A swift transition by all ensued and I found myself briefly leading the elite race of the world's largest duathlon on my bike. I was happy to call it a day there and then (!) but the superb biking strength of Tarik Djeddour and Julien Lhomme*, (both fellow GB duathletes and silver and gold medalists at the European championships respectively) kept the pack working and in pain for the whole lap of Richmond park though we only lost one of the original 6. For me at least, the bike felt tough and I only just managed to hang on all the way round. I knew the 2nd run would be a struggle with comparatively little left in the tank and so it proved. I still managed to get past the 5th placed man but you can only be so happy with 4th.
So close, yet so far.
Anyway, congratulations to my mate Phil Holland who finished first with a superb tactical race and an exceptional tasty last run.
* Shasha, Lhomme and Djeddour = all good English names!!!
The elite field of the 2009 London duathlon
Coming out of T1, closely chased by Tarik
The first 5 Come into T2 after 18 minutes of attacks and pain
Starting the final 5k, ouch
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