Race Preview - Euro Cross Triathlon, Riva Del Garda

Sunday will be my sixth, and final, international race this year. The ETU European Cross Triathlon Age Group Championships in Riva Del Garda, Italy.

In terms of my personal performance, I expect on current training form to have a decent swim and a solid run but nothing spectacular from either, and have no idea at all what might happen on the bike.  

There are only 13 registered starters in my age-group, of which 3 are Brits. I have beaten one of those so my chances of securing an auto-qualifying place for next year (top-10 overall and top-3 Brits) is pretty good. 


Here are my targets:

0. Don't get injured. 

    I still have a string of smaller events (and a Scottish Championship) coming that I don't want to miss.

1. Race well. 

    Not very specific, but basically I just want to come away without having a sulk about how I swam, rode or ran.

2. Finish with my average percentage at this level. 

    I finished at 71.4% in my previous ETU Cross-Try, and 77 & 71.4 at my two ITU Cross Tri races. So an average of 73.3%. That would have me finish in 10th place. 

3. Finish with my best percentage at this level.     

    71.4% would be 9th place out of the 13 starters.

4. Finish in my average place at this level. 

    Well that would be 18th, out of a field of 13!

5. Finish in my best place at this level. 

    My best at ETU is 20th but since there are only 13 starters that is meaningless. I have a 10th place from ITU that fill this target instead.

6. Finish in my best place at any international

    As I type this that would be 6th to better beat my Cross Duathlon performance from Romania last year, but by the time this race comes round that has possibly moved. Given the strength of the front-runners in this field I can't really see this one happening.

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