Race Review - April 14th-15th 2012

Challenge Fuertaventura, Spain

Saturday April 14th
Distance: 1.9 km swim • 90km bike • 21.1km run

teamTBB - Gran Canaria athletes racing
Bella Bayliss
Dan Halksworth
Stephen Bayliss

Dan the man had an amazing breakthrough race finishing 2nd to Rasmus Henning!  While us on teamTBB have watched Dan kill it in training over the past year; finaly he has a race to show off his hard work.  Dan is definitely showing that he is ready to burst onto the triathlon scene as teammates Aaron and Dave have done.  We can't wait to watch Dan continue to work hard and start racking up the podium finishes this year.  In addition to Dan, both Stephen and Bella had great races too!  Despite facing some challenges with Charlie being sick and passing it on to Mom and Dad, the Baylisses toughened up and had courageous races.  Bella's first race since having Charlie was an amazing effort, and she had a great top ten finish.  While Stephen was aiming for the podium, he had a solid top ten race and is looking forward to showing his form at Ironman Lanzarote next month.

Dan was happy with his race at Challenge Fuertaventura.  Dan went hard from the start focusing on going hard from the start on the swim and bike.  He had an amazing result coming in 2nd only losing to Rasmus Henning.  Dan said he was very pleased with his first podium while on teamTBB!

Bella was very happy with her race, and teamTBB is very proud of her effort only about 9 months after having baby Charlie.  Bella reported in that "I swam well, coming out 2 minutes back from the lead.  I rode well for 40km but then the hills, wind and the hard riding got me and I did not ride strong for the 2nd half of the bike.  I need some more good miles in my legs!  In the 2nd half of the bike I was passed by 3 girls putting me into 6th place.  I stayed in that position during the run till the finish line.  It was lovely to see Charlie at the finish!"  The team is very happy to see Bella back racing, and we know this is just the start of her journey back from having Charlie late last summer!  It will be exciting to watch her continue on her comeback journey!

Stephen had a great result but not the podium finish he wanted.  Stephen said "I didn't feel particularly good from the start, but I gave it my best.  It was really great to see Bella racing again, it was a really good race by her to get back into racing again.  I was also glad to see that the training we have been doing paid off for Dan, well done Dan on a good race.  I will be get back to work in Gran Canaria and get myself ready for Ironman Lanzarote in 5weeks time."  It will be great to see Stephen join Bella at Ironman Lanzarote.  We on the team see how hard Stephen works and have no doubt that he will be on the podium where he belongs!

Challenge Fuerteventura 2012

Top men

1. Rasmus Henning (DEN) 3:57:16
2. Daniel Halksworth (GBR) 4:01:09
3. Victor Manuel Del Corral Morales (ESP) 4:01:41
4. Per Bittner (GER) 4:04:18
5. Erik-Simon Strijk (NED) 4:04:34
6. Mikel Elgezabal Fernandes (ESP) 4:05:50
7. Massimo Cigana (ITA) 4:06:49
8. Stephen Bayliss (GBR) 4:09:43
9. Nikolay Yaroshenko (RUS) 4:13:18
10. Luke Dragstra (CAN) 4:13:46

Top women

1. Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR) 4:32:41
2. Lucy Gossage (GBR) 4:35:25
3. Eva Nystrom (SWE) 4:37:11
4. Erica Csomor (HUN) 4:37:53
5. Daniela Sammler (GER) 4:38:09
6. Bella Bayliss (GBR) 4:45:40
7. Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) 4:47:44