The 9:30 start time was very kind to allow a drive out from Basel, leaving before 6am but still easily able to arrive, register, sort out my clothes into swim/bike/run bags and drop them off at the transition area. No stress at all, it was all very relaxed, and well organised.This felt like my best swim, I was out to the far left on my own keeping out of trouble so able to swim constantly the whole distance without any kind of claustrophobic attacks amid the frenzy. The water was 20 degrees, and clear enough though the skies were cloudy all day long. We even had an Australian exit, where we get out on the opposite bank, run a short distance, then back into the lake for the final section.
With all my recent mountain cycling, of course the cycle leg was going to be strong for me, this is a very hilly course from start to finish and we had 3 laps. It all added up to 1887m ascent, a fair amount for 92km. Large crowds on the first hill felt like a mini alpe d'huez, but generally easy slopes up and down, so I was able to use the tri bars on the way up most of the climbs. On the descents, there are very few places you would need to brake, except for all the triathletes who don't go downhill as well as the AlpenBrevet riders thats for sure. So I was overtaking from start to finish, up and down, moving up from 1391st to 307th overall! This is the best part for me, it doesn't last long as the run is always the true test in any triathlon, and I haven't done any half marathon training this year but just enough to get me round at a steady pace.
Great event, I'd like to come back again next year for sure. All triathlons should be this hilly, maybe Belfort could be similar, with a climb up Ballon d'alsace.
Swim: 1391st 45:25
T1: 7:31
Cycle: 78th 59:24 1:01:16 1:03:21 3:04:02
Cumulative position: 307th
T2: 6:39
Run: 575th 37:40 37:23 39:34 1:54:38
Total: 372nd; 5:58:18
1427 finishers
