Trionik Vierlande Triathlon - Regionalliga

Finally, after several months of training, training and more training it was time for the first triathlon of the season. Vierlande Triathlon, just outside of Hamburg, wasn’t only my first of the year, but also the start into the Regionalliga North for our team. Well prepared and with the goal in mind to start in the 2. Bundesliga next year, we were all ready to go.


Of course, Hamburg’s weather was once more a disaster, but we all could have expected that. Still cold temperatures leading up to the race made us believe of a shorter swim, or even a duathlon.
However, it all came different and we had the hottest day of the year with temperatures above 30c degrees.

So, it was all set for an Olympic Distance race with a 1,5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run. I found a good rhythm during the swim and was able to stick in the second swim group until the last buoy.
Somehow I lost the orientation just a little and got slightly of course. Not as bad as expected, but still dropped about 20 seconds to this group leaving the water in just over 20 minutes.

Still in transition I saw the swim group and knew that the race wasn’t lost yet.
Transition itself was a little rusty, hope this will get better as the season progresses. Just a few kilometers on the bike I was able to pick up Freddy and Bruno, who managed to finish the swim with this second group. Once I passed these guys I had a tough time getting away, as about 10 riders formed a group just behind. I stayed close to this pack almost to the 20 k mark, as I decided to try a breakaway.

It took about 10 hard kilometers to reach the second and third guy that were pushing a hard pace and working of each other. With a few kilometers to the transition I dropped these guys to give myself a good position for the run. Entering transition in second place, clocking the fastest bike split of the day, just 20 seconds behind Ulf Bartels gave me and our team a good position.

Starting the hot run I tried to focus on a good and solid pace, which I should’ve been able to hold during the run. However, it all came different and I couldn’t even hold this “controlled” pace, as the heat and conditions killed me. My pace dropped rapidly and I lost position by position. At the end it was a 7th place, definitely not the best start into the season as hydration was my weakest link.

Tri-Michels Hamburg finished this first Regionalliga Race in first place, with Freddy in 10th, Bruno 11th and Ben in 21st position. Next team race coming up on June 19th and 20th in Itzehoe.