The Tri Bar is open for business… First up: ITU World Champs!
ITU Triathlon Championships 2009 – Gold Coast, Australia
For those of you that made it to the Gold Coast you will know that it turned out to be a great week for everyone, except those who unfortunately had to be scrapped off the hot Queensland tarmac, but more on that in my later posts…
Being at the Worlds gave me a chance to hook up with my old training buddies at DAT Racing (www.danatkinstraining.com.au) and it was great to see this club going from strength to strength, especially as Dan now appears to be able to concentrate on the sharp end of the business whilst the likes of Craig provide the much needed support in the ‘organisation’ department!
Thanks to Craig also for getting that tent on the finishing chute too – a great place to watch the action (and thanks for the much needed refreshments!). It was good to catch up with everyone, meet the new faces and thanks for making me feel so welcome.
September 24, 2009 at 4:18 am
As a whole thought the weekend as great as a specticle , dissapointing aspects:
1. The Aussie dinner, an absolute disaster, crap food.
2. The course, terrible for riding – the packs made it a bun fight and terribly dangerous for the non skilled rider
3. The fact they put on a people’s race took away from the fact hundreds of us spent thousands travelling to races, seeing worlds competitiors finish when the peoples race was on took away from their representation.
Any comments????
September 24, 2009 at 4:48 am
Dan Atkins raises some interesting points, to which I reply:
1. If you mean the Aussie BBQ that all the teams attended then I agree that a cheap burger some soggy pies and something resembling a sausage roll didn’t do anything for the image of good Aussie tucker! And, not what the majority of athletes tend to want to eat.
If you mean a separate dinner arranged for the Aussie Team, then I wasn’t there so can’t comment.
2. The bike course was good in the sense that it was quick. However, I think it was dangerous in some areas due to being narrow in places and I don’t think the drafting was well marshalled. Some of us did the bike leg unaided, but others clearly benefitted from a tight bunch humming along at 45km/h. I am going to write a separate post on this issue…
3. I know that the separate categories that make up the whole event are basically what pays for it (would the elite races alone draw the crowds, warrant the big event and create sufficient revenue) but I agree that some distinction needs to be made as there is between the Age Group and Elite Categories.
Nice one Dan – thanks for the comments.
Anyone else!?
September 25, 2009 at 2:56 am
1. The Aussie BBQ was a national embrassament and overpriced at $40/head. Good to see the vegetarians were well catered to with shredded lettuce and onion!!! Terrible.
2. Personally, I had a great UNAIDED bike. However – not good when your motoring along and see half you competitors on a big pack headed in the opposite direction. Those who were first out the water got swallowed up by a pack and those who came out later had no chance. Good to see 2 official bikes side by side havin a chat! What the??? Officials should have taken a photo of the packs and added 2 mins penalty to their times.
3. Agree with Dan completely – peoples race – another place, another time – like Luke Harrop in March!
4. Who is responosble for the course maps and where on the run map did it show the additional loop past the finish line to transition at about 5km mark? Surely an accurate map is mandatory at World Champs level.
Jumping off the soapbox, I had a great time and learnt a few things – like pack a lunchbox for official functions, and plan to draft your arse off in a world champs – or be happy to finish midfield.
Cheers
October 3, 2009 at 9:50 am
Since when has triathlon ever been fair? All you shootin matches have to deal the hand you dealt……move on…….athough good point on the food. If the tribar is a POM he should be banned from the site.