Michael Raelert started into the new year of racing with a first successful competition. In Pottsville Beach, Australia, the Rostockian took the win at the Tweed Coast Enduro triathlon. In 3:58:41 hours, he won at the Ironman-70.3-distance event, consisting of a 1.9 kilometer swim, 90 kilometers of cycling and a run of 21.1 kilometers. Australia‘s Luke Woolfe won the silver medal in 4:03:49 hours in front of his fellow countryman Chris Boyle (4:08:36 hours). "I am quite satisfied with this first competition," Michael Raelert said after the race, "it was a first solid step into the season."
Michael Raelert headed into the competition in Pottsville Beach in the region of New South Wales out of full training. "It was a race to see where I am," said Michael Raelert. He decided to add the Tweed Coast Enduro triathlon to his schedule a few days out of the competition together with his coach Brett Sutton. "We had some tactical plans for this test, and I think I was able to fulfill these ideas quite okay," Michael Raelert said.
During the swim, the Rostockian took the lead together with his longtime mate Clayton Fettell and the other Australian Clint Jones. "We hit a fast pace to open up a gap to the field," Michael Raelert said. He managed a good swim performance in 24:47 minutes and came out of the water in second place right behind Fettell, side by side with Jones. On the bike, Clayton Fettell and Michael Raelert then continued the lead and set the fastest splits. While the Australian rode the 90-kilometer lap in 2:12:15 hours, Michael Raelert got off the bike after 2:12:18 hours. "On the run, I then kept on with my race plan," said Michael Raelert. In 1:21:35 hours, he ran the half marathon in the second-best time of the day to take his first victory of the year.
The success in Pottsville Beach means a solid start into the new year of racing for Michael Raelert. "I want to work on my strengths in the upcoming weeks," he said after his win, "there is still space for improvement, and I really want to improve." After the Tweed Coast Enduro triathlon, Michael Raelert returned to his training camp in the Gold Coast area to continue with his work for the season.