Race Report on the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

By David Chambers (an Expatriate and Ironman Triathlon Finisher)

I drove up from Dubai, a 1.5-hour trip. So I left home at 5.30am armed with coffee, bursting to see all the professionals. I haven't been a spectator in ages so was looking forward to it - hoping to learn.

It was beautiful conditions at the start, with a flat warm sea (why some wore wetsuits was only for a faster swim-time, I think). A nice two-loop rectangular course, nice sandy beach start, extremely well organized transition area. The transition changing-area was in tents with hangers for all bags (bloody good); nice mist-showers as you came up out of the water before transition. It seemed all very well thought through in an idyllic setting next to the Emirates Palace (7-star hotel costing a billion dollars and 1km long).

Good swim course for spectators, excellent toilet facilities, etc. A family of 5, mum dad and 3 kids did the sprint - all competing for bragging rights, no doubt.

The bike mount – boy, its great to watch and learn what NOT to do! It’s amazing how good we all think we are, then, even mounting the bike it looks like our first time. I noticed we all try to be too fancy, have the shoes fixed to the pedals and then can’t get them in. Dear, oh dear. Of course the girls do it so much better, nice and slow, enjoying the event and far less competitive than the lads. Go girls!

Oh, and everyone just gets to the mount-line and stops to mount - jam. A few thought it through and walked a bit further out, then mounted in clear space. Nice.

All traffic was closed for the bikes on super flat roads with a slight wind. Macca was well down the pecking order when exiting the water, unlike in Kona...

The transition from bike to run was about 3km away, up along the corniche, again fantastic facilities, cafes, toilets, food and toilets. A bit of a walk from spectators but a good time to mix with other supporters! I met Germans, Brits, Aussies, and the usual suspects. By about 9.00am, it started getting hot, perhaps 25-28 degrees Celcius: Nice breeze, low humidity.

The press! Wow. They were all out for a shot of the professionals, complete with helicopter and massive zoom lenses.

Now the excellent thing about this event was that the professionals started first, then the short course and the sprint, but they were all rocked into the bike transition together at about the same time. How’s this, running into transition with the pros? How cool, it was plenty big enough, and what an experience for the athletes. Plus with all the hype, every one gets out of the way and just watches in amazement.

The run course was dead flat, nice, but it was getting damn hot by mid day, they were saying 35 degrees. I met Brownie at a drinks station - What a great polite guy. Standing there - talking to those volunteers handing out the drinks. They asked, 'What would you like?' He said 'Oh, I'm just looking for some iced drink please.' - Yes, he said please. Professionals, sometimes, get a bad rap. Well, he was terrific! I congratulated him on his recent NZ triumph, figured he dropped out, and left him too it. He was way down off the bike, about 9 minutes, I think. At least he made it to the bike transition, unlike Macca. Go Kiwi!

I was most disappointed to miss Macca riding into transition - not sure what happened. A bloody legend! [Apparently, Macca had problems with one of his cleats – Editor]

This is truly an international race, extremely professionally run from what I could tell. I do believe some organizers can’t see the trees from the woods at events like these. T-shirts were 150AED, or about $US45 - from the cost of the whole event, its peanuts and they should work it out with 2XU to give them away! Is that not going to be great publicity? Certainly a drop in the bucket and excellent advertising!

Oh, and it was just dandy to see Faris Al Sultan hopping off the bike and almost pulling his swimming trunks out of his bum! Yuck.

Well next year I'll be up there racing, so will be able to give you a better report from an athlete’s perspective. But a great day, great event!

Train safe.

Photo credit: David Chambers, Canon EOS 550D