Zilver en brons

Een weekend vol met sport wedstrijden, marathon Rotterdam, Parijs Roubaix en tijdrit Boender, stuk voor stuk mooie evenementen. De een om zelf te doen de ander om vanaf de bank te volgen. Or Paris Roubaix is ​​also as an event to have done once! Maybe even to think about. This year I have chosen for the combined NK and EK Powerman duathlon long range. Previously, it was held in Venray but in recent years the race will take place in Horst aan de Maas, a cozy village in the north of Limburg. A beautiful game that is tightly organized, compact course, Walking rounds of 2,5 km and a bike laps 20 km. The competition over the long haul is about 15 km lopen, 60 km fietsen en 7,5 km lopen. so 6 walk round, 3 bicycles and 3 walk. On public interest not to complain and not about participation, there were 348 participants at the start of the long distance. A I do not even talking about the sprint distance, power kids and students duathlon. And, costs, that are not small but you get a lot in return. It is a long day, about 5:30 am the alarm went on 9:30 hour stand at the starting line. When the starting gun sounds, it seems a bunch of young dogs that are released, it's really amazing how fast starts. I had the feeling to walk somewhere at the back. The jury acted strictly on, no corners could be cut off if it was trimmed with ribbon or there was a juror. The six rounds went as planned within the hour. Niet te hard, with some reserve to cycling. To get out of the village followed a route with many curves and then get into the open field. There appeared to be a tough wind and then it turns out that we Dutch participant are used to it. The Dutch do not have to have significantly more trouble with the wind. Final second round corners feel weird, the bike is not tasty more. It will not be true, the band will end very slowly, which already has been the case during the long rides on the Saturday morning training. I had to replace the tire, but to no avail. On straight roads had to do it, but in the corners it was careful. On the second run, The first kilometer was heavy, but then I was still in the rhythm as in the first run. The forces were well distributed. Met nog 1,5 kilometers to go I was passed by a Swede, which could well be in my category. I turned on and hung on 2 meter, it went well until another came along which went a step harder. The Swede went with him and I could not this acceleration and had to let him go in sight of the finish. I finished in a time of 3:15:57.it would be enough for a podium? The long wait had begun. I knew Edwin Ophof well before sitting with and possibly the Swede. The home also could not find a rash on the Internet. After a hot shower and some food at the results trickled in. Silver at the Dutch championship and third in the European championship, a fitting tribute to a beautiful sporty Sunday and said Nikki Terpstra won Paris-Roubaix.

Men 50-55

1. Edwin Ophof ned 3:01:12

2. Tomas Benglsson zwe 3:15:33

3. Piet van Tol ned 3:15:57