The end of the year, or the beginning in this case, is the ideal moment for making lists. This one contains the six moments which, in my eyes, defined Belgian tri- and duathlon the past year.
The rising start: Valerie Barthelemy
To live as a pro sure pays off. In the summer of 2016, an American girl with Belgian dreams came knocking on the door at ATRIAC, the Antwerp triathlon club. In the summer of 2017 it seemed as if after only one year the jigsaw would fall into place.
I’m writing about Valerie Barthelemy. She made her first big show during the Nationals on the sprint distance in Vilvoorde. The swim and bike were dominated by the ATRIAC ladies, but during the run it was hard against tougher. Katrien Verstuyft (Olympian 2012 and 2016) came first in the last stretch to the finish (this is about 100m), but nevertheless, Valerie managed to pull off a sprint with the energy of despair. She grabbed victory with only millimeters to spare.
To solidify her dominance, she appeared in Izegem, the Nationals on the Olympic distance. Her ambitions were known, the expectations were high. The only remaining questions was, did the ETU cup in Wuustwezel, just a few days earlier, still linger in the legs? This seemed to not be the case. Other than in Vilvoorde, she made the homestretch solo.
Keep an eye out for her, write down her name. You will be hearing of her in 2018.
Simon De Cuyper & Valerie after the Nationals in Vilvoorde.
Picture: LineaRecta
T3 2nd division
It’s a rule of thumb that a new concept is usually prone to some flaws. Luckily for the 2nd division, the different organizations had the experience of the T3 Series to rely upon.
Can we talk about a success story? In my opinion, yes. Was it filled with cliffhangers? For the podium not so much, but for the ranking on the podium all the more.
During five races (Doornik as teamtriathlon, Zwevegem as teamrelay, Retie as drafting sprint, Weiswampach as drafting Olympic and Ypres as non-drafting Olympic) JTTL, SolidPharma and TriGT were on each other’s heels. After some leapfrog sessions during the first three races, SolidPharma managed to get an ex aequo with TriGT after Weiswampach. Ypres would be decisive, every spot would count.
SolidPharma pulled the sheet during this last race and claimed victory in the first edition of the 2nd division. In 2018, this team will appear in the T3 Series.
SolidPharma after victory in Ypres
Picture: myself
Claire @ SuperLeague
It was new and it was flashy. Or better yet, it is flashy. Maybe a wee bit sexist. Super League Triathlon saw the light of day on Hamilton Island. Unfortunately, only a men’s event and, unfortunately, no compatriots on the starting grid.
In September though, we were given eye candy. If this is by female participation of by the presence of our fellow Belgian, Claire Michel, I leave up to you. But it stands out that Claire’s performance can be classified as being eye candy as well.
During the first race of the first event, the swim-bike-run in the Triple Mix, Claire managed to take the win. The following two races were more like damage control and a few places were lost, but going into day two in fifth is not bad. Not bad at all.
The second day and second event, the Eliminator, will go down in history as a very wet one. This, combined with a technical course, left Claire to chase down the pack during the run. She managed to finish in 15th place, barely meeting requirements to pass on to the second race. Just as well, during this seconds race, she came last out of the Marina and the phenomenal first run had to be paid in cash. She ended 13th during the second race, hence being eliminated.
To end on a positive note: her performance of day one passed her on to 9th place overall. A ticket to Super League 2018 is already in the pocket.
Claire during Super League Jersey.
Picture: thatcameraman.com
Verstuyft on the long haul
Immediately after the 2016 Rio Olympics she lifted a tip of the veil: for the next season, she would change her focus more and more to half distance racing. What Katrien says, she does. A resume of some of her prestations…
To start with the big one in August, the Nationals half distance in Eupen. Katrien emerges solo from the lake, has no company whatsoever on the bike and runs a lonely half marathon. It may seem a bit antisocial, but her jersey has double companion in ATRIAC from the sprint and Olympic distance.
About one month later, she strikes again. In her third (?) participation in an Ironman 70.3 event, she took her first win in Weymouth. Unlike in Eupen, she had a chase to attend after the swim. With a 3 minute gap she mounted her bike in 8th position, with a 4 minute gap she dismounted in 5th. During the run she overtook one after the other competitor, until the final 5km, where she took the lead and was never seen again.
What rests is that other long distance circuit, Challenge Family. On the day of days in triathlon, Ironman Kona, she raced in Mallorca in this other circuit. Emerging from the water in a small group with a small advantage on Heather Wurtele, the lead was not big enough to maintain the advantage. The Canadian passed the group, Katrien tried to follow, ended up solo in no-man’s-land, did a solo run and stranded as the runner-up.
Verstuyft after het win in Weymouth
Picture: 3athlon.be
Goodbye Ilse Geldhof
Even in sports we have to say goodbye sometimes. Although not always as dramatic as it sounds, but at a certain point, athletes choose to gear down. One of the big names that made that decision last year was the ever congenial, multiple National champion, Ilse Geldhof.
Her goodbye was said in Torhout, and she did it with a bang. Her last race, her last national jersey. It simply does not get better than that.
She was more than a big lady on the national scene. Top 10 placing during World Championships, podia in Powerman races; this lady is a pure international. Lest we forget her performances in the French Grand Prix circuit, one of the more renowned duathlon circuits in the world, where Madame Duathlon more than once made the difference on her bike.
Ilse after winning her final Nationals.
Picture: Mario Van Acker
7ty.3 Leuven
It’s the first half of the year in Belgium and more often than not, the wettest. 2017 was the exception to the rule. The 7ty.3 in Leuven went bent under a premature heat wave in May and alongside, the athletes were moaning.
Entering the run in top position and booked for the win were Tom Mets and Joke Coysman. Both of them met the man with the hammer. Or better yet, the man with the bunsenburner. Three simple kilometers was what Tom came short for a sure win with more than one minute lead at the time. Joke had a lead of over three minutes, but just the same, the last stretch was one too much.
Tim Brydenbach and Leen Vanden Daele crossed the finish and were victorious. Well deserved, since dealing with the elements is one other part of triathlon.
Brydenbach after winning in Leuven
Picture: 3athlon.be