Simon Thompson 1st Byron Bay Triathlon
14 May 2008
Thompson takes Olympic disappointment out on Bay
Lennox Head triathlete Simon Thompson has put the disappointment of missing out on the Beijing Olympic Games behind him by claiming the Byron Bay Triathlon on Saturday.
Thompson took the Olympic distance race comfortably by about four minutes from the second-placed Josh Maeder, while Adam Carlton finished third.
Thompson last month just missed out on the three-man Australian team to go to Beijing.
"It's obviously disappointing not going to the Olympics," the 28-year-old said.
"But triathlon is a bit like cycling in that the Olympics is held in high regard but there are still a number of other important races."
Thompson, who finished 10th at the Athens Olympics in 2004, has now set his sights on competing well at the world championships in Vancouver, Canada, in four weeks.
Originally from Canberra, Thompson moved to Lennox Head last December.
It wasn't an auspicious start.
On his first training ride with a number of other Northern Rivers triathletes, cyclist Kane Simpson collided with a car and seriously injured his leg.
"I'd just met him and I remember thinking he might not compete again," Thompson said.
"But we'e good friends now and he' been doing well (with rehab)."
Fastest swim
On Saturday, Thompson actually recorded the fastest swim time even though he wasn' the first out of the water.
"I stole the thunder because I ran across the beach faster," he laughed.
From there the former Olympian was never headed.
He picked up a handy lead on the 40km bike leg to Lennox Head and then opened up his advantage further during the 10km race.
"It was a good effort, on my flash new Avanti Team Chrono Time Trial Machine I seemed to hover above the road with the wind on my back! Holding speeds around 50km/h on the flat" Thompson said.
"I was pretty happy and it was fairly comfortable in the end, even though the other boys kept me on my toes.
"I loved the race. It was a beautiful swim out there - crystal clear - and although the bike course isn't the most interesting going around the run was great fun.
"The crowd was really supportive and I really enjoyed myself - I almost felt like a local."
Normally Thompson is overseas competing and it was his first Byron Bay Triathlon.
Source: Northern Star
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