Once on, it’s that Speedsilk fabric that draws the attention. Created from a hot-press treatment, it’s utilised on the front torso, the side panels and the legs and is said to be aerodynamically swifter than regular Lycra. The aero appeal is continued with the pinstripe fabric woven into the arms and back in an effort to create the turbulent ‘golf ball’ aero effect to reduce drag. The race-day comfort continues with a long zipper guard, secure leg grippers and a spongy chamois
that has endurance appeal.

We analysed the Speedwear Concept at the Boardman Performance Centre’s wind tunnel in Evesham under the watch of Boardman’s head of science and technical development, Jamie Pringle, and it posted very impressive results at the 0° yaw angle (simply, the direction of wind on the bike) especially, figures that put it ahead of many £200+ tri-suits we’ve tunnel tested. For £25 extra, Bioracer also sell ‘Aero Tube’ calf guards for those searching out every possible watt reduction and a wealth of custom kit options.

It’s the lack of pockets that’ll divide opinion, however, and is something we saw in last issue’s Ironman tri-suits test in the form of the Orca RS1 Dream Kona. So is it worth the fuel-carrying penalty for the aero gains and enhanced, non-wetsuit swim hydrodynamics?

In our separate wind-tunnel tests at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub conducted by Stephen Roche (thebiketailor.co.uk), adding two energy gels to each of the Huub DS tri-suit’s back pockets in the tri-bar position while riding at 45km/h added 31:08secs at 0° yaw angle or 46.42secs at 5° yaw to a 180km Ironman bike leg, which is certainly something to be considered by the elite and top, top-end age-group long-course whizz kids out there.

For many (definitely this back/midpack triathlete), however, we’d rather have the option of using pockets on the run and in training, even if we don’t utilise them on the bike leg when racing. So, personally, we’d prefer to use the Speed Concept for short-course racing only, but there’s much to admire here for the multisport speedsters out there and anyone racing non-wetsuit swims. 

Verdict: lacking pockets, but a speedy, smooth and swim-friendly suit 85%

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Launched today (1st June 2020), the Extreme Triathlon Series (XTS) consists of five truly tough events in Europe and South Africa, including the Austria Extreme, the Czech Republic’s Winterman, Stonebrixiaman in Italy, Pirene in the Spanish Pyrenees (pictured), and South Africa’s Knysna Extreme.

“Each event is unique in itself, with varying terrain, scenery, distances, challenges and characteristics but with one common feature across them all – they are all focused on the athletes’ experience, with a family atmosphere,” say the XTS organisers.

When an athlete completes all five races within the three-year period, they’ll become an XTS athlete. Athletes who complete the challenge will also get an XTS shirt, bag and a free ticket to one of the participating Extreme triathlons in the series. Their name will also be listed on the Extreme Triathlon Series Wall of Fame.

The series joins the Xtri World Tour (Norseman, Celtman and more) on the extreme iron calendar, with the XTS organisers saying they’re open for more events to become part of their series.

The current races and next dates are below, with the total elevation gain of the bike and run legs listed.

Winterman (Czech Republic, 11 October 2020) – 3.8KM Swim | 180KM Cycle | 43KM Run – 4,700m gain
Knysna Extreme (South Africa, 21 November 2020) – 5KM Swim | 174KM Cycle | 50KM Run – 3,800m gain
Pirene (Spain, 26 May 2021) – 3.8KM Swim | 177KM Cycle | 40KM Run – 6,500m gain
Austria Extreme (Austria, 26 June 2021) – 3.8KM Swim | 186KM Cycle | 44KM Run – 5,800m total elevation gain
Stonebrixiaman (Italy, 3 July 2021) – 3.8KM Swim | 180KM Cycle | 42KM Run – 7,050m gain

For more information, head to the XTS’ website and social media pages.

Website – www.xtri-series.com

Facebook – www.facebook.com/xtriathlonseries/

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YouTube – www.youtube.com/channel/UCoU-Zg4WB6bqsFhRxrXF3KQ

It’s the latest initiative from the race organiser that has witnessed tens of thousands of triathletes sign up to compete or complete its free weekly virtual challenges on either the turbo and treadmill or by uploading data files.

As part of its Ironman Virtual Club, slots to the postponed 70.3 World Championship in Taupo can now be won through a four-race duathlon series – comprising one 70.3 distance and three standard-distance race formats – with points weighted towards the longer distance. For the 70.3, a 5km run replaces the 1.9km swim. A 3km run starts the shorter event.

The Championship Series kicks off with its VR10 challenge this weekend (5-7 June), with each event having to be completed within a 12-hour period and the top three results counting. It’s free to take part, but while it might add a welcome incentive for many triathletes, it also raises yet more questions over the veracity of virtual racing that can be largely brushed aside when it’s just for fun.

Launched in partnership with training set-up Rouvy, Ironman VR was announced on 1 April and was no April Fool – although if you were to put too much faith in the results you might be taken for one. It was hastily and understandably rolled out in reaction to Ironman’s Covid-related quandary. After all, few industries are hit harder by a pandemic than global events organisers. Timing for its cash flow running dry could hardly have been worse. Ironman was already facing legal proceedings from investors over a disappointing share flotation, and was on the cusp of pushing through an agreed sale to new owners.

