Perfect conditions produce tight racing at Rocquaine
YOU look out on a calm Rocquaine Bay as the early morning sunlight ripples on the water and the possibilities seem endless.
It was a welcoming scene for the Guernsey Triathlon Club’s latest event, one that could almost make you forget about the challenges ahead.
On paper triathlon is frankly intimidating, just rattle off the distances for even the shortest events and you quickly tot up a hard morning.
It is a sport that entices people that want to test themselves, but it is also one that is open and welcoming. The most experienced hands offer advice and help to the novices, not only because they know what it was like when they first pulled on a wetsuit, but also because they will all be going through the same experiences out on the course.
The Rocquaine event attracted athletes of all ages, from 16 to 62, with an aquabike option adding to what was on offer.
It was put on in part to compensate those that had lost out because of travel restrictions on the Jersey Triathlon, being held across the water at practically the same time.
The Olympic – 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run – used the same course that will be in action when the Island Games comes around in 2023.
The hilly bike leg offers plenty of interest, the loop including a short climb up and around Lihou headland, an ascent of L’Eree hill, a flat drag to get consistent power down before a flowing descent at Pleinmont, keeping spectator’s hooked and the speed at times high.
The run is deceptive. It looks flat, but is anything but when you account for the rolling nature of the coast road and particularly the nasty little biting climb ahead of one of the turns on the road to the Fairy Ring.
It produced an exciting race at the front end.
Young Thierry Le Cheminant bossed the swim, heading out on the bike with a near two minute lead thanks also to some slick transition work. Dave Mosley wiped out that advantage over the bike leg, on his road bike after damaging his TT the day before, and they came in to T2 almost together.
There was no let up in the tension as they were locked together for the majority of the run, the final decisive break being made by 16-year-old Le Cheminant in the last km as they made their way back towards the Imperial. He finished in 2:09.12, 26 seconds up.
Chloe Truffitt took a comfortable win in the women’s Olympic race in 2:24.10.
In the Uber Sprint, Jon Osborn proved that even the most experienced triathletes make mistakes, having put his shoes on the wrong pedals. That necessitated a stop out on the route to resolve the issue.
It mattered little as he took the win, with Amy Crtichlow the lead woman and second overall.
See here for the full results.
Full gallery here.
