XIV Arbizu Duathlon- Euskadi Duathlon Circuit

Today, fellow Aussie James Attard and I raced the 14th Edition of the Arbizu Duathlon to conclude a very hard training week. The weather was very cold (10 C) and there was consistent rain throughout. Certainly, it was the most clothing I have ever worn in a race and my hands were still freezing on the bike.

The race was conducted over a 8k/32k/4k circuit. The run was flat around the town and bike was 2 laps of 16km- 6km @ 1-2%, then climbing 2k @ 6-8%, before riding back down to town. The first run was strong and James and I finished with a lead of about 40 seconds over the closest chaser. The Spaniard, San Martin joined us on the bike and we stayed away from the chase group.

I attacked on the second lap on the steep part of the climb and together with the San Martin, we got a gap on James which I thought would win the race (we Aussies have an agreement in our house here that we train together and race each other!!!). To his credit, James worked hard on the descent and bought it all back together for the start of the run. Transition again proved pivotal, as James opened up 4 seconds which I couldn’t pull back and he finished the Txapeladun (Champion in Basque) 10 seconds ahead. He is running strong off the bike but rather than being disappointed, it is great for him and good to have another Aussie ready to challenge the Euro’s at the big races coming up.

Another very hard 10 days of training ahead before the Bilbao Duathlon which has attracted a world class field and promises a difficult 10k climb on the bike. I am very confident in the direction my form is headed and exciting times ahead.

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The Basque Country Rules!

All is travelling beautifully here in the Basque Country. The weather is a little hit/miss at times but that would have to be the only complaint.

There are so many things to love about the place:
*Duathlons every weekend from late Feb to mid May all with decent Prize Money and tough/Fair courses
*Heaps of beautiful cycling terrain and a good 10k river running loop
*Heaps or pro and ex pro cyclists and triathletes to train with
*$2.40 AUD per coffee, which is a significant saving when you polish off 4 a day!
*Pintxo Tortillas- local bar snacks dirt cheap and heaps of energy
*Great Family atmosphere and heaps of playgrounds for the kids- Sebby is starting to learn Spanish!
*Athletes, especially cyclists, are well respected on the roads and around town. Here- cycling, duathlon, triathlon is a job like any other working class profession
*Cesar Ramos and the people of Gernika- Our host and evryone here are great folk

We have a local race tomorrow in Navarra that is in it's 13th edition and a tough climbing circuit on the bike. This week has been very hard training 100k+ running and 350k on the bike. The next two weeks will be very hard and then start to lighten up for European Championships. I am trying to get the weight down 1.5kg for the race so I can be running optimally.

Regards
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Duathlon of Gernika

This past weekend was the Duathlon of Gernika. The field was very strong this year but at the last minute the withdrawal of World Triathlon Champion, Gomez Noya left the race wide open.
This event is without a doubt the most professionally organised duathlon I have done. The organisation is incredible and the media, community and athlete support is second to none. A full 45 minute TV highlights package is produced and the local newspaper does a special edition completely devoted to the race after each event. The crowd is massive on race day and the use of a percussion band on the run makes the energy electric on the run leg.

James Attard, fellow Aussie and I decided to wear "platform" bike shoes which mean you can ride in your running shoes. It is an effective startegy if the race stays together in one pack as it enables a 6-8 sec saving in transition which in a 2.5k run is impossible to close. Ultimately, the bike was decisive as a break of 3 went away from the main group of 13 riders and then the group further fragmented when there was some very attacking climbing late in the 27k bike.

Off the bike in 8th place with the top 6 20seconds plus up the road I felt very strong on the run but oly managed to pass Spanish Triathlon Champion, Manuel Tova and move into 7th. The running legs are coming good but unfortunately today's tactics did not pay off as would have hoped.

The race website http://www.duatlongernika.com/ will have results, photos etc shortly. The "Australian Team Video" is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ub86U03z4 and the official Race Video is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzebJQMaeAI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etriatlonchannel%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

The next two races are in the Basque region and the second, Duathlon of Bilbao has a world class field and a very hard bike section with a 10k climb at up to 12%. Thereafter we will head west for the Zofingen Intervall Duathlon and European Duathlon Championships in Hungary.

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Duathlon Gernika Press Conference- Link

http://www.busturialdekohitza.info/albisteak/8242/392_atletak_parte_hartuko_dute_aurtengo_sprint_duatloian.htm

International Duathlon of Casablanca

The 2nd International Duathlon of Casablanca is now on the racing calendar for June 7th. After recieving an invitation to the event from Jamal and his team at Triathlon Morocco it is the perfect opportunity to combine a love of travel with a great race. Jamal has invited many top duathletes to the race and it will be a good chance to explore the food and scenery of North Africa.

Regards
Radar

PS I made the race flyer as well!

French GP #1 Jard Sur Mer

Greetings all

Well the first French race went reasonably well. The team of Mulhouse was admirable led by Mr Untouchable Sergio Silva who is just a class of his own on the run at the moment. Unfortunately, Joerie Vansteelant got a puncture but the team got through in second and we get another shot next week at Chateauroux tro get on even terms with Marville. The team has a race video here
http://mulhouse-triathlon.onlinetri.com/

In the race I made a silly error on the bike/run transition by not placing my bike helmet in the box and had a Yellow Card "stop/go penalty on the second run lap" as a result which proves costly in this sort of racing with 25 guys within a minute of each other. I finished 12th after being in a battle from 4-6th places prior to my penalty. The body is feeling good and I am looking forward to the racing ahead- most importantly the European Championships in 6 weeks.

We have settled in beautiful Basque Country and the training is sensational. We have an awesome apartment, heaps of great food, space for Sebby to play and there are no excuses once we settle into the pro life.

Running Regards
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Back in France

I think in Zen terms I have become the aeroplane...it is now the difficult transformation from aeroplane to athletic machine in 4 days!

After racing in Thailand it was quickly back to Australia to wrap some business and then onwards to Europe 24 hours later. Fortunately, little Sebastian was as close to perfect as a 16 month old boy can be and the flight wasn't as bad as we expected. We are in Paris for three days before heading west for our first race of the year at Jard sur Mer on the Bay of Biscay.

It is very exciting to be part of the Mulhouse team for this event and it is going to be a very big challenge to try and help the team become French Champions.

If the French were American they would call the "French Grand Prix" the "World Championships of Duathlon"....the top 3 teams are likely to be Marville, Mulhouse and Les Sables d'Lonne who between them have most of the World's Best. It is going to be great racing again in the home of Duathlon!

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