08 / 20 / 2011

XTERRA European Championships - XTERRA Germany in Zittau
Missed the podium - 4^th place

A week after XTERRA Czech, XTERRA Germany, which was also the European Championship and German Championship were on schedule. The competition was in Zittau (in the border triangle Germany - Poland - Czech Republic) at the Olbersdorfer great recreation area (a former coal mining place).

More than 300 triathletes from all around the world (Europe, USA, Australia) were at the start line in the main competition. The 1.5k swim was in a cool and clear pond and was a non-wetsuit swim. The 37k mountain bike course was very fast and quite challenging, the running distance of 9k was comparatively short. Heavy rains the day before made it a super muddy surface. On race day weather was beautiful and sunny with nice summer temperatures. Many spectators made a great atmosphere.

When I was biking on the slippery slopes I did extremely well and got to the transition area without any crashing. I was able to pass a lot of athletes, but in the end it was only enough for 4^th place in the U23 category. Still, it was one of my strongest XTERRA race with a high end field of the best off-road triathletes in the world.

The victory in the men's elite category went to Olivier Marceau from France, runner up was the winner of XTERRA Czech Ronny Dietz (GER) and Zadak Karel 3rd (CZE).
In the women's race, XTERRA Czech Republic winner Marion Lorblanchet (FRA) won again, who seems currently unbeatable.

My next events:
9/03/2011  Extreme Duathlon Leithaman / Austria
9/10/2011  XTERRA Switzerland
9/18/2011  Wachau Half Marathon / Austria

08 / 13 / 2011

XTERRA Czech - Spindleruv Mlyn - Czech Republic

Technical defect (cracked chain) prevented a good result

Spindleruv Mlyn is a very big ski resort in the Czech Republic, where World Cup races are held. Spindleruv Mlyn is located near the boarders to Poland and Germany in the Czech "Giant Mountains".

XTERRA Czech in 2011 was hardly different from 2010. It rained again cats and dogs.
Because of my good performance in 2010, I went well prepared and optimistic into that competition.

Although the XTERRA Czech is part of the XTERRA European Tour, strong athletes from overseas were at the start line.

Because of the extreme cold of the lake the swim course was shortened to 1k, for that the run was a bit longer than 10k and extremely challenging.

After about 1.5k on the bike, it happened: chain broke down.
A Czech biker had a bike multi-tool with him, which he lent to me - but no spare parts. The fixing of the chain took at least 20 minutes - actually the race was over for me. Since the bike worked again, I decided to finish the race and passed a number of mountain bikers and runners in the end.

The victory in the men's race went to Ronny Dietz (GER), 2^nd Seth Wealing (USA), 3^rd Jan Kubicek (CZE).
The women's race took Marion Lorblanchet (FRA) in front of Helena Erbenova (CZE) and Renata Bucher (SUI).

Already on Saturday, 08/20, is XTERRA Germany in Zittau (which was canceled last year due to extreme floods) on my agenda. I hope my mountain bike lasts ...

My next events:
8/20/2011  XTERRA Germany
9/03/2011  Extreme Duathlon Leithaman / Austria
9/10/2011  XTERRA Switzerland
9/18/2011  Wachau Half Marathon / Austria

07 / 23 / 2011

Triathlon - Olympic Distance - Neuberg - Muerzzuschlag - Austria

2^nd Class U23

Two triathlons (Trumersee - ½ Ironman and Neuberg - Olympic distance) within six days really drains you. However the triathlon of my club Fun Sports Tri Team in Neuberg, was a must.

The 1.5k swim (two laps) was in the Urani pond and recreation center. 40k on the bike was up the canyon to Frein / Muerz - turn around and back to the recreation center. The final run-course was very hilly. The external conditions were ideal, because it was not hot summer. Light rain brought additional cooling.

This time I could not beat our club chairman Gernot Greylinger, like in St. Poelten 70.3 Austria. Probably his performance in Carinthia at the Ironman Austria (+ slot for Ironman Hawaii / Kona) has given him an extra boost.

With my 2^nd place in the under 23 class I found back to the podium.

Today Slovenian Jaroslav Kovacic was unbeatable with 1:49:32.
Second place went to Mario Fink. Martin Keinl took third place, Karin Melinz won the women's (all from Austria)

My next events:
8/13/2011  XTERRA Czech
8/20/2011  XTERRA Germany
9/03/2011  Extreme Duathlon Leithaman / Austria
9/10/2011  XTERRA Switzerland
9/18/2011  Wachau Half Marathon / Austria

07 / 17 / 2011

½ Ironman Trumersee in Salzburg - Austria

Austrian Championships "½ Ironman"

4^th place - Class Under 23

Although the water was really warm wetsuit were allowed. When starting at 8:30am it was already clear that it would be hot race. The 1.9k swim was quite solid. My dislocated shoulder, from racing Crossman in Carinthia three weeks ago, was absolutely ok.

The 88.5k cycling were very challenging. The course super hilly - no flat parts. 3 loops with a total vertical climb of 950 meters in the blazing sun were to go. After loop 1 I slowed down a bit and did not kill my legs totally.

The final half-marathon on 21.1 shadow less kilometers at about 30 degrees were absolutely super hard. The time was 1:41 - much weaker than the HM-Split time 1:24 from St. Poelten. But I do not think the heat was the problem, but the tough bike course. An absolute top female triathlete had serious problems during her race. The Austrian Eva Wutti led more or less the whole race and had a lead of 10 min 2k to go. Unable to run she had to give up1k before the finish line.

The victory in the men's race went to local hero Franz Hoefer with 4:10:29. This poor winning time was also a result of extreme heat. In the women's race Czech Eva Potuckova took the win.

Next weekend is my home in triathlon Muerzzuschlag / Styria.

The medical examination and X-ray at the hospital gave me the OK for next weeks practical sports week which is mandatory for my study.

My next competition:
07/23/2011  Muerz Oberland Triathlon (Olympic distance) in Austria

06 / 25 / 2011

Crossman Austria - Voelkermarkt - Carinthia - Austria

After a very good swim: from the reservoir to the hospital

Crossman Austria was the replacement for XTERRA Austria, and took place in Voelkermarkt / Carinthia.

I was well prepared at the start. After some improvement of my swim technique, I expected a top place in the elites race.

Before start I got information from local triathletes that the mountain bike trail would be extremely challenging. Due the bike course was on 3 laps (a 10k), I planned for the first one to familiarize myself with the track.

But things turned out differently:
This time I was in the Top-10 group during the swim. However the exit from the reservoir was my destiny. The steep and slippery exit could only be done with a rope and with support of a strong volunteer who pulled the swimmers on shore. I guess he was just too strong gave me too much support, so my shoulder got dislocated. The upper arm joint head (caput humeri) did not jump back immediately so I had to quit the race.

The Red Cross called the emergency doctor who gave me some strong drugs so he could relocate my shoulder without pain on the lawn next to the transition zone. I woke without any pain in the local hospital Klagenfurt. The soporific was ten times worse than a buzz and it took hours before I got my mind clear.

The medical examination and X-ray at the hospital gave me the OK for next weeks practical sports week which is mandatory for my study.

My next competition:
07/17/2011  ÖM Trumersee ½ Ironman in Salzburg