Gold at the World Duathlon Championships for David Vaughan

Gold at the World Duathlon Championships, Rimini, Italy - Wednesday October 1st 2008

by David Vaughan

I’ve just returned from the World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy where in my best performance to date I came second overall and won the Gold medal in the highly competitive 30–34 Age Category!

The World Championships has the biggest, most competitive field for any race during the season so it was very difficult to pick who I thought were the favorites for victory, but I had picked out some very talented German athletes and of course the British guys I know all about. Dan Corner was the top Brit as far as I was concerned and he was in my Age Group, so I was planning on keeping a close eye on him during the race.

The first 10 kilometre run got off to a ridiculously fast start as expected in a big champs race. I however took it easy and was way down the field for the first few minutes – Probably in about 60th place! But I took it out at a steady fast pace and soon started pulling my way through on each of the four winding laps.

By the end of a very fast and long 10 kilometre run I came into T1 in sixth place with the leaders just ahead and within striking distance.

The bike course consisted of six seven kilometre laps on a pan-flat out and back course along the seafront. I quickly got into a fast rhythm on the bike, picking off places and at the first turnaround I could see how close I was getting to the leaders.

As I completed my first lap I was already lapping slower riders and it became unclear where I was now placed in the field as the course became busier. An old foe of mine was now becoming a problem though . . . once again there was a lot of drafting going on. I did quite a bit of zig-zagging and shouting to try to get riders off my wheel, but there were large groups forming behind me. I did my best to ignore it and kept my head down and pushed through it not letting anyone get ahead of me.

On the fourth lap of the bike, the race referees became a lot more active in stopping the offenders, as several riders were penalised and given on the spot time penalties. It was from this point on that I managed to make my advantage count on the bike, as I pulled away from the chasers and broke away on my own. I eventually came into T2 in third position overall and in the Silver medal position for my Age Group, but with a big group of chasers close behind it was all coming down to the very fast final five kilometre run to the finish!

Things got really interesting on the second run with my long standing rival, David Roper from Team GB running shoulder to shoulder out of transition. Together we quickly caught the leader of my Age Group and distanced the guys behind, as we battled for second place overall and slowly pulled in the lone leader ahead. Roper was setting a fast pace. but I stayed with him, then at the halfway point I noticed a slight drop in his pace so I moved straight through and started to open up a gap. Now I had my sights set on the man ahead, but going onto the last lap he was pushing the pace. I was slowly gaining on him all the time and really giving it big licks as I knew the finish was getting ever closer. Alas the finish came too soon, but I crossed the line with a burst of speed comfortably in second place overall to claim the Gold medal in my Age group at the World Duathlon Championships 2008.

At the end of the 2007 season I set some goals for 2008, one of which was to finish on the podium in these championships and to finish top 10 overall, which I thought was ambitious at the time. To take the Gold and place second overall makes this my most proud result in the most competitive race I’ve ever done, and a huge improvement on 32nd overall last year!
2008 has been a long and successful season for me and I have really exceeded my expectations of what I could achieve this year. All of my previous results though were eclipsed in Rimini where I really gave it all and finished with nothing left and a greater result than I’d have thought possible. However it was not a result achieved on my own. It was only with the help and support of so many people that I have been able to get to the start line let alone to top the podium.

I’d like to thank the guys at GCR who push me in every run session hail, rain or shine. The guys at North Road CC who draft me every bike session (mainly in rain!) The guys at Mark H for time off and forgiving lycra in the office! Eamonn Tilley and the Irish Team for their support and well done on the proud results we all achieved. Major thanks to the giant green foam hand brigade of family and friends who travelled out to Italy watch and make A LOT of noise! you were the talk of the whole event! Laurence for his part in our international wheel-sharing co-operative not to mention all the training guilt he gives me. But most of all to Clare who’s had a crash course in being an athlete’s Mrs and has graciously settled for the scraps of a man that’s left over when all the training has been done! And of course all the friends who offered support and wished me luck.

I’d like also to remember my Grandmother Ruth Vaughan who died on September 25 only three days before the race in Italy. Her memory carried me through the toughest times and always will.
RUTH VAUGHAN 1914–2008.