Our latest recruit; Ian Roberts, started his racing campaign for the TORQ Triathlon team by winning the Althorp duathlon. This is Ian’s account…

I entered Althorp Duathlon in order to blow the cobwebs away and to identify any areas for improvement prior to the National Duathlon Championships in March. The race was initially planned for the weekend of 11th February but unfortunately was postponed due to the snow.

This was my first race representing TORQ, and I hoped to experience some early season form. The race setting was in the stunning Althorp Estate in Northampton, and the weather couldn’t have been better.

The race started at 9:50am and we set off up a 400m incline at a lively pace, with one runner leading the way. I was content to sit in 2nd keeping him in sight but ensuring I didn’t run too hard; reducing the risk of blowing up in the first race of the year. The run was undulating and took in some road, grass, trails and gravel tracks. As we got towards the transition the leader was slowly coming back towards me and I entered T1 in 17:04, just 4 seconds down on the leader.

T1 was pretty uneventful (25 seconds) and I mounted the bike in second place, just behind the leader. The bike started up the same 400m climb as the run, so it took a couple of minutes to settle and get into an efficient rhythm. After 3 minutes of the bike leg I was in the lead and started to pull away from the initial leader. I thoroughly enjoyed the rolling bike course, the legs were working well and I extended my lead towards 90 seconds by T2.

Exiting T2 (in an identical 25 seconds) to repeat the original run course, I laboured up the same climb as before, and eventually regained my running legs, it was a grind for the first 2km but I ran the second run in a controlled manner aiming for a negative split to finish strongly, I had extended my lead towards 2 minutes and finished in a time of 1:08:38.

I must admit that crossing the finish line to the words “the winner of the sprint duathlon….. representing TORQ fitness…..Ian Roberts” was a nice moment, fingers crossed for some more of the same over the next few months.

I now hope to build on this positive start to the season and prepare well for the Fire Fighters 2UP Duathlon in Bolton next weekend, and the National Duathlon Championships at Dambuster, Rutland Water on March 10th.

Many thanks to all of our fantastic sponsors.

www.wilier.it/en – Wilier Triestina – Triathlon Frames
www.ffwdwheels.com – FFWD – Aero wheels
www.ritcheylogic.com – Ritchey – Aerobars, saddles and finishing kit
www.cycleops.com – CycleOps PowerTap – Power meters
www.racezone3.com – Zone 3 – Wetsuits
www.limarhelmets.com/eng – Limar – Helmets & glasses
www.lakecycling.co.uk – Lake – Cycling footwear
www.jagwireusa.com – Jagwire – Cables
www.scott-sports.com – Scott – Running footwear
www.shimano.com – Shimano – Groupsets
www.triathlonspecific.com/Sable/Sable.html – Sable Water Optic -; Swim goggles
www.max-mediagroup.co.uk – Max Media – Team PR
www.amphibia-sport.com – Amphibia – Transition bags
www.champ-sys.co.uk – ChampionSystems – Custom Trisuits and Cycle wear