2011 ITU Cross Tri World Champion, Conrad Stoltz

conrad-stoltz-wins-itu-cross-tri-worlds

Photo by Janos Schmidt/ ITU Media

2011 ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion. Has a nice ring to it. Didnt anticipate the 5th World title to come so quickly. But it was a lot of fun.

I didnt know what to expect of the ITU’s new off road triathlon concept, but I was curious to see how it would be, the timing was good and of course, it was World Champs! So I got the visa and climbed on a plane from Denver, not quite knowing what to expect.

I really enjoyed the shorter distances and the lap course (4 lap bike for 20km) and 2 lap (for 6km) run. The spectators (mostly age groupers who raced earlier) really got into it and lined the course to cheer and watch the action.

ITU style pontoon start. No Euros creeping forward and starting when they feel like it.

itu-cross-tri-worlds-2011-conrad-stoltz

Somehow I managed to lose 90″ in the 1000m swim – maybe its because I was too late to warm up and dove off the pontoon cold turkey. So when I hit terra firma, I hooked the bike flat box right out of T1.

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I think I started the bike in 18th place, 1.30 down, but soon started catching some big names. As I flew the big wheels by them I kept thinking, “oh, Eneko must be having an off day”, and  “oh, Marceau must be hurting”, Richard Stannard on a fully rigid Niner and skinny tires was bouncing around like a pinball. So that, by the end of the Bliz lap, I was in 2nd, only 10″ behind Seth Wealing. Thats when I knew I had the race in the bag. So I throttled back a little, tried not to make mistakes, (esp when the rain came down) and started building on a good lead for the run. I prefer winning races on the bike and “jogging” it in on the run. It doesnt happen often, but when it does… it hurts a lot less.

conrad-stoltz-itu-cross-triathlon-world-champion-bike

Photos: Triathlon.org Janos Schmidt/ITU

As you can see I went with my trusty Specialized S-works 29er Epic with which I plowed through the grassy, sandy, muddy and rocky lake shore. I went with the fast rolling, short knob Specialized Renegade tires, because there was relatively little cornering, and traction was pretty good everywhere. In practice… Of course on race day the skies opened halfway through the bike and the course became quite slippery in places- resulting in a few giggles.

The Specialized Terra shoes were great in the water crossings- the 1st few pedal strokes after a dunking there would be little fountains of water squishing out, but I knew they’d drain better, and be lighter when wet than any other shoe out there. We have worked on these Caveman custom off road specific tri shoe for a few years now, and by August they’d be available at the Specialized dealer near you!

Sometimes there was a wet line

conrad-stoltz-itu-cross-tri-worlds-watery-bike

Photo: JACVAN

And sometimes there was a muddy line. Couldnt figure out which is the fastest.

conrad-stoltz-itu-cross-tri-worlds-muddy-bike

Photo: JACVAN

But I did know the fastest line through the rocks. Straight!

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Foto by Jozef Tomasovic

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Foto by Jozef Tomasovic

The crowds were great. The bike course had 4 laps of 5k and he run 2 laps of 3k so the age groupers and spectators could really get into it. Even when the rain came down.

crowd-support-at-itu-cross-tri-worlds-conrad-stoltz

I had a 2min 30 lead on Seth and 3min on Olivier coming off the bike, which I thought was comfortable enough, but I thought I’d make sure, and since my running form came around nicely, I nailed a good 1st lap and gave away only 20″or so.

conrad-stoltz-itu-cross-tri-worlds-run

Photo: Triathlon.org Janos Schmidt/ITU

Come on Seth, 2nd is not that bad! Seth Wealing (2nd), Caveman, my Sydney Olympics buddy Olivier Marceau 3rd.

itu-cross-tri-worlds-podium-conrad-stoltz

Photo: Triathlon.org Janos Schmidt/ITU

Felt a little weird but warming to represent South Africa after all these years* of racing for my sponsors and myself only. *My last SA representation was at the Athens Olympics

Results from ITU website

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Behind every fast/strong man there is an even faster/stronger woman! This is one of my favourite sporting memories and I’m so happy to have been able to share it with Liezel. The volunteers behind us were doing the “whooooooo la la” thing. Before I got whisked off to Doping Control. How romantic…

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The South African team! A great bunch indeed. Boerewors bly koning!