Ironman does deserve credit for acting swiftly, though, and all too aware of potential for result manipulation, the organiser is now ratcheting down and set to introduce new rules that will weed out eyebrow-raising performances and attempt to give virtual reality racing increased credibility.

It’s already split its offering into Classic and Challenge divisions, the latter for the more serious contenders and the one that will be used for Ironman 70.3 Worlds qualification. In this class, cycling is restricted to the stationary bike on Rouvy (not on the road), with runs conversely having to be completed outdoors (not on a treadmill).

Without losing ourselves in the weeds of this, Ironman CEO Andrew Messick has pledged to imminently release updated rules including pulling together an ‘e-racing bio athlete passport’ that will provide a holistic look at individual race performances and assess if any mistakes (aka cheating) has taken place. The forensics mean results won’t be posted until the Tuesday following the weekend’s racing.

Ironman is trying a fail-fast policy and prepared to make tweaks as it goes. If it doesn’t pass muster for the community, Messick says his instinct will be to “shut it down”, the chief exec being well aware opinions remain divided about whether virtual racing has any compatibility with the traditional side of the sport.

Certainly, many professionals, while embracing the concept of virtual racing with Ironman or the popular pro Zwift races, have been at pains to point out it shouldn’t be seen as a proxy for regular racing. The Professional Triathlon Organisation recently pulled back from attempting the 2020 Collins Cup in a virtual format on Zwift.

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As for the prize on offer, Ironman is not a brand associated with subtly, but this is about as light-touch as it gets for morphing virtual racing into real world scenarios. It’s been reported by triathlete.com that only ‘around 100’ [Ironman Will Award 70.3 World Championship Slots At Virtual Races]  slots will be given out initially – a tiny percentage for a 70.3 world championship that is typically packed with 6,500 age-groupers over two days of racing.

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Enervit are Official Nutrition Partners for the Ironman European Series, UAE Pro Cycling Team, TREK Segafredo Pro Cycling team, Dublin Race Series including the Dublin Marathon, Peterborough Marathon, Wicklow 200 sportive and the Ring of Berra sportive.

Follow Enervit on Facebook and Instagram  

September’s Sandman in Anglesey and Snowdonia’s Slateman races are still on their race calendar for 2020, and there’s an Always Aim High virtual series of races.

Here’s the statement from the race organisers…

“Thank you to everyone for their continued support since our last update on the impact of COVID-19 on our 2020 events.

Working closely with everyone involved, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Odlo Snowman Triathlon & Duathlon, and the Aqua Sphere Snowman Swims to next year.

As always the health, safety and well-being of everyone at our events is at the heart of everything we do. Our decisions have been based on discussions and with Plas y Brenin, public bodies, sports governing bodies, and other parties, as well as taking note of any official Government guidance. Our priority is to minimise disruption and do everything we practically can to support and protect our athletes, staff, volunteers, spectators and suppliers.

If you have entered the 2020 Odlo Snowman or Aqua Sphere Snowman Swims, you will already have been sent an email giving further information about the options available to you. Currently, all events in our calendar after the Odlo Snowman Triathlon weekend will remain in place. However, we are constantly monitoring the situation and taking advice from all relevant bodies. We will communicate developments as they unfold and will maintain regular contact about the status of our events.

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In the meantime, we have been working hard behind the scenes on ways to keep the Always Aim High Community active. Our Virtual Events have been extremely popular helping to keep you active while raising very welcome funds for some amazing local charities. Thank you for your continued support with this not for profit community initiative. Thanks again for all your patience and understanding.”

The race, long sold out in 2020 and one of the most popular events on the worldwide Ironman calendar, will next be held in Tenby on 11-12 September 2021. Ironkids Wales is also off until 2021.

Here’s the short statement from Ironman on the cancellation.

“With the health and safety of our community being an utmost priority, and in alignment with Pembrokeshire County Council in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, we can confirm that IRONMAN Wales and IRONKIDS Wales originally scheduled for the September 5-6 weekend cannot take place in 2020 and will return on September 11-12, 2021. Athletes that are registered for the event are receiving an email with further details.

“While we are prevented from holding the event on the original event date, we are looking forward to providing athletes with an exceptional event experience in the future.”

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More information can be found at ironman.com.

While it’ll never match the real thing for enjoyment and satisfaction, virtual racing has plenty of benefits for keeping athletes focussed, helping with training goals and technique refinements, and getting you to use some of that dusty race kit.

As we’ve personally found at 220 via the Ultra X virtual run series this summer, they’re also a massive amount of fun; a (slightly) competitive venture to look forward to at the weekend and a reason to create another WhatsApp group between your mates. And a good excuse for a celebratory glass of your preferred cold tipple on a Saturday night.

