The Belgians were not spared in an incident ridden opener of the WTS season at Abu Dhabi. Marten Van Riel and Jelle Geens were in an excellent position after the swim, but both had a close encounter with the asphalt. We probed for a reaction.
Jelle: "Strong swim, weak leg has been corrected"
"I exited the water only 15 seconds behind the leaders and merely 7 seconds behind Marten," Jelle tells us. "In transition I had a struggle with my helmet, which costed some time, but I managed to get on the bike in a decent position. The F1 circuit was utterly slippery due to heavy rainfall, leading to a crash from Marten I in just the first corner. I managed to stay upright, but 3km later it was my turn. A crash in front of me cause me to brake brute, with slipping and sliding as consequence. My chain fell off and I had troubles getting it back on.
I ended up in a group with Jojo (Wayaffe) and was willing to push it in order to show myself during the run. But in the last lap, disaster struck once more: a second crash and the chain fell off again. This impact was way more forceful, instantly I felt a pain in the wrist and decided to quit the race. The wrist is now swollen, but it seems as damage is within acceptable limits. Of course it sucks, mainly because my swim has left me in an opportunity rich position, proof that I addressed my weakness over the winter. That's the positive thing I try to take with me to the next WTS race at Bermuda, 29/04," says Jelle.
Marten: "Staying upright simply impossible"
Marten has had two good legs to look back on: the swim, leading him to the lead pack, and the run, where he managed to regain some positions. But the bike quickly decided the overall outcome of his race.
(https://www.facebook.com/MartenVanRiel/videos/2010511495831966/)
We'd like to know if Marten went at it just that bit too hard on the bike. "Indeed, I took quite some risk at that point. There was this iron gutter and I can't exactly recall if it was the front wheel that started slipping or that I resumed pedaling to soon. Doesn't matter, the result is known, but I don't think that crash screwed my race, I was still in 20th position. It were all the small slidings that caused me to lose confidence."
Happy about the run
"I had a strong swim, allowing me to exit the water with the leaders. Being on the bike in 8th, I fell in just the first turn. I got up rather quickly, but kept sliding for the rest of the bke leg. I just couldn't corner at the same speed as the others and now it is for me to analyse how this can bed. The amount of time lost is immense, I came in T2 in 40th position with a 2 minute gap. I had a strong run, mainly because I was already in a lost position, but nevertheless it makes me happy. Eventually I came in 31st and rather disappointed. I feel frustrated that an external element cause me to screw up this race," says Marten.
No more Sportoase on the trisuit?
In the sideline of the WTS Abu Dhabi it was most remarkable that Sportoase is no longer present on the Flemish triathletes trisuit. Even though the existing contract between Sportoase and Triatlon Vlaanderen is running until the end of this year. Marten Van Riel and Kirsten Nuyes wore the logo but as main sponsor of their Cecemel-Sportoase team...
Pictures by Viviane Sloniewics
Original article on 3athlon.be by Gert-Jan D'haene on 03/03/2018
Translation by @T0v3