‘Final race of the season for me with no big expectations following 2 weeks on relaxing holidays and a preparation focussing on quality rather than quantity! I arrived in Weymouth on Saturday and the weather conditions were as predicted very wet and windy. The sea was very bad and if it had stayed like that for the race, it would have been a definite DNS for me. Sunday was a very different story and conditions were just ideal. Sea was very flat, and after a friendly rolling start and a good first 750m swim in 13mn I lost my rhythm and never found it again resulting in a much slower swim than I had hoped for. Being well behind my schedule, I decided that 1 or 2 more minutes wouldn’t change the overall result, and I used the facilities in T1 for a quick comfort break. Not sure how I did it, but I managed to cut my left thumb quite badly opening the toilet door and had to spend 10 minutes with the medics.

Me, my bike and my plaster were finally enjoying a fast few kilometres on beautiful roads when suddenly… my thumb decided to bleed again and never stopped until the last few kilometres of the bike course. No need to say that my bike, trisuit and I, looked pretty disgusting. Anyway, Weymouth is a tough bike course, with steep climbs, technical downhills and a nasty headwind. Second loop was mentally challenging but I managed to catch up few people and I was now much closer to the front of the race!

T2 was another new experience, the medics saw me coming ‘covered in blood’ (if you take a very close look at my left arm and face you’ll know what I mean) and insisted to fix my thumb again, I said NON but they ran after me until I had to stop to pick up my red bag. I couldn’t really resist and after another 2 minutes of pampering I was freed up and started the run.

The run course is very nice but still 4.5 loops in the sun with few U-Turn proved to be quite physically and mentally challenging. I have to say that the support along the course was one of the best I have ever experienced. The 70.3 competitors and locals were all out supporting the full distance guys and the Viceroy kit definitely attracted lots of attention and positive comments. The run started well and even if in pain, I could maintain my target pace. After 10km though, my entire body was in such agony that I had to try new ways of running to be able to continue. I adopted a fast walking strategy which got me to the end without stopping too often. I manage to speak to few people on the run and most were suffering a lot, it seems that the bike course created a lot of damage.

The last few meters were amazing, the support incredible throughout and the satisfaction of getting a fifth medal, one for each of my kids, is immense. Thanks to VTC for all the help and support over the last few years… not to mention Mark’s amazing tips and training programmes!’

As raced and reported by Yann Umbricht