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Mehluli Sibanda, Sports Reporter
GIDEON Benade carries Zimbabwe’s hopes at this year’s Bonaqua Troutbeck Sprint Triathlon African Cup to be staged in Nyanga on 17 February.
Benade is the only Zimbabwean competing in the elite men’s section where he will be lining up against triathletes from South Africa, Germany, Namibia, Luxembourg, Australia and Hong Kong. The 19-year-old Benade is the first Zimbabwe to take part at the Troutbeck event since former Olympian Christopher Felgate last competed in 2012.
Over the years, Benade has competed as an elite junior and this year is his opportunity to line up against some of the best in the world. Notable elite men who have confirmed their participation are Namibian, Jean-Paul Burger who finished second last year and Linus Stimmel of Germany, the third best man in 2017. Benade said having lined up at Troutbeck before, he knows what to expect from what he described as a hard route to negotiate.
“I have competed at this course as an elite junior for four years so I know how to do it very well. The course is very tough, especially the run because the run up to the timeshares is very stiff and after a hard bike course up those hills as well, the legs are very drained and it takes very tough mental capacity to finish that course in a good time,’’ Benade said.
As part of his gearing up for the race day, Benade has been working with professionals in South Africa so as to try and learn something from them. He was in Bloemfontein from 2 to 15 January.
“For this course basically I am preparing some strength mileage so that when we get to the course those hills don’t feel as tough and doing a lot of cardio to help with those hills. This last year I have been going to training camps outside the country with other elites to train with them and know how it feels like to race at their level,’’ Benade said.
On his chances, Benade is well aware that he is up against seasoned professionals but he is eager to do his best. Benade, who finished his advanced level at Peterhouse Boys in 2016 has obtained a qualification in personal training as a well as International Triathlon Union level coaching certificate.
This year marks the second anniversary for Bonaqua as the official title bankroller after they took over from Schweppes Water who had been the sponsor for three years. Other partners who have maintained their support for the event include Bon Marche, DHL, Rooney’s, Ilala Lodge, KW Blasting, Bokomo, Dendairy, Hellenic Academy and Bratz Basement.
Plenty of competitive sports activities which include the elite Under-23 sprint, HAC 18km road run, aquathlon, super sprints, off road triathlons, tri-kids and team relays are lined up on the same day.
Zimbabwe Triathlon Union president, Rick Fulton said the Troutbeck event has had Africa Triathlon Cup status for 11 years, which makes it the longest running competition on the African continent. Fulton expressed his appreciation to the sponsors who have stood by the sport over the years.
“We are very grateful to all of our sponsors, who have noticed that this is a lifestyle type of sport and is fun and certainly very family-oriented. The appeal, thankfully, has been noticed and we are very proud to be associated with sponsors in particular for this event being Bonaqua, Bon Marche and DHL,” Fulton said.
Last year, German born Jonas Schomburg lived up to his pre-event favourite tag when he beat dark horse, Burger to second place and Stimmel to third. Schomburg pocketed $750, Burger got $500 and Stimmel got $250.
Aoi Kuramoto of Japan won the women’s race, beating South African Cindy Schwulst to second and her compatriot, Chika Sato to third. Kuramoto took home $750, Schwulst pocketed $500 with Sato getting a $250 reward. Schwulst is one of four South Africa women confirmed for the event while the other female entrant is from Hong Kong.
The prize money package for this year stands at $3 000 with first place in the elite men and women to pocket $750 each, $450 will go to second placed triathletes while those third will take home $300. -@Mdawini_29
Online Reporter