More than 800 professional and amateur athletes swam, cycled and ran in the second Dubai International Triathlon, won by Dubai resident Olivier Godart.

The Luxembourg native crossed the finish line first to complete the half iron distance in a time of 4:08:39.

Godart was followed by Till Schramm, who made his move into second place during the final half-marathon run and kept his pace to cross at 4:15:49.

Bahrain-based pro Eric Watson originally took an impressive lead coming out of the water with a strong swimming effort, but was caught by the ensuing pack during the cycling portion. He finished in third with a time of 4:20:47.

Living up to its name, this edition of the Dubai International Triathlon had competitors arrive to the UAE from all over the world, including Germany, Singapore, Uganda and Australia.

In addition to the range of individual competitors, more than 100 teams also take part in the event, which featured a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run around Dubai International Endurance City.

As well as the course, athletes had to overcome the less-than-ideal weather conditions which upped the challenge.

“This year’s race featured an exciting new venue, a challenging bike course and a split transition,” said Paul Venn, director of Race ME, organisers of the event.

“The windy weather made the race particularly difficult with choppy water during the swim and a punishing head wind for most of the ride. All athletes were pushed to their physical and mental limits.”

The Dubai International Triathlon was endorsed by the Dubai Sports Council and the race course was designed to ensure the athletes’ safety with road closures, backed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police.

Venn added: “The event grows in stature each year and could not happen without the government support. The Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Police and the RTA continue to deliver world class events further cementing Dubai’s position as an international sporting centre.”