After the Xterra Morocco, which took place on February 24th. Should have taken place was canceled, I spent a week in Morocco and trained for the Xterra Oman, which took place last Saturday on March 3rd. took place in Khasab/Musandam. I arrived highly motivated on the previous Tuesday, which wasn't so easy with all the border regulations from the UAE. Arrived safely, I visited the running and cycling course and swam in the harbor. The bike course was very flat but all the more rocky. It was fun but at racing speed it really hurt. The run was flat and fast, 80% road. The days before I also went on a boat tour to the islands, enjoyed Omani food and watched dolphins.
We started the race from a ferry, we couldn't miss a 5m jump into the water, then followed a shortened swim of 1000m, which I completed in 4th place: I then started on the bumpy but fast bike route through the rocky desert of Musandam I was 4th but I quickly moved up to 3rd and then 2nd position. Only one competitor from the USA was too fast. Together with a colleague from the Netherlands I started the running course in 2nd and 3rd place; it was a battle for places. A comfortable cushion behind us. The American gave up a bit towards the end and we pushed each other to peak performance. When I reached the finish line, I had to admit defeat to a slightly superior Dutchman and ended my start to the season in second place in the elite. The trip was a success. In 2 weeks we're going to the first World Cup in Taiwan.