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Spain was really great. Particularly the region of Extremadura where the race was held. Quiet, beautiful country side, and old, crowded cities where seemingly each town is part of an old fort or castle. Strangely I have never been to Spain, but my French and limited Mexican Spanish from the USA allowed a fair amount of communication, but we did have a few very interresting food experiences…

Liezel and I were in Castell y Leon the same time as the Soccer World Cup trophy and Alberto Contador. Didnt touch the beef here either.

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Home made hotel room tapas with real Roquefort and amazingly cheap anchovies

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No Spanish meal is complete without wine

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Still cant get over the Extremadura country side.

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Hotel bike wash. Just like I did back in our apartment in France back in 1992. Hey Kevin? “Hey! Ek moet my gat daar was!”

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Found the perfect use for that foot wash thing in the bathroom… (I’ve been tempted to google “bidet” to see what that thing really is meant to do)

handy-flower-pot

Comments

Landscaping Edging 11-06-2014, 18:37

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Reply
Caveman wins XTERRA Beaver Creek | Conrad Stoltz XTERRA Triathlete 18-07-2012, 18:35

[…] But if your hotel has no garden hose, a good bike wash starts in the shower. Dylan washed 3 bikes as part of his pre race prep. Here is my version in Spain 2011: Bike Shower. […]

Reply
Caveman wins XTERRA Mountain Champs in Beaver Creek | Conrad Stoltz XTERRA Triathlete 18-07-2012, 16:12

[…] But if your hotel has no garden hose, a good bike wash starts in the shower. Dylan washed 3 bikes as part of his pre race prep. Here is my version in Spain 2011: Bike Shower. […]

Reply
Conrad Stoltz 4 x XTERRA WORLD CHAMP » Caveman wins XTERRA Mountain Champs in Beaver Creek 17-07-2012, 21:08

[…] But if your hotel has no garden hose, a good bike wash starts in the shower. Here is my version in Spain 2011: Bike Shower. […]

Reply
Conrad Stoltz 4 x XTERRA WORLD CHAMP » Avia Mantis debut at ITU Cross Tri Worlds 13-05-2012, 17:12

[…] I’m in Alabama getting ready to defend my ITU Cross Tri World Champion title coming Saturday.  (2011 Race report here.) […]

Reply
Specialized Trivent TERRA. Caveman’s XTERRA specific cycling shoe available to public. | Bicycling 09-01-2012, 10:03

[…] – Thin, super breathable mesh upper. Doesnt get too heavy when wet, cool in hot climates, lets water through. (See ITU Cross Tri Worlds report) […]

Reply
XTERRA Worlds 2011 | Bicycling 09-01-2012, 10:03

[…] close to my race pace and trying to run wasn’t even worth it. However I had a great season- won ITU Cross Tri Worlds in one of my best performances ever, won my 9th XTERRA USA Series title, and best of all, in less […]

Reply
Conrad Stoltz 4 x XTERRA WORLD CHAMP » Page not found 24-10-2011, 21:51

[…] cormactooze: Hey Conrad if Triathlon doesn’t work out for you, you can turn to comedy, har, har-Nice Blogging… […]

Reply
Conrad Stoltz 4 x XTERRA WORLD CHAMP » Specialized TERRA XTERRA specific cycling shoe available to public. 09-09-2011, 18:46

[…] – Thin, super breathable mesh upper. Doesnt get too heavy when wet, cool in hot climates, lets water through. (See ITU Cross Tri Worlds report) […]

Reply
cormactooze 11-05-2011, 06:44

Hey Conrad if Triathlon doesn’t work out for you, you can turn to comedy, har, har-Nice Blogging 🙂

Reply

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