2011 starts in Wanaka with Altitude Camp (...& Back racing)

After a couple of weeks in Christchurch training around the bays. I head up with Andrea, Kris Gemmell & Dylan McNeice to the southern Alps of NZL for a serious training block at atltitude.
It's my second time at the Snowfarm and I must say I am still amazed to train in such a great place. The trails are endless for running and we have really good swimming facilities in Wanaka which is 30min drive from the top of our mountain.
The triathlon World was on fire last weekend as Wanaka city was hosting over 2000 triathletes to compete.
Tony Dodds, NZL team member and racing in his home town made up a little challenge doubling the prize money to anyone able to beat him in the Tri NZ series Elite men... Dare on!
Media involved, the race venue was packed when most of the top kiwi olympic distance athletes started in town at 8:10pm.
I was the only foreigner in the race and I was excited to kick off 2011 after a 2010 season made of injuries.
The race went well and we did it the hard way. To be honest, I wasn't really excepting that for this time of the year.

I excited the water in the front after 750m wetsuit swim in choppy lake wanaka. Straight on the bike, Kris Gemmell, Tony Dodds, Aaron Barclay and myself put the hammer down and we were happy to see we made a gap with all the rest of the field.
We ended up the 20k bike with a 30" lead a little bit exhausted but surrounded by the huge crowd.
Kris Gemmell dictated the pace early on the run. After 1,5k I decided to surge, a good move. I held the lead and crossed the line first in front of local Tony Dodds followed by Kris Gemmell.
I really enjoyed the race and I am happy to be back racing at this level early on the season.
I am now back into my altitude training in the middle of the mountains. From here, I wish you an happy new year.

Take care.
Laurent

Results:
Finish/Name/Swim/Bike/Run/ Overall
1er Laurent Vidal 09:08 / 29:54 / 14:13/ 53:15
2eme Tony Dodds 09:06/ 29:56 / 14:29 /53:31
3eme Kris Gemmell 09:10 / 29:51 / 14:46 /53:47
4eme Ryan Sissons 09:16 / 30:24 / 14:08 / 53:48
5eme James Elvery 09:12 / 30:28 / 15:05 / 54:45

Press Release from TriNZ
Frenchman steals the show in Wanaka

Autumn joy

Hello everyone,

It's been a long time since my last update. I must say that I prefer the simplicity of my twitter account when I don't have much to say...
2010 was really stressful for my body with all these accumulations of injuries , I pushed myself a bit far but that was the plan.
Two months of recovery were useful before I felt completely back to good form.
I restarted training with four easy weeks to get back into it and three consistent weeks just to get ready to rumble when the big miles will begin in NZL next week!
On the menu this autumn were long runs with headlamps where I learnt to deal with adrenaline releases each time a wild pig crossed the trail in front of me, a swimming race with the ex top triathletes but now talented businessmen (P & F. Dorez= Men behind Zerod ) and to finish, the French X-country Military championships last Friday in Orleans.
A race I like, with mud, big puddles and pretty much all the best french runners, as most of them are military.
An explosive cocktail, I got nice muscle fatigue, sore lungs but most importantly a good result considering the period!
The Military Triathlon team got bronze and I took 12th place in between very good runners (results below).
I am now in New Zealand for 4 months, I guarantee that I will be very busy!
See you soon
Laurent
Xcountry results:
1 NIYONKURU ABRAHAM 29:19.76
2 THEURI JAMES 29:24.30
3 NDEMI ABEL 29:28.19
4 LETELLIER LOIC 29:34.52
5 MURAGA JOSEPHAT 29:47.42
6 JONCHERAY PIERRE 29:58.59
7 JAOUEN FABRICE 29:58.86
8 EL MEDOULY FOUAD 30:10.02
9 TAMBWE PATRICK 30:13.34
10 ROUAULT GREGORY 30:16.64
11 JALLAL NOURDINE 30:20.03
12 VIDAL LAURENT 30:22.05
13 BELTRAN Sébastien 30:38.36
14 BRI HIRT HASSAN 30:54.28
15 CHEKHEMANI RACHID 30:57.86
...
18 HAUSS DAVID 31:37.36
23 DAUBORT BRICE 32:15.58
25 RAPHAEL AURELIEN 32:40.09

TT French Cup.

This weekend I raced the Team Time Trial Frech Cup with the Lagardère Paris Racing.
On a sprint format (750m/20km/5km) the Beauvaisiens were the strongest and won the the title.
My team, took 7th on a very tight finish ( 4 teams in 15sec).
It was my return to competition after a six week break . I am quite surprised about my feelings and I really enjoyed the flavour of a team spirit in triathlon.
I'm glad to be back.
See you soon.
Laurent
(Photo: J.Zipf, S.Jutus, M. Fortier Beaulieu, M.Essadiq & L.Vidal)

End of the season but confident.

Hello,
I just finished a series of intensive tests to establish the reasons for my collapse occurred during the last round of the World Championship in Kitzbuhel.
All the tests are really reassuring, as the conclusions excluded any cardiovascular disease or disturbance .
It's really reassuring because this diagnosis does not affect my athletic ability, it shows instead that I probably pushed a little too hard...
Unfortunetly, I suffers from two broken ribs forcing me to rest for three weeks.
In these circumstances , I must withdraw the end of the season ...

Cheers