投稿者: TMJ Otsuka

Despite her many successes in both Ironman and 70.3 distance races, Heather Wurtele had some unfinished business at the North American Ironman 70.3 Championship in St. George, Utah.

カナダのヘザー、5/2開催のアイアンマン70.3セントジョージでサーベロP5に乗り見事優勝。昨年のハワイアイアンマンでは、15位だった。バイク終了時は、ミリンダよりも速いが、ランが伸びなかったが、十分トップ10を狙える選手。ミリンダとは、対照的に長身の選手で年齢は35歳、今年のハワイアイアンマンは勝負となるだろう。現在のポイントランキングも9位と上位に位置している。

トライアスロン最強バイクP5:　http://triathlon-geronimo.com/?p=136

アイアンマン使用率10年No.1：　http://triathlon-geronimo.com/?p=236

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Heather, along with husband and fellow pro triathlete Trevor, has spent a lot of time in St. George training. In fact the area has adopted the couple as two of the local favourites in the race each year. She won the race as a full in both 2010 and 2011 and owns the women’s course record at the full Ironman distance. However, she had not registered a win since the race, known as one of the most challenging courses, was changed to the 70.3 format and named as the US Pro Championship. In 2015, the race became the North American Championships allowing the fast Canadian to be eligible for the title.

On top of the significance that the race holds for Heather, she was also coming off two consecutive second place finishes. While this is an impressive result, Heather wants to win. According Heather, “I really wanted to win, but, frankly, that’s how I feel going into most races! The fact that it was the North American Championships, that the field was deep with  talent, and that I placed 2nd in my first two races of the season definitely upped the stakes for me, however.”

Obviously, Heather was motivated. And, come race day, she showed it. She finished the swim with the second pack and lead the chase aboard her P5. “Can you remember how it felt when you were a kid, and you just LOVED your bike, and were super excited every time you hopped on it? That’s pretty much how I always feel when I get to ride my P5.”

Heather reduced a three and a half minute deficit to under two minutes by the second transition and posted the fastest bike split for the pro women’s field. She then ran herself into the race lead, for the first time, at mile 8 and could not be matched on the run to the finish line. Heather added a field-topping run to the fastest bike split to win in a time of 4:17:58.

“I just tried to stay in the moment all day on race day, and perform my best each step of the way. I really only let those thoughts of winning wash over me in the finish chute!”

It was amazing to watch Heather win her home away from home race and be surprised by Trevor holding the finishing tape. Congratulations Team Wurtele on capturing the North American Ironman 70.3 title!

Triathlon “ MONO ” Journalist     Nobutaka Otsuka

Van Lierde dominated the Ironman African Championships in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. He looks back on how the race unfolded.

2013年のハワイアイアンマン優勝のリルデが、3/29開催のアイアンマン南アフリカでサーベロP5に乗り見事優勝。昨年のハワイアイアンマンでは、8位と振るわず残念な結果となったが、ポテンシャルは高いだけに、今年のアイアンマンでの優勝は狙える選手だ。スイム、バイク、ラン、各種目バランス良く、走れる選手。今年は、バイクで爆発を期待したい。現在のポイントランキングも6位となっている。

トライアスロン最強バイクP5:　http://triathlon-geronimo.com/?p=136

アイアンマン使用率10年No.1：　http://triathlon-geronimo.com/?p=236

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“I knew I was in good shape, but still had to perform according to plan,” Frederik says recounting the race. “It was a very good field. In the beginning of the bike, I felt strong. But for the first 40 or 50 kilometres it is hard to get rid of them.” Once the second loop of the very demanding bike course started, Frederik took over on his P5. “Once I had the gap, it started growing. When I was in the group, I could hold my aero position a lot longer. It helped because, in that head wind, they were losing time.”

Despite the hard ride, Frederik stayed strong through the entire run turning in a 2:49 marathon. He was even able to savour his victory while he ran down the finishing chute. “This is a really fantastic race. Such a big crowd, it is wonderful to race here,” Frederik says of the South African event. We are looking to seeing Frederik race again.

Congratulations Freddy!

Triathlon “ MONO ” Journalist     Nobutaka Otsuka

キャノンデール待望のレディストライアスロンモデル。

スライスは、「次世代型」の代表格と位置づけている。キーワードは「快適性」だ。昨今、「プロモデル」が全盛の中、「トライアスロンはホビー」とし、エイジをターゲットにしたモデルと言える。もちろん、プロの使用も可能とし、ハワイでもRSではなく、スライスでレースに使用されている。以前のケストレルのようなイメージかもしれない。

このモデルは、USAで、すでに例年設定されているレディスモデルとなる。そして、もちろん話題となるのは、サイズ設定だ。旧型では、470mmで650Cが設定されていたが、サーベロ同様に480mmを可能な限り小さくした700Cモデルとし、更に小さく造った440mmが650Cとなっている。

150cm台であれば、440mmとなるだろう。160~165cmあたりが難しい。160cmでも脚が長く、上腕が短ければ、480mm（700C）が可能。実は、すごく難しい。キャノンデール、トレック、スペシャライズドなどトップが短めのため、骨盤の角度、全体のフォームや乗り方、レースの設定など、シビア。また、パーツ対応もある。完成車にスペックされているビジョンのDHバーは、パッド高が低く、ポジションが出し易い。ステムのライズ、ヘッドのトップカバーの交換などでも改善できる。

ジオメトリー、体型、フォーム、パーツアッセンブルが関わってくるのだ。

とにかく、まずは脚の長さからチェックしてみよう。

Triathlon “ MONO ” Journalist     Nobutaka Otsuka