The AR World Championships - Costa Rica
Tecnu in 3rd Place at AR Worlds
Earring Doug Judson / 05.12.2013
Tecnu came off the 101km bike today into TA5/TA6 looking very strong and happy to be where they were in the race. They told me that it was hot, and they were glad to be getting off the bikes, and that they had ran their own race, not focused on placement, and were happy to see that they were in 3rd place.
Karen Lundgren told me that they were all healthy, had good feet, and that they were excited to start pressing the pace and see what happens. Kyle Peter, Tecnu team captain, told me that the team had maintained their race strategy, focused on themselves and moving though the course, and not the other teams, had made smart navigation choices, and that they felt like they were firing on all cylinders heading into the tougher parts of the race course.
They moved very proficiently in transition, ate, did gear check, and grabbed 3 hours of sleep in the mandatory 4 hour stop. They got up, and left the transition area on time, about 25 minutes ahead of 4th place Columbia/Vidaraid who looked a little tired after pushing this bike leg hard to get back into the race after an early mistake dropped them back in the placement.
There is a significant gap between 4th place and the rest of the field, so it appears that it is a race for the podium for these three teams barring someone making a huge push through the mountains. Neither Tecnu nor Columbia have had a top 5 placement at the World championships so both teams will be pushing each other to the limit, not to mention the added fuel that one of Team Columbias team members used to race with Tecnu. I'm sure this will be added fuel pushing each other.
The Chirripo mountain range and what happens afterwards will test teams limits. It will be interesting to see the attrition rate after this monstrous trekking leg.
SleepMonsters
