Mick Bond Race Update
Yesterday, 23rd June2024, I represented Team GB in the male 65-69 category at the European Age Group Middle Distance Triathlon. The event was held in Coimbra, Portugal, located some 90mins drive from Porto.
The weather Gods decided to make it extremely hot, sunny & windy after what had been a few cloudy days.
The day didn’t start well when entry to transition prior to the start was delayed & we were given less then 25mins to lay out kit, don the wet suit & run some 400m to the swim start! Entering the water last with my good friend & Triathlon buddy, Vic Spain, I started ploughing through the field. With timing chips attached it really doesn’t matter where you start. Exiting the water after 39mins for the 1.9k swim, there was a long run to the bike & and an uphill start on a cobble slope! The bike course consisted of 4 laps, making a total 90k, on a far hillier course than advertised, & of course, down the cobble slope to dismount. Happy with my 2hrs 57mins, it was then on to the 21k run. At this point I was vying for a podium place, but once again the wheels came off. Feeling exhausted from the start, & getting progressively slower, not helped by an awful course that included a large proportion on uneven, loose stone & searing heat alongside the river.
I finally finished in 6hrs 26mins & 8th place in my category.
Very disappointed, but I get to do it all again in 3 weeks at Eastbourne “Ironbourne “.
🤪
