Category Archives: Countries

YES! We did it!

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Category : Racing , South-Korea

Today our Belgian military team won the bronze medal in the Military World Games!

It was a great experience to be on that podium together with Bart, Thomas and Marten next to Korea and Brazil.Individually I ended 4th, not far from the podium. But I must admit that the numbers one, two and three were too strong for me today. After a fairly good swimming number (in a turbulent sea), the head of the race regrouped during cycling. I got a good start at the running, but after 1,5km I could no longer follow the fastest runners. Halfway through the race I had dropped back to 9th but, after a while, I got back into my rhythm and was able to move up to 4th place. Running felt a whole lot better than the during last few races and I felt great.

This race boosts my morale for my preparation for the last race of the season in Tongyeong (South Korea) in two weeks. Thanks to the Belgian delegation, which contributed to this unique experience. #topsportdefensie

Flashforward and throwback to the Military World Games

Category : Racing , South-Korea

Although the major triathlon of the year takes place tomorrow evening (Belgian time) in Hawaii, I won’t be there. My teammates and I will appear tomorrow morning (6:00 Belgian time) in Pohang (South Korea) at the start of the Military World Games.As a team we’ve a reputation to defend: four years ago the Belgian team won a bronze medal. Bart, Marten, Thomas and I will try to match this result, but it’ll be pretty difficult, since two figureheads of Topsport Defense are starting in Hawaii and not in Pohang. (See photos from the podium in 2011 to find out who these toppers are!) Our main competitors today are the French, the Brazilian and the Russian team.

Preview Military World Games

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Category : South-Korea

After a good week home I’m already packed to go abroad. It’s time for the Military World games in South-Korea. As a top-class athlete for Defense I couldn’t be absent!
It’s about to be a great experience and the South-Korean will be making great games.
Friday night there will be a ceremony for the opening and the South-Korean already gave us this video so we could prepare ourselves on the “soldier dance”! I’m excited!
Greetings,
Simon

Teamvictory of the day and the final ranking victory!

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Category : Belgium , Racing

Yesterday I joined my SMO-specialized teammates at the start of the T3 series in Lille. With both the men and women we were in de running for the final victory of the circuit. While winning the victory of the day for both men and women we also had the final victory!
Enjoyment for athletes, fans, management and sympathizers.
Obviously we had to compete first. After a great swim I was in the head group with 3 of my teammates. De first 4 athletes of the day determine the team ranking and our biggest rival (Atriac) didn’t have any athletes in the head group. So while on bike we pushed really hard and widened the distance systematically. While running we kept our position and the victory of the day was ours!

65th place WTS Edmonton

Category : Canada , Racing

The WTS race in Edmonton didn’t go as I had hoped it will. Cold and wet circumstances changed the race in a fight with myself and the cold. I couldn’t perform on a high level and a place better than 54th wasn’t in it for me.
Very frustrating, because I trained towards this race for the last month and I wanted to show my increasing condition. In 2 weeks I will have a new chance in Chicago. In the meanwhile, I will be training in Edmonton for a good week, luckily today under the sun.
Thanks for al your support!

Bronze European Cup Riga

Category : Latvia , Racing

It was since 2011 that I started in a EuropeCup. For my hunt in itu-poins for the world ranking I went to Riga (Lithuania) this weekend together with Kjel de Hertog. Last minute some big names joined the starting list (like Alexander Bryukhankiv, 7th OS Londen), so my goal in getting some points was harder to achieve. Luckily I had a secret weapon for my own and Kjel De Hertog would adjust his race on mine. His assignement was to close up the hole at the head while cycling. So I could start from the best position for my run. This kind of teamwork is played by the best countries and I knew Kjel would be my man for this.
It went just as expected, afther 15 kilometers of cycling where Kjell his indicator barely went below 400 Watts we joined the head group of the race. In the last kilometer he helped me perfect for the second changing. Now it was up to me to finish our teamwork.
Bryukhankov lived up to his role and got away like he always does. After this it was way more exciting for the other medals. In the first round of running I had to let 3 men go en was in 5th place. In the second round I fought myself back in the race en joined the 3 guys in front of me, where the 3rd guy had to go. Despite some attempts of getting away it ended with a sprint. Here I had to let Syutkin (UKR) go but was able to stay in front of Turbayevskiy (RUS).
After I missed the start of this year I dropped a lot of places in the world ranking. The biggest problem with that is that I couldn’t qualify for the “big” races. Thanks to my performance today I rose to the 85th place on the current world ranking, so hopefully it will be high enough to start at the WTS Grand Final (WC) on the 19th of September.
Mission accomplished and many thanks to Kjel!

Throwbackthursday

Category : Greece

Throwbackthursday: July 23th 2005, today 10 years ago, I was standing at the start of my career and at the start of the European Championships (juniors). Still lots of good memories and not disappointed with my 18th place. I didn’t notice that the British guy, whom I beat in the sprint, would be such a champion.
Results and a picture from back in the day.

52nd place WTS Hamburg

Category : Germany , Racing

Hamburg is already over. It will always be a great experience to race in front of the craziest public in the world! Although I’m missing the condition to make a great party, 52nd place isn’t a great result. I knew on forehand I can only race successful with a good preparation. But then again I could get a great impression and I’m hungry for getting back to training. Next WTS will be September 6th in Edmonton.
Now it’s time for training!

24th place EC Geneva

Category : Racing , Switzerland

Back home from the European Championship Olympic Triathlon yesterday in Genève (Swiss). With my comeback on the stage of the international triathlons I finished 24th. A result that I was pleased with, looking at the limited preparation the last months.
In very warm circumstances we dived in “Lac Leman” at 12’o clock for a 1500m swim without a wetsuit. I swam moderately and came out of the water in the third peloton. After 20km cycling we could join the second peloton where my teammate Jelle Geens was. Then it went quiet in our group, so the first group with about 20 men could start running with a 2 minute lead. The temperatures were rising and I was happy I could get some refreshments while walking. It didn’t go that well after cycling for 40 kilometers, so I chose to start at my own pace. I could steal some places systematically en with a nice sprint at the end agains a Ukraine athlete I finished 24th.
I’m feeling like I need a lot of work to reach my best level. But I’m pleased with where I am now! This is a good standpoint from where I can perform strong in the end of the season. It was also just a lot of fun to be back internationally.
Result:
Pictures with thanks to Katrien Decru, more pictures from the Belgians on the European Championships
Thanks Nieuwsblad, for the article!

Victory in Vilvoorde!

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Category : Belgium , Racing

As announced I was at the start of a triathlon since long time. Vilvoorde was the place to be and I had a nice comeback race, with a first victory as result. After the swimming part, together with coach Stijn Goris, I tried to get away quickly on my bike. But the Atriac-train (Tim VH, Wannes S, Tom M, Koen V) was there fast. They tried to win the teammatch by bike, but together with Stijn we hold it together, so the running finale would be decisive. While running I could run away from the competition really quick and the victory was mine without any threat. After a difficult period where I struggled with glandular fever it was mentaly really good to start with a victory.
Check out the articles:
Nieuwsblad
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