Abu Dhabi International Triathlon 2013

Hello,

The beginning of the season started with a victory and lots of emotion for Frederik Van Lierde. Saturday, with the first big race of the season, when Frederik gained another international title at the Abu Dhabi Triathlon.

The race: Frederik came out of the water in the leading bunch after the 3km swim and he took the lead in the first 40km of the bike section. Only a few of the favorites could join the leading group after this first part. Frederik kept on riding in the front of the group however.

At km mark 170 Frederik decided to put the hammer down to see who could follow. Only the Spanish Eneko Llanos was able to do so, but he also lost some time by T2, there was a 35sec gap between the 2 athletes.

No reason for Frederik to hold back, he kept the pressure on and started at a very high running pace. 1h12min for a 20km run ... he left no chance for the other competitors to come any closer. Frederik finished in 6h41min, winning for the second time the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon after his win in 2011.

A good start of the season gives him the confidence for the rest of the season. His next races are 70.3 Oceanside (USA) in the end of March and Extreme-Man Salou (ESP) on the 5th of May. On the 23th of June comes the second big goal of the season with Ironman France in Nice.