Chris Ghiorse & Gillian Howe win 2013 BVI Steelman
The Steelman includes a grueling 1.5k swim across Well Bay, a 40k bike ride around the airport road and then a 10k run to the finish.
Ghiorse, using all his experience and executing his race plan to perfection, managed to hold off a very competitive group of men to win the race in a time of 2 hours, 37 minutes and 05 seconds, ahead of Austrian Alex Scheer who came home in 2:39.15 and Guy Williamson in 2:40.10.
“This was a very lucky race for me, but I know a lot about how to be efficient in Triathlons. I drafted off some strong athletes and was able to take full advantage to build a lead, which was a good thing as I really can’t run,” Stated Ghiorse. “I knew once I got in front I would have to work hard although it felt like slow molasses.”
The wind had been a contributing factor in allowing tactics to take full effect as drafting or tucking in behind another athlete becomes a very important part.
“Sitting in behind the likes of Orano (Andrews) is like sitting in a comfy armchair,” he noted “and that was really important because I don’t have the legs for running and Guy (Williamson) took like 8 minutes away from me in the closing few laps. I was counting steps at the end and was just walking by the end.”
Defending Champion Richard Morgan pulled out during the bike leg whilst struggling to overcome a rib injury that occurred a couple months ago.
In the women’s race, Gillian Howe held off Julianne Potgieter, who had won the previous event, a half triathlon, with a time of 2:59.34. Potgeeter finished in 3:01.09 with Kay Reddy third in 3:12.32.
The relay event was won by the G.I. Janes, comprising Liezl Vanderschift, Lisa Adamson and Katrina Crumpler in 2:32.01.
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