{"id":5530,"date":"2015-02-16T19:58:36","date_gmt":"2015-02-16T17:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conradstoltz.com\/?p=5530"},"modified":"2015-02-19T09:49:24","modified_gmt":"2015-02-19T07:49:24","slug":"caveman-does-dualx-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conradstoltz.com\/index.php\/caveman-does-dualx-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Caveman does DualX #1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

Momentum Health OatWell DualX powered by PeptoPro<\/a>\u00a0 held at Hakahana, Pretoria. Quality pix by Zoon Cronje.<\/a> The rest- probably mine.<\/p>\n

The other great thing about spending my first winter in South Africa (since 1991) is now I can do the interesting local races I’ve been missing out on. Been following the DualX\u00a0 off road duathlon series from across the ocean via the interwebs and vicariously through Theo Blignaut.<\/a> I’ve heard about the fantastic Advendurance <\/a>organization, decent prize money, “real” run and bike courses… but mostly I heard of the “unbeatable Brand du Plessis.” I didn’t realize exactly how unbeatable until I learnt he hasn’t lost an off road duathlon in 6 years.<\/p>\n

In a league of his own on the run,<\/p>\n

but also mixes it up on the podium with the MTB Pros. And World Marathon MTB Champ 35-40.<\/p>\n

Other then “gooi mielies Pappie!”, I didnt have a strategy.<\/p>\n

The gun went and I realized: “they werent kidding! This dude doesnt even touch the ground”<\/p>\n

\"Brand<\/a><\/p>\n

Brand burning us off in the opening 200m.<\/p>\n

Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually reads this blog, so I did\u00a0 a quick “cut and paste job” from DualX press release<\/a>:<\/p>\n

[The highly anticipated showdown between duathlon racing star, Brand du Plessis, and multiple Xterra World Champion, Conrad Stoltz, played out in spectacular fashion at the first leg of the Momentum Health OatWell Dual Cross, powered by PeptoPro near Pretoria at the weekend.<\/em><\/p>\n

Stoltz was admittedly anxious about tackling Du Plessis on his home turf and at altitude: \u201cI Googled Brand and I knew he would put 1-2 minutes into me on the run, so it was always going to be a challenge,\u201d said Stoltz, who lives in Stellenbosch when he\u2019s not racing abroad.<\/em><\/p>\n

As expected, it was Du Plessis that fired the first salvo, setting a blistering pace ahead of the experienced Stoltz on the first run over five kilometres at the Hakahana Trails venue, just west of Pretoria. <\/em><\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

I tried to limit my losses. Was ready to lose as much as 2min over the technical, hilly 5km, and was somewhat relieved with 1.15 down…<\/p>\n

\"Conrad<\/a><\/p>\n

I got on the bike I thought “ok, time to tango” – but despite allowing for a 10% lower Wattage reading due to the 1500m altitude, the Ws were lagging as my legs were more than a bit dented by that unfamiliar first run!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n