Ironman Italy 2021
Great insight and race report from club member Theo Wells, who competed in Ironman Italy in Emilia Romagna.
“The annoyance with “James”, our GPS, and the seemingly endless dual carriageway without an exit are soon forgotten as we arrive at Hotel Vienna in Cervia.
Danilo, his brother Simone and their colleagues immediately make us feel at home. Smiles, enthusiasm and a genuine sense of hospitality more than compensate for the lack of appearances. Having taken over the hotel three years ago, some of their renovation plans are still on hold due to Covid. The rooms are basic but clean and perfectly adequate. Welcome biscuits, water in the room, a small fridge and air conditioning cover the essentials.
Before dinner we take a stroll along the promenade towards the Ironman venue on the public beach to get our bearings. We stop for a beer at one of the small bars with its own private beach. Life as a non competitive age grouper requires balance.
While Marie, my better half, heads for the city of Ravenna, I spend my time dealing with the usual race formalities, enjoying the buzz and resting. Security is fairly tight and the digital certificate is needed almost everywhere, but the mood is relaxed and the enthusiasm of the volunteers is infectious. On Friday morning my bike gets a quick check up at the Felt courtesy tent. It is good to know all nuts and bolts are tightened again after the journey.
At 4.40am in the morning on race day I am greeted with big smiles and a loud “Buon Giorno” along with extra breakfast options for the athletes in the hotel. Some of us walk to transition together for the final checks. We are not fast swimmers and will be starting later, so we head back to the hotel to put on our wetsuits.
On the beach the atmosphere is the usual mix of friendly banter, laughter, nerves and anticipation. The previous two evenings our trial swims were challenging due to a heavy swell. We are in the last two groups to start. Face masks go in the bin at the line. Beep, beep, beep and we are off.
After the initial swim out to the first buoy I manage to stop fighting the elements and settle into my stroke. Riding the waves becomes enjoyable and a group of us make steady progress. Some however appear to struggle with the conditions and I hope they all make it safely through the swim.
Heading into transition I am happy with the swim. Despite having done no more than nineteen swim sessions this year I manage to hit my target time without exhausting myself. The transition area seems endless though and I walk most of it. My transition times will not be impressive.
The bike course winds out of town through wetlands and small villages and is generally smooth and pleasant. Not perfect, but certainly more visor and bottle friendly than the hills around Youghal in 2019. Apart from swallowing a foul smelling flying protein supplement, I somehow enjoy the two loops of the dual carriageway section. The distinct rattle of disc wheels from the front runners and the motorbikes of the Polizia Stradale escorting them sweep past.
Pleasant country roads follow. Volunteers and police cover the many junctions while residents from the villages cheer us on. Then comes the climb towards Bertinoro. It is short but sharp and catches out a few riders, especially when a passing storm delivers a heavy downpour during the second lap. At the top of the climb my chain comes off due to a poor gear change. Another classic old man technical stop. The descent afterwards is fast and requires concentration.
Over the final fifty kilometres back to Cervia I find a good rhythm and the rain fades. I am pleased with the effort. As we roll back into town I exchange a few friendly words with Philip from Naas. This time I take the opportunity for dry socks and a quick adjustment of the kit. “Now where did I put that towel?” Marie finds this highly amusing as she reminds me how organised I claimed to be.
Almost there. Just four laps to run. My run walk strategy through the aid stations works well and I make steady progress until the third lap when I start to feel nauseous. Perhaps a bad gel choice. Neither cola nor walking settles the stomach. A short conversation with a young Belgian athlete, Roel from Hasselt, who is also having a tough patch convinces me to pick up the pace again and keep moving. As the moon rises over the sea I realise I might even make dinner tonight.
We cross the drawbridge into the old town of Cervia one final time for the closing miles. The atmosphere is electric as we wind our way towards the famous Ironman finish without walking another step. Paul, the voice of Ironman Cervia, calls out the famous words as I cross the line. I take the chance to pay tribute to my good friend Jean Paul who passed away from motor neurone disease. My thoughts also turn briefly to other friends who have faced serious illness or who are no longer with us.
Around the finish area the cheers of athletes mix with the activity of the medical teams who are busy assisting those who have struggled with the distance. For me it is time to collect my bike and gear and thank the volunteers and referees who have been nothing but friendly, cheerful and helpful throughout the day.
On Sunday morning I wake feeling surprisingly good with very little soreness. It is a perfect day to watch the start of the 70.3 and Olympic distance races. Like the full distance race there is a strong Irish presence, giving us plenty of athletes to cheer on while enjoying a piadina and a beer on a terrace.
One weekend and three great races.
Thank you Cervia. Arrivederci.”
Read more race reports from Cairlinn Traithlon Club