Posts Tagged ‘Dan Hugo’
Racing for Burry Stander
TotalSports Challenge Terra Firma: 50km road cycle (Caveman), 14km road run (Princess Hotstuff), 25km MTB (Caveman), 9km beach run (Princess Hotstuff)
My coach Ian Rodger wanted me to ride steady TT pace “so we can look at the watts and see how we measure up with last year (at this race)” I said, actually Liezel and I are doing this race for Burry, and instead of towing everyone from Gordons Bay to Kleinmond, I want to arrive at the hand over alone- like Burry did 3 years ago. Ian thought about it, and said, “ok, you haven’t trained for that kind of riding, but hit them hard on the rolling technical section through Gordons Bay, see who’s with you, and then attack them when you’re into the wind” He finished off with: “Kick them in the nuts till no one is left standing”
Still raw from Burry’s funeral, I rode to Gordons Bay filled with emotion. Angry Battery 9 soundtrack seemingly the only suitable companion.
Althoug it was wind-still in Stellenbosch, it was howling in Gordons Bay, so I went with a training wheel in front. I rode my UCI legal SHIV TT bike, and warmed like I would for a big TT race, and got to the start simmering and ready to kick crotches. But on the start line the mood was very somber- Songo Fipaza and a number of the Songo kids were at the start line in memory of Burry. Songo made a stirring speech celebrating Burry’s extraordinary life before Songo and the kids slowly led us through the neutral zone of Gordons Bay. Obviously I had to go to plan B and attack the guys on the open road to Rooiels- a much harder task.
Caveman wins XTERRA Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California (just south of San Fancisco) is wacky, its trendy and its also know as “Surf City”. And the place where Specialized test rides bikes and equipment.
I love ocean swims, and even the supposed 53F water (11C- although it felt warmer) did not put me off.
Athletes’ Beauty Kits. And other random quirks
Seriously Bobby, you need 8 tooth cleaning tools? (ok 4, if you dont count the ones in the mirror)
On a recent trip to Keystone Colorado for the Specialized 2011 product launch, I shared a room Specialized Team Manager, Bobby Behan, who is a very very organized guy. (“like, you know”- Irish accent) When on the road, he always completely unpacks his whole bag right away- even if its just a 1 night stay. He neatly lines all his shoes in a row, all his watches in a row and his training clothing goes neatly in Specialized bags- lined up according the temperature rating.
Sharing the “road” with other athletes is always a trip. Jamie Whitmore had a pre-race ritual which led her to travel the globe with a her waffle iron and special waffle mix…
Breakfasting with the Specialized Factory Team is quite an experience in itself.
Stoltz, Bucher win XTERRA East Championship
The next XTERRA champion, Evan Carlson, 14 years old, won his XTERRA Sport race. AND he knows all about tires pressures…
Stoltz, Bucher win XTERRA East Championship
06/20/2010
Flying out in a few hours and packing like crazy. Luckily my canceled flight this morning (would have been home already) will leave today after all. Instead of tomorrow…
Borrowed race report from XTERRAplanet.com
(Richmond, VA) – Conrad Stoltz, 36, from South Africa and Renata Bucher, 33, of Switzerland captured the XTERRA East Championship off-road triathlon pro titles in Richmond, Virginia this afternoon.
It was a characteristically hot mid 90’s summer day in the River City, and that didn’t seem to bother Stoltz one bit. The “Caveman” had the second-best swim time with a 12:42 (just 20 seconds off Seth Wealing), the fastest 24km bike split by far (a blazing 52:11), and even turned in the quickest 10km run of the day in 40:24. It all added up to yet another win for the tall South African – his fourth straight on the XTERRA America Tour this year, and fifth win in six years here in Richmond.
“Since I finished high school in 1991 I’ve been racing professionally so I’ve had basically 18 summers back-to-back, so I’m familiar with the heat,” said Stoltz. “I’m not great in the heat, though, so I have to prepare for it, which mean’s pacing and never going too hard in the swim, bike or run. The whole race I had to pull back a little bit, pull back a little, and make sure I had some energy left for the run.”
By midway through the bike Stoltz’ biggest threat was coming from his hometown of Stellenbosch in the form of 25-year-old Dan Hugo. Hugo, making his 2010 U.S. debut (he won XTERRA South Africa back in February), was riding and running strong and all by himself in second place for most of the day.
“I didn’t get splits until the very end so I had no idea what was going on behind me so I was racing more against the heat and myself, but it’s really good to see Dan back,” said Stoltz about Hugo, who was just 15-years-old when the Caveman did his first-ever XTERRA here in Richmond back in 2001. “Obviously he had a good race, and I’m excited to see him healthy and back, and racing. That should be good for XTERRA.”
Dan Hugo and Mari Rabie wins XTERRA South Africa
Good stuff- read Dan’s report here
