This was for sure the hardest, and most challenging race I ever competed in. The Austrian Championships over the Sprint Distance 2017 took place in Maria Lankowitz, in the south of Styria. Due to
injury I had to take a 5week long running break and cycling was only possible moderately. So my season start would happen at the Austrian Champs...I have never been to Piberstein (Maria
Lankowitz) but I never imagined it that tough.
The swimming was intermitted by a short shore-leave, which was nice for the public thought. Leaving the transition zone, we had do jump on the bike on an ascending slope, which made it very
difficault to get on the bike. The bike course was very hilly and required every inch of muscle that my body possesses. Additionally there was a 100m long "pushing-passage" where you had to get
off the bike and push it. The running course started with some nice serpentines up a hill, followed by a hilly up and down in the sun around the Piberstein sea on none-steady paths. The finish
line was again on a little hill, that required the last bit of energy left in my body.
On the whole, it was the hardest race in my life, but I faced up to this challenge and made it through the finish and officially started my Triathlon season. Next up: Kitzbühel!