads, traffic and steep grades during much of the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Herb Cunitz from the United States starts the first of three run loops. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Jean-Francois Rissons from France finishes the run. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Yevgeniya Klimova from the Ukraine runs her final lap. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

All of the runners were soaked through from a day of nearly non-stop rain. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Christolph Herbst of Austria crosses the finish line. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Alastair Fadden from Great Britain holds up the Bedford Harriers Tri Club flag as he crosses the finish line. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Christina Jenkins from Great Britain finishes the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon in just over eight hours. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Graham Starmer of Great Britain on the second loop of the three loop run course. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Hans Juronimus during the run leg of the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Clouds and mist enveloped runners at various times during the soggy run. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Stephanie Prouvost of France wears the red and white bands signifying he is on the second loop of the run course. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Pascal Chabonnier of France poses for the camera during the run. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Helmets, bibs and other gear were checked on the way into bike check-in/T1, causing a bottleneck close to race start time at Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Athletes line up for the swim. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Nearly 1,200 triathletes jumped in the 15.6 degree Celcius water of Lac du Verney for the swim start of the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

The athletes were hit with a climb right out of T1. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Riders navigate the turns of the steep Col d'Ornon descent. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Catherine Johnson of England winds her way up Alpe d'Huez. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

The climbing never seems to end. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Samuel Blazquez Gomez from Spain rounds a corner in Entraigues, France, while a local family shouts, "Allez!" Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Permanent paint adorns the road up much of the Alpe d'Huez climb, including this stretch on the town of Huez, approximately bend six. Photo: Kim Rosenlof

Reinhold Schwalb of Germany begins the rainy ascent of legendary Alpe d'Huez with 19 of 21 "bends" to go during the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon. Photo: Kim Rosenlof