Preparation
First race of the season, so expecting to be a bit rusty. Compared to last year I finally contracted a coach and the biggest change was to train less and not always hard. I was aiming for a better overall time compared to last year, wasn't sure it would be realistic or not.
2024:
- Swim: 0:17:11
- Bike: 2:31:44
- Run: 0:42:25
- Total: 3:37:49
Location
Registration, swim, T1/T2 and finish line are all located near the "Kanaalbar" in Bilzen along the canal. So from a logistics point of view this race is very easy. The swim is a one loop setup in the canal, the bike course was a flat 3 loop setup and the run course was a rolling 2 loop setup.
Swim 0:18:59 (AG-62/244)
- I started relaxed up to the first buoy and tried to pick up the pace from there onwards. Almost the entire swim I had clean water and looking at the recording I didn't swam to much off course. Maybe I should have tried to swim a little more on the feet of other athletes but I didn't really felt like I had other athletes swimming at my pace around me. Overall a controlled swim. Looking at the time/pace I should have pushed it more - 1:53/100m.
- Comparison:
- 2024: 0:17:11 (1:43/100m)
- 2025: 0:18:59 (1:53/100m)
T1 0:02:34 (AG-52/244)
- It felt like it took ages to get my swim suit off and my bike gear on.
Bike 2:30:00 (AG-36/244)
- 3 loop flat course setup, with long straights alongside the canal perfect to put your head down. I recorded 91m of elevation, basically just two bridges to climb per loop. Pretty cold day, the last lap I was unable to use my shifters on the handlebars because my hands were so cold, luckily I could still use the ones on the aero bars.
- Target power numbers were 250-265W. Felt pretty good from the beginning and started to pick people off. As always it was a pain to drop people drafting horribly and surging to try to pass groups not giving them an option to jump on my wheel. Around 50k my legs were already complaining but I managed to keep my power numbers relatively steady in the target power range through the entire 100k. As always my cadence dropped a bit as the race went on.
- Nutrition wise I took a gel every 30', drank 750ml per hour and took a salt capsule every +-45'.
- Comparison - almost identical to last year's numbers:
- 2024: 2:31:44, 46th, 39.2km/h, NP of 268W, 35/194
- 2025: 2:30:00, 36th, 40.0km/h, NP of 268W, 36/244
T2 0:01:36 (AG-38/244)
- Used elastic laces, so relatively quick transition. No cramps the first few meters off the bike.
Run 0:44:29 (AG-102/244)
- Relatively quick my quads started to play up, getting close to cramping up. I just tried to manage it, took a salt capsule and after a while it started to fade away. Felt as well flat during the run so I took a gel around 3k. I was taking a gel/salt capsule every 30' on the bike, with the last ones at 2h into the ride, as the bike ride took 2h30 I started running while it had been 30' since my last gel/capsule. In hindsight I should have taken a gel/capsule just before hopping of the bike before T2 to avoid cramping up and have energy to start the run. In the 2nd half of the 2nd lap I finally started to feel a bit better and was able to pick up the pace. Bit disappointed with my run time as it was 2 minutes slower compared to last year, although I was aiming for 4:20/k and I got that overall.
- Comparison
- 2024: 0:42:25 - 4:13/k - 71/194
- 2025: 0:44:29 - 4:20/k - 102/244
Overall 3:37:40 (AG-49/244)
- Overall happy with my race especially as I was able to pick up the pace in the 2nd half of the run and the bike leg was faster than last year. Surprised with my slow swim though. Overall not a bad first race of the season!
- Comparison
- 2024: 3:37:49 - 40/194
- 2025: 3:37:40 - 49/244
Result
- Swim 0:18:59
- T1 0:02:34
- Bike 2:30:00
- T2 0:01:36
- Run 0:44:29
- Total 3:37:40
Tags: iLumen Bilzen Triathlon 111 race report, race report iLumen Bilzen Triathlon 111, Triathlon iLumen Bilzen Triathlon 111 race report
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