2026 Races

Events
956

Good luck mate.

Mwah, ha, ha, I’ve got Ventouxman L tomorrow morning, 0740 my time, 0640 for most of you.

2km swim, 100km-ish bike & 18km-ish run.

Screenshot_20260919-173228
Screenshot_20260919-173228829×1894 320 KB

The descent off Ventoux is neutralised this year, don’t think it was last year. With good weather that doesn’t bother me either way but I’ve done my share of cold, wet & windy mountain descents & it’s no fun on carbon rims.

Screenshot_20260919-173128
Screenshot_20260919-1731281080×554 81.5 KB

Conditions will be pretty parky first thing - the cold has been waking us most mornings - but revving up to the low 30’s as the day goes on, shall be deploying the bucket hat on the run. Importantly the wind we’ve had since arriving has died down today, hopefully it stays that way.

Anyway I’m forcing down my second rice salad of the day before doing a bit more faffing & getting an early kip before my 0530 alarm.

If things go well I’d like to finish in 6:30 +/- 15mins.

Number 47.

13 Likes
957

Good luck Doony :+1:t2:

1 Like
958

Have a good one.

1 Like
959

Best of luck @jeffb & @Doonhamer :tiger_face:

4 Likes
960

Rinse your mouth out, he just keeps showing me up.

More seriously, I forgot to wish @jeffb a good one. So have a good one.

1 Like
961

oops, forgot @jeffb , good luck :+1:t2:

1 Like
962

Good luck chaps!

2 Likes
963

Timing site is a bit confusing but looks like Doon did the swim in 36:xx

7 Likes
964

Farking wind :face_with_symbols_on_mouth: still, I’ve saved you all any post race trotter pics on Strava :joy:

Sort of enjoyable day at Barney tri this morning despite waking up at 5:30. It was dry but very windy and not particularly warm.

It was strange doing a pool swim, the shallow end was just over knee high and I touched the bottom a couple of times, would have been impossible to do tumble turns and I think they were banned. It felt scrappy but I got out in 7:25 which was acceptable given my lack of effort swimming. They were starting 4 people every 4 minutes which meant there was only 2 people in the lane at the same time by the time I was swimming.

The usual faff in T1 as I put socks, a jacket and gloves on :roll_eyes:

Took the Propel as usual as I didn’t fancy a couple of the descents in the crosswinds on the TT bike. A lot of the first 8K is downhill and pretty quick, ran out of gears a couple of times so just tried to get low. You then turn into what I knew was going to be a savage section, it’s mostly uphill for about 11K and it was right into the wind, it’s very exposed on this bit, on a 10K section I averaged 22KPH despite putting a lot of effort in and staying as low as I could.

Finally got to the turn and the next 7K is mostly fast and downhill, but was a bit twitchy with a strong crosswind.

Bike was 56 which wasn’t great but I reckon the jacket and gloves probably cost at least 2 minutes, maybe more. The lad that won outright was a good few minutes down on what I thought he’d do.

T2 was a lot quicker but I knew the run was mostly off road although I’ve never done it but knew it should be dry, I just went with the standard pegs. Felt like a struggle straight away, breathing was laboured and just couldn’t get the legs turning over. It was almost like an XC\trail run. Kept going though. Finished the run in 24:12, fairly slow on a course that would usually suit me but not a total disaster. Don’t think anyone broke 20 minutes, it also had 100M ascent.

Total time was 1:31:31, I’d half hoped I’d go sub 90 but not too disappointed with that, good practice for a race sim. There was only ~100 finishers from total beginners to KQ’s. I was 12th and could have been 9th with a better run or bike.

Good fun day other than the wind. One of my friends put in the fastest female run split and beat the majority of the men as well!

15 Likes
965

I love that Jeff does races pretty much every other weekend - helps balance out the lack of races that most of the rest of us do (or don’t do) any more.

11 Likes
966

I’m not anywhere near as prolific as @jeffb but I did Ventouxman this morning…& afternoon :joy:

I decided to cycle the 8km to the start in the pitch dark rather than go through the hassle of the drive, parking & schlepping my bike in & out of the car to transition. Well it certainly woke me up :syringe:

I had no idea what format the 2km swim would be. At first I followed the road book which said we would have 2.5 laps, then someone in transition said we would have an Aussie exit near the exit & then a fella at the start said there would be 2 Aussie exits near the start…which turned out to be the case.

I had an absolute meltdown within 200m, swam to the side across everyone before calming down & taking care of business. Water was great & including panic attack I got out in 36:22.

T1, 2:31.

I suppose this race is all about bike.

Don’t tell any refs you might know, but I’ve never seen drafting like it to the bottom of the hill…apart from perhaps Ad’H short.

When the hill starts things shatter.

With recent discussions about triathletes & power meters in mind I had decided to plump for 200W on the flats & 225W on the hills. There was nothing scientific about this, I just looked around at the other cyclists & thought yeah I’m suffering just a soupçon less than you.

Tapped it out to the top.

The descent to & through Malaucene - about 20km - was neutralised after some people were recklessly fully sending it last year.

This has definitely changed the complexion the race for better or worse.

You can saunter down, have a coffee, flan, massage & warm up at the bottom within the neutralised zone before clocking on & continuing.

But, you now have no idea who you are racing or where they are.

Anyway, the rest of the course was pretty good. There were some sandy lanes & hundreds of sleeping policemen but the whole route was well marshalled & there was a good gendarme presence.

4:24:23…I think 36mins was lopped off this through the neutralised section.

Flew through T2, hadn’t pissed myself on the bike because of the neutralised section so kept same socks on.

1:08

The run was fine, 3 figure of 8 loops of a 6km route.

I suffered a wee bit with hammy cramp but was a brave wee soldier & kept it to myself. Mainly because no-one else would understand me.

1:38:34

Reasonably good day in the end, 1st in AG & 74th of 450 entries.

Cycle home was an absolute trial though.

20 Likes
967

Fantastic efforts from both of you chaps, well done! :trophy: :clap:t2:

2 Likes
968

Paging @leahnp might be of interest, super sprint, sprint & Olympic, although the race track is a bit boring!

(I’m not just looking for races today :roll_eyes:)

image
image1248×1248 254 KB

1 Like
969

I did the English champs there a few years ago. Odd race as you around the track and then out on the open roads then back on the track. :man_shrugging:

970

I don’t think this is the same one, I know what you mean though. This looks like it is all based on the circuit.

971

Ah Triathlon, it’s a silly sport!

4 Likes
972

I’ve just entered the Olympic distance at Hever on the weekend.

No business entering another race but have been inspired to pin a number on again.

8 Likes