The Riyadh Triathletes faced one of the hardest and hottest events of the season with the dreaded Double Duathlon on Friday the 13th.
This event consists of a four-kilometer run, followed by a 10-kilometer cycle ride, a three-kilometer run, another 10-kilometer ride, a two-kilometer run, yet another 10-kilometer ride and finally a one-kilometer run. The event was hosted at Ranco Farm, a regular venue, so club members were used to the course and well aware of the many leg-sapping climbs and the very sharp corners on the downhill section of the cycle route.
Thirty-one competitors began the first of the four runs, all which followed an “out and back” format. Steve Tomlisson (M – Veteran) came home first just ahead of Antonio Castellanos (M – Open) and Dave Wright (M – Open) who finished together.
After the quickest of transitions Gerd Muetze (M – Open) was first to return to transition completing the opening 10-kilometer ride in 00:17:33. Castellanos came home second with Nasser Al Mutrad (M – Open) in third place.
At the end of the second run, Tomlisson had regained third place, with Castellanos and Muetze switching places at the top. Casetellanos and Muetze again switched positions at the end of the next ride, this time joined by seasoned cyclist Scott Waight in third place.
By the end of the two-kilometer run Muetze, Castellanos and Tomlisson were fighting between themselves for the top three positions. Muetze took first overall, benefitting from his consistently faster transition times.
In the Category B race Freda Gocian (F – Veteran) dominated the bike stages, and despite being relegated into second place in most of the run stages by Katerina Holeckova (F – Open), Gocian took first place overall. Congratulations must also go to the club’s triathlon newbie Loreli Watson (F – Open) who battled on to take third place in Category B.
All the competitors would like to thank the supporters for enduring the early morning start and distributing much needed water throughout the race.
Riyadh Triathletes would also like to thank Carrefour @5 le Mall for their support for this season.
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Results:
Category A: 1st: Gerd Muetze, (M-O), 1:39:31; 2nd: Antinio Casetllanos (M-O), 1:41:53; 3rd: Steve Tomlisson (M-V), 1: 42:34; 4th: Nasser Al Mutrad (M-O), 1:49:43; 5th: Scott Waight 1:50:13
Category B: 1st: Freda Gocian, (F-V), 2:11:36; 2nd: Katerina Holeckova, (F-O), 2:13:44;
3rd: Loreli Watson (F-O) 2:50:54
Muetze and Gocian hold off competition to win
Muetze and Gocian hold off competition to win
UEFA opens probe into ‘discriminatory behavior’ toward Vinicius
PARIS: UEFA said on Wednesday it would “investigate allegations of discriminatory behavior” after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during a Champions League match in Lisbon.
Tuesday’s first leg of the knockout phase play-off tie was stopped for more than 10 minutes after Vinicius complained to French referee Francois Letexier about the alleged abuse following a confrontation between him and Prestianni.
That came just moments after Brazil international Vinicius scored a sublime goal before picking up a yellow card after celebrating in front of the home crowd at the Estadio da Luz.
After arguing with Prestianni, Vinicius ran over to the referee and told him that he had been called “mono,” the Spanish word for monkey, by the Argentine midfielder.
The 20-year-old Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt as he appeared to say something to Vinicius, denies racially abusing the Real Madrid star.
Real’s England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold said the incident had left a sour taste in the mouth.
“It’s disgusting. What’s happened tonight is a disgrace for football. It’s ruined the night for the team,” he said.
Real forward Kylian Mbappe called on Prestianni to be banned.
“We cannot accept there’s a player playing in Europe’s best competition and behaving like this,” the France captain told reporters.
“This guy doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League again.”
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho hit out at Vinicius for inciting Benfica’s players and fans with his celebration.
“When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way,” said the Portuguese.
