Vice European Champion

Wow- what a day! Ok- let’s start from the beginning.

Leaving Font Romeu was a batlle with all our belongings and Barrett plus bike in and around my car.

I was so happy once we arrived in Barcelona with the bike still on top- the curvy roads took a lot out of us- since we had to make up some time on the way to the airport.

The flight was good, but the travel took a long time, so we had a 12hr door2door trip until we got to our nice hotel in Prague- I guess after living in Font Romeu for a while, every other place is amazing, but honestly it was a good hotel! I was pretty dead from all the traveling, and enjoyed an easy pre race Friday, with still 3 training sessions, bike checks and all that stuff. I felt ok but not great.

It was unusual not to get up at 4 am to get ready, so I really enjoyed that part- the rest was mostly terrible. Never had such bad race organisation in years. `Is it really European Champs?` I kept asking myself.

Start! Through the dirty current of the river, Rasmus took it out hard, but we had some guys in our feet. It was a high pace, so it took some enegry to pass him- he did most of the work and I was impressed by his speed. I ran out first into T1 and on my bike. My new helmet I just got, looked good and felt fast. On the first few meters I dropped my bike bottle and got worried. Rightfully so, cause during the race the nutrition supply was between terrible and not exsisting. Big hands to the Crew: Coach Krüger, Regis, and the ladies who supplied us with food and drinks in a very professional and amazing manner throughout the whole day.

The 6 loops were not flat as expecte, but had a 4km smooth climb before each turn around- I didn’t know, so on the way down, I spinned 125 rpm and still lost ground. Rasmus was very strong and worked hard on the bike. The first 2-3 laps we were lonely in front, then a group of 4 came and joined us. JiJo (Jimmy from DEN) took a hard pull for 1-2 laps and gave us some good help, other just stayed back. On the 2nd to last loop, Rasmus accelerated on the hill and opened a gap, I was waiting for someone to do the work, but no one responded- YES! So it was on me to follow him, and so I adjusted the numbers on my SRM, and closed the gap, took the lead and pulled hard. I felt rasa did a bit more work and so I pulled most of the last loop till T2. Suddenly the dismount line was way ahead and I was not ready to jump of the race horse yet, I had to stop and get out of my shoes like Thomas Hellriegel (you know, the good old school style? Braking, clicking out of the pedals, swinging my leg to the other side, bending down to get out of my shoes and so on…)

Well, so Rasmus ran in first, followed by me and nobody else till 2 minutes later. No sexy long socks for me this time and so I was out of T2 in first.

The plan was to run out slow and hold the slow pace for some 10km- and I did. The pace felt good,heart rate was fine- but Turbo-Rasa was on fire and held 3:40 right away…. That sucked but I needed to try out this new strategy. In New Zealand I hit the wall hard and thanks to advice from my marathon buddy from Belgium, I needed to try it out at least one time. Feeling was still ok, but never felt great or really fresh throughout the entire race. After 10k, Cigana and Ziemtiev came up to me and ran with me for a bit, 2 minutes later Cigana opend with a surge and Victor followed. It was a bit too fast and so I decreased my pace again. Victor fell off the pace shortly and I began closing on him, once I got to him I had to hit him hard and run away. I was thinking, cool dude, he is a 2:40 marathonner, so i am doing ok. And also: ouch, back on a medal spot, no matter what I have to keep it!

I did the right thing and focused on Cigana, 150m ahead of me. The distance stayed the same for another 15km- fatigue started to blur my mind, but the crew did awesome to keep me focused and happy out there. 4k to go and 40 seconds back- me in 3rd place. Damn, no chance for 2nd I thought, but I kept increasing my cadence and remotivated myself every couple of seconds. 2km to go and I had 30 seconds to my buddy with the same sponsor. The last 1,5km was in a sadium and then into a horse track, I got a bit closer and played some mind games to make the finish line appear closer. So I started to reel him in, and with 200m to go he was right in front of me. I began to feel a bit dizzy and felt like a car with the brights on and the emergency lights blinking everywhere- anyways: I took the momentum of surprise and put in all I had left to pass him at about 150m before the line- no response from him- he was totally at the limit himself. So I got a small lead, enough to take the Luxembourg flag in my hand, and finished happy in second place.

Wow, I was pretty messed up, I sat down and started to shake….oh well. Rasmus was on a different level that day–but my job was done and we were very happy for each other and celebrated with our crew!

Prize giving ceremony took place at 20 minutes to midnight, in the dark, with the wrong anthym and no spectators. Ahhhh- and no organized transfer from 10km out of nowhere back to the hotel….Did I mention … I better stop, the list is very long…if anyone of you can find some photos or the race coverage, please let me know. Even on the ITU main page, there is nothing- so I am starting to question, why noone really wants to race ITI Long? Hmmm…(sorry,but it has to be said straight out!)

Now, I am enjoying my week off in Barcelona. First a spa day to get my legs back, then some sight seeing and quality time with my lady before we get back for the most exciting training block of the year: Hawaii preparation camp- 6 weeks- or: the camp of pain, or living like a monk….

Cheerz for cheching out L<. Nowo ahead and share your thoughts with some funny comments.

A proud silver medalist (LOL)!