CASTLE VIRTUAL SERIES

WHAT A series of three-day weekend events from the Castle Triathlon Series organisers

When The Cheshire Cat 19-21 June; The Kentish Horse 3-5 July

COST £10-20

CHARITY 20% of the entry fee to Macmillan Cancer Support

DISTANCES 40 race types, including Duathlon, Triathlon, Run only, Swim only, Cycle only, Aquabike and Aquathon

WEB ENTRY

www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk

ALWAYS AIM HIGH EVENTS

WHAT Monthly challenges from the race brand behind the Slateman and Sandman Triathlons

WHEN From 1-30 June

COST £12

CHARITY 20% of the entry fee going to five charities via Always Aim High Community Events

FREE STUFF Bespoke slate coaster and Always Aim High Events buff

DISTANCES

DUATHLON 25km RUN – 100km BIKE

RUN/WALK 25km,50km, 75km, 100km

RUN Half Marathon in 24hrs

CYCLE 100km, 150km, 200km, 250km

KIDS 3km, 5km, 10km

STAIRCASE30 Climb the cumulative height of Mont Blanc (4808m) in 30 days

WEB ENTRY alwaysaimhighevents.com

XTERRA CONNECT SERIES

WHAT Less a virtual race series than a collection of instructive videos on training tips, strength and conditioning advice, and skills tutorials to aid improvements in off-road triathlon performance while Xterra’s race calendar is on hiatus.

WHEN Ongoing

COST Free

WEB INFO www.xterraplanet.com

IRONMAN VC

WHAT Ironman’s Virtual Club is the brand’s hub for virtual racing and information, with the Ironman VR (Virtual Racing) element seeing athletes compete in challenges while earning points. It’s since become the platform for Ironman qualification as well, with 70.3 Worlds slots up-for-grabs via a duathlon race format (cycling is restricted to a stationary bike on the Rouvy platform) on the Ironman VR Championship Series.

Are Ironman’s virtual 70.3 worlds qualifiers a good idea? 

WHEN Weekly. Virtual races will begin on Fridays at 6pm (GMT) and close on Sundays at midnight GMT.

COST Free

DISTANCES A range of distances, the 5-7 June Ironman VR10, for example, was a 3km run, 40km bike and 10km run.

WEB ENTRY www.ironmanvirtualclub.com

OUTLAW LOCKDOWN TRIATHLON

WHAT A monthly series of races from the Outlaw Triathlon organisers, OSB, with the aim of involving the whole family as well as Outlaw entrants.

WHEN 30 June 2020

COST Free

DISTANCES Three events are on offer. The Future Outlaw involves one “lap” of swim-specific S&C exercises, an 8km turbo bike and 1.5km run. The Outlaw Sprint is two laps, 25km on the turbo (or 35mins on a bike if no smart trainer) and a 5km run, while the Outlaw Half is three laps, 56km (or 86mins) and a 13km run.

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WEB ENTRY www.resultsbase.net

As Club President of the Guernsey Triathlon Club, I felt pretty proud of both the club and the island to be able to put this event on. Guernsey has been Covid-19-free for 40 days, so we were able to relax some restrictions and crack on with the show!

Unsurprisingly, even with the restrictions relaxed, it meant the race was a bit different to your normal triathlon. To adhere to the new guidelines we split competitors into two waves, with a maximum of 30 athletes going off in each; released in groups of five at one-minute intervals; doubled our draft zone on the bike; and asked athletes to maintain social distancing on the run – unless overtaking.

Guernsey Tristhlon returning towards normal service. @BritTri @220Triathlon https://t.co/mOCItEk51c

— Guernsey Triathlon (@GuernseyTri) June 11, 2020

We had around 60 athletes take part in total, and I arrived early to do the race briefing. It was just so great to see everyone and also see how most of our top athletes have maintained their fitness throughout lockdown! The first race was for our island’s most competitive athletes, so those wanting to represent Guernsey at the Island Games. I went in the second race, and as it was my first actual race for about eight months it was a bit of a shock to the system!

The weather had been amazing throughout lockdown, and the sea had been looking inviting… until race day, obviously! By the time race two set off the swell had really picked up. I’d been put into the first swim wave, so we lined up in groups of five with one metre in between us. It took a while to get through the swell, and sighting was virtually impossible, but fortunately one of the water safety crew put on a bright jacket, so we all headed towards him. I was pretty pleased with my swim, but unfortunately my wave included a Channel swimmer and one of Guernsey’s top pool swimmers. It was their first triathlon experience – they left me for dust!

The bike course was a technical out-and-back along Guernsey’s coastline. I’ve been mountain biking a lot through lockdown, so the TT bike hadn’t been out much. My transition skills were also a bit rusty as we’ve missed our duathlon season. With the wave starts it was hard to know who you were racing, but I managed to pick off a couple of people from my wave!

The run was fast and furious as always, even along the coastal paths where there were several areas of deep sand. On finishing, and once the results had been sorted, I was thrilled to find out I’d come second! All in all it was a great event, and the whole club is now really looking forward to being able to race a full calendar of races from here on in.

Check out the September issue of 220, on sale 6 August, for a seven-page race report from another Guernsey competitor and more great images from the British Isles’ first event.

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