The big climb too Schliersee - Kris
25 June 2008
Well that was one of the hardest courses I have ever done!! In the weekend I raced a international ITU race in Schliersee, which is in the south of Germany. I've always wanted to do this race but things have always conspired against me and the timing was never right. But as I was cutting down on my travel towards Beijing, and thus not heading to America as I've done the last years. Schliersee was on!
This is a really beautiful part of Germany and one I will visit again for sure. The race itself is situated at around 1000 meters above sea level. It starts at 700 in the Schliersee (lake) and then takes you on one of the most beautiful and challenging bike courses you will ever do. The last part of the ride goes directly up a 5k climb towards the second transtion at 1172meters. The final leg busting run is either going down or up!! from road to trail to grass.. And all around a smaller lake the Spitzingsee. This race also doubled as a German league race. There were 130 guys in the race and most of them were my good mates from Germany. Start line included my Beijing bound flat-mate Jan Frodeno and World Champion Daniel Unger. These boys are classy and when you also throw into the mix a few guys that had nothing to lose the race would be on from the start.
The swim went well for me as it normally does when coming directly from altitude. I stayed near the front for most of the 1500 meter distance and exited the water 3rd. I ran hard to my bike in transition, and with a good exchange opened up a small gap with Michael Realert who would start at the front of the race and go on to dominate from there. This initial break was short lived and was never really going to work as the step climbs were yet to come. The front group of about 15 or so formed before the first major climb. Everyone was feeling themselves out and getting a look at who looked good. When the second climb arrived Michael went again with one of my team mates (Claude Eksteen) and another guy from Jan's and Daniel's team. As it is in team racing this pretty much shut the big boys down and we were left to watch each other for the rest of the bike until the final climb. Just before the climb the second group caught us and the group swelled to about 30 Athletes. The 3 guys in the front worked really well and made 3.30 on us by the time we arrived at the final 5k climb.
So after 35k we had to go up and boy did it go up!! at an average of 12% there was no resting until the top and the final k before the second transition. I had always said to myself that this race was all about having control and by no means being out of it... So with that in mind I just rode a tempo I thought I could sustain to the top. It just got harder and harder as the climb went on but one by one guys were dropping off. By the time we arrived at the top there were just 3 of us left and we were still 2.30 behind.
I hit transition and had thoughts of running fast!!!! Boy was I kidding myself. Its just a slog this run, you start by going 2k directly downhill off the bike and my legs were cramping everywhere. I tried to find some sort of rhythm but due to the cramping I couldn't stride out at all. I tried to wait it out and after about 3 or 4k I started to feel better. I started to pick up my cadence and then tried to focus on the guys in front. I knew they were a long way down the road but I ran in a controlled state to the finish and managed to pick up one of the guys and sneak on the podium. Michael Realert dominated at the front right from the start and took a well deserved victory. He Showed again that racing with a positive attitude can be a dangerous weapon on any course but even more so on a course like Schliersee.
In the end for myself the race went great. It was a perfect hit out for me, and turned out to be a real test of my current fitness and overall strength at this time.
I'm now back in Font Romeu again until my next race ( A French Grand prix ) on the 5th of July in Paris. So until then take care and you will all hear from me soon enough!
Regards,
Kris
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