Queenstown World Champion 4 Times in a Row
To win a back-to-back world title is a dream come true! And I wouldn't have done it without my family, coaches Frank Clarke, John Ackland, my sponsors, and everyone else out there supporting me, and thanks to those who have sent emails and messages. Special thanks also to Kelly Hawkins from Millbrook resort who accommodated us and were absolutely superb - wasn't it a fantastic venue for the race!
I am now back training after the big race. Everything has started to calm down now after the big hype.
My weekend down in Queenstown staying at the luxurious Millbrook resort was amazing. My race was one of the first, early Saturday morning. We were expecting the worst on the weather-side; the forecast was terrible but fortunately by the time our race started the worst was over, but due to the heavy down-pour that night the transition was ankle deep in water and this lead to my first complication. We were not allowed to take our bikes out of transition for warm up, so I brought a pair of rollers to do my bike warm-up on, but with the water level being so high on the grass I couldn’t set them up properly!
But anyway, the race started at 8:15am, there was a bit of pushing and shoving at the start which eventually settled down as I moved out wide. The next obstacle was the hill up from the water, this was a huge gut-buster, then back into the water as we ran through transition. Onto the bike and we were off. Peter Croes rode like a demon. James Elvery said that he was traveling about 40+km/hr and Croes came from behind and made him feel like he was standing still. Then when he caught up he hopped onto the front and powered it up the hill pulling a small bunch with him. The break didn’t last long and the bunch reformed out the back and we all stayed together all the way into transition.
Next up was the tough run leg through Millbrook resort. I had a little lead at the start which faded and two Frenchmen, David Haus and Laurent Vidal. These guys were running amazingly, holding off the rest of the pack, but in the end it was the home town advantage and the great support from everyone out there cheering their lungs off that kept me driving to the finish line.
The atmosphere down there was great, and thanks to my coach Frank Clarke I met and got to hang out with some great people including Simon Whitfield Olympic Gold Medalist and his coach Lance Watson. There was also a huge NZ cheering Squad out on the wall of our cottage making sure nobody was slacking off.
Next up for me is the Oceania Triathlon Champs in Davenport, Tasmania. This race also backs up as a selection race for the third New Zealand spot for the Olympic team, which I and many others will be gunning for.
Thanks again to everyone for all your help and support. Keep in touch and I apologize for being a little slow in writing this - I try my best, but there just are not enough hours in the day.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year, and all the best with future endeavors.
Terenzo
To win a back-to-back world title is a dream come true! And I wouldn't have done it without my family, coaches Frank Clarke, John Ackland, my sponsors, and everyone else out there supporting me, and thanks to those who have sent emails and messages. Special thanks also to Kelly Hawkins from Millbrook resort who accommodated us and were absolutely superb - wasn't it a fantastic venue for the race!
I am now back training after the big race. Everything has started to calm down now after the big hype.
My weekend down in Queenstown staying at the luxurious Millbrook resort was amazing. My race was one of the first, early Saturday morning. We were expecting the worst on the weather-side; the forecast was terrible but fortunately by the time our race started the worst was over, but due to the heavy down-pour that night the transition was ankle deep in water and this lead to my first complication. We were not allowed to take our bikes out of transition for warm up, so I brought a pair of rollers to do my bike warm-up on, but with the water level being so high on the grass I couldn’t set them up properly!
But anyway, the race started at 8:15am, there was a bit of pushing and shoving at the start which eventually settled down as I moved out wide. The next obstacle was the hill up from the water, this was a huge gut-buster, then back into the water as we ran through transition. Onto the bike and we were off. Peter Croes rode like a demon. James Elvery said that he was traveling about 40+km/hr and Croes came from behind and made him feel like he was standing still. Then when he caught up he hopped onto the front and powered it up the hill pulling a small bunch with him. The break didn’t last long and the bunch reformed out the back and we all stayed together all the way into transition.
Next up was the tough run leg through Millbrook resort. I had a little lead at the start which faded and two Frenchmen, David Haus and Laurent Vidal. These guys were running amazingly, holding off the rest of the pack, but in the end it was the home town advantage and the great support from everyone out there cheering their lungs off that kept me driving to the finish line.
The atmosphere down there was great, and thanks to my coach Frank Clarke I met and got to hang out with some great people including Simon Whitfield Olympic Gold Medalist and his coach Lance Watson. There was also a huge NZ cheering Squad out on the wall of our cottage making sure nobody was slacking off.
Next up for me is the Oceania Triathlon Champs in Davenport, Tasmania. This race also backs up as a selection race for the third New Zealand spot for the Olympic team, which I and many others will be gunning for.
Thanks again to everyone for all your help and support. Keep in touch and I apologize for being a little slow in writing this - I try my best, but there just are not enough hours in the day.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year, and all the best with future endeavors.
Terenzo
