2009 European Triathlon Championships
July 8th, 2009 by Gavin
I opened the door of the portaloo and entered. Closing the door behind me I stood barefoot in my Champion System trisuit. It was cramped and very humid.
It was all going to plan until I lifted the toilet lid.
3 dehydrated Wasps were unleashed into the small humid plastic crap coffin.
That was the first occasion in Holten when I became frantic and cursed loudly.
The second occasion came on bike lap 2 when I found myself at the bottom of the hill going nowhere. As I changed down gears I was nudged off the road and my chain came off the chainring, wrapping itself around the bottom bracket.
Pack after pack, rider after rider passed me as I stood frantically trying to free it . . . with bloody knuckles and grease everywhere I re-moutned but it was all in vain. I made it to the end of the lap but I did not begin lap 3.
A good friend of mine who now lives and works in Holland had come through for the day to watch the race. As I pushed my Specialized through the crowds I met him leaning over a barrier
“oh your finished already ? I just arrived” he said
“Yeah, unfortunatley I just finished”
I absolutely hate not finishing a race no matter what happens or how I am feeling. So as you can imagine I left Holten feleing frustrated and annoyed.
I arrived back in the Shire the following morning and took to the trails to heal my hurt.
Next stop Athlone
One Response to “2009 European Triathlon Championships”
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July 9th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I wondered what had happened – I feel for you. My one and only tri DNF was at Salford for similar reasons – chain came off and got wrapped round the bottom bracket and ended up with a knackered chain.
In some ways my own fault as I had had it services just the week before and hadn’t given it a good run it… very much a school day.
K.