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Mehluli Sibanda in Nyanga
GERMAN-born Jonas Schomburg and Aoi Kuramoto from Japan reigned supreme at the Bonaqua Troutbeck Africa Triathlon Union African Cup when they finished first the elite men and women respectively at Troutbeck Resort yesterday.
Schomburg lived up to his pre-event favourite tag when he beat Namibia dark horse, Jean-Paul Burger to second place and Linus Stimmel of Germany to third. The 23-year-old Schomburg never looked back from the time he came out of the water with Stimmel from the 1 500 metres swim, went on to maintain his momentum in the 40 kilometres bicycle ride and 10km run to hit the winning line first. A delighted Schomburg attributed his good showing to better preparations, having spent two weeks in Pretoria having taken part in South African Championships held in Aldam Resort in Free State on 19 March.
“I was racing two weeks ago in Free State in the South African Championships, I finished second behind Wian Sullwald and now I even finish first, I am really happy about racing here, second time here in Troutbeck, I like the country, I like the people, they have been friendly so always looking forward to this race here. I was training in Pretoria for the last two weeks with Wian it’s like one thousand four hundred so it’s a bit tougher here but better than last year because I was coming from East London at sea level so I was a bit more prepared for this race, I knew the course the tough conditions ,’’ said Schomburg.
The German-born triathlete who had switched allegiance to Turkey but is reverting back to his German citizenship flies out today to Australia for the International Triathlon Union Gold Coast on Saturday and Sunday. Schomburg pocketed $750, Burger got $500 and Stimmel got $250. It was a massive recovery in the bike ride and in the run for Burger who had been the last man to come out from the swim.
Kuramoto, who also came into the women race as the front runner beat South African Cindy Schwulst to second and her compatriot, Chika Sato to third. She described the race as being tough but good fine tuning for the Gold Coast event in Australia.
“I like Zimbabwe, Japan to Zimbabwe is very far, 40 hours but I like here, I have to win this here. Race was very tiring, very high altitude. It is a difficult course but good training for me, good race for me, I feel so happy,’’ said Kuramoto.
She took home $750, Schwulst pocketed $500 with Sato getting a $250 reward.
Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane was expected to grace last night’s awards dinner. This year’s edition marked the 10th anniversary of the triathlon event as being sanctioned by the ITU as an African Cup, which is a points-scoring race for elite athletes within the ITU classification.
Bonaqua, a Coca-Cola product bottled by Schweppes in Zimbabwe is the main bankroller of the event which is also supported by Hyundai, Bokomo Weet-Bix, Bon Marche and DHL. The total prize money stood at $3 000.
Last year’s winners, Ayan Beisenbayev of Kazakhstan and St Louis did not enter this year’s competition with the Mauritian having called time on her career after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
@Mdawini_29
Online Reporter