Hello Hamburg, the World’s biggest triathlon, and a lovely city as well. Triathlon has taken over the city this weekend as the circus that is The Dextro World Series has comes to town. I only got the call on Tuesday that I was in the race. I had been on the wait list up until then and didn’t think I would get in, so when I got the call I was pretty excited. This is the biggest race I will have done to date and it doesn’t get any bigger. To get a start is a big deal, so its time to make it count. I am last on the start list with number 67. It’s a position that I like, being an underdog. My position on the start pontoon will be awful, but we are here and here to race hard.
It’s a crazy swim in the city centre and we go under 3 bridges that are pitch-black and about 50m long. Gavin Noble warned me about the danger. i.e. don’t get beaten up under there. Think of it as walking home from a night club at 3am in the worst part of town, with a sign that is asking for trouble, the chances of getting mugged are definite, well the swim is like that in Hamburg, so it might be a case of get them before they get you.
I had a nice moment the other day when I was introduced to two time Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield, He had seen my little bike skills video pre the European Champs in Athlone, and was well impressed. I love backwards circles (when I get them right) Simon is the best ITU triathlete of all time and he is still trucking. I am glad he recognises the talent and huge investemnt of wasted time on a fixie to be able to do such things. I told him well done on his Olympic medals.
Click here to read what the ITU say about Hamburg, there is even a little pre-race video for you to watch, just to get you excited.
