With ITU including Cross Triathlon as one of their disciplines, the name Cross triathlon had been on every ones lips. Cross/ off-road triathlon is a triathlon discipline that is growing fast and it is exciting to be part of this movement.
What is great about Cross triathlon is that there is focus on making the race as spectator friendly as possible by introducing lap racing over a shorter distance, making it quicker and more exciting for the viewer and rider.
The past weekend history had been made by holding the first ever SA Cross Triathlon Champs at the Tierpoort Dam just outside Bloemfontein.
It was the first time a race was held at the Tierpoort Dam and the farmers really did their best to setup the venue and host a top class race. Pre-riding the bike course I was more than ecstatic to be on my SCOTT Scale 29er, the freshly cut, bumpy grass and flat terrain was 29er heaven and thanks to a superb mechanical support from HATFIELD CYCLES my Scott was ready to go only I had to do my job by riding as hard as I could.
Race day was bit of a challenge as the weather was not really playing along but in the spirit of off-road racing, the tougher the better! So when the clouds finally burst open after a lap or so on the bike, the temperature dropped to freezing and Bloem showed us how tough you have to be to survive a winter thereJ. To say the least I was frozen by the time I hit the run, but did not want to lose any time by putting on a jacket (not sure if it was a wise choice??) but never the less I ran as fast as my frozen legs and feet could take me.
The run was a double lap of 4km along the dam edge and my INOV-8 X-talon 190’s was again a perfect choice for the cross country, grass, muddy track, gave me traction and drained exceptionally well not weighing me down.
It was a bitter/sweet victory! (A “bitter koue” and sweet for qualifying for Cross Tri World Champs in May)!!
Thank you the support of family and friends.
And a GREAT thanx to INOV-8, Sailfish, 32Gi, Hatfield Cycles, Rudy Project and Compressport! Without you I cannot train optimally and perform at my best!!
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