XTERRA Switzerland

All quiet in tranistion, only 1.5hr before the start!!

I've always wanted to try an offroad triathlon, and today I got the chance at Xterra Switzerland, in the Vallee du Joux. Just beyond Vallorbe, this area certainly feels far more like France than Switzerland, being only a couple of km from the border. Luckily the heavy rain passed by to the north as I drove past Bern and we had great conditions with a lake at 18 degrees and dry dusty trails for the bike and run.
I still find it annoying that we pay a large entry fee for such events, then end up having to pay another 35CHF for a day racing license, but thats the way it is.
It was nice to race again on the mountain bike, its been too long without racing the single trails and rocky descents. I was very relieved that the course was changed from previous editions, so no river crossings - the photos of this just looks annoying, wading through a river and carrying the bike should not be part of any race. So instead we had fast single track and open fields, with minimal connecting sections of road. Towards the end of the lap was a rocky section that had many walking, but the whole course was rideable up and down.
Two laps of the small lake for the run, included a small hill climb up and back down to the finish area.
In all, it was a very relaxed atmosphere in a great location and great practise for next weeks Xterra France in the Vosges. However, this is Switzerland and mountain biking and trail running should involve big mountains, running beside glaciers, no? Not complaining, its lovely scenery, good racing conditions, just think that an Xterra event in Suisse could be much more impressive in the high mountains.
 

Pos.								Temps total		Swim	T1	Bike	T2	Run
88								2:54:02		31:29 (148)	1:58 (118)	1:31:20 (86)	1:32 (128)	47:41 (65)