Cam Wurf secures second podium of the season after rollercoaster week of racing
Despite celebrating his 40th birthday last summer, Cam Wurf still shows no signs of slowing down, after the Australian capped off a manic seven day period of racing with a podium at IRONMAN South Africa.
The Team Ineos Grenadier, who in the week preceding the race had competed in both the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallone, impressed in the swim, bike and run to finish third in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, which will now definitely feature a seventh IRONMAN World Championship appearance, the Tasmania native said he was looking forward to a little time off.
“So relieved to finish on the podium here”
Having finished fifth in South Africa this time last year, Wurf shared his relief after securing his Kona spot, after coming under real pressure in the closing kilometres of the run.
[Photo credit: James Mitchell / Club La Santa IRONMAN Lanzarote]
“So relieved to finish on the podium here at IRONMAN South Africa today. After a great swim I was into the lead early on the bike. When Rasmus Svenningsson rode up to me I hit him with absolutely everything I had.
“Rasmus simply weathered the storm, then very emphatically, rode away from me in the last 50km. I was able to claw my way back into the lead halfway through the marathon, such was my confidence in my new running form & self confidence in general.
“Alas it happened again, Rasmus fought back & barrelled past me yet again, this time laying the knockout blow with 10km to go. I most certainly bit off more than I could chew with this bloke!
“Spent & wobbly, I was passed for second by the flying Mathias Petersen in the final 2km, leaving me to hang onto the final podium spot by the skin of my teeth. My wife still got her flowers after all!”
“I cannot wait to represent my country once again”
Making his seventh IRONMAN World Championship start list and fifth in Kona, the Australian said he is already excited to show up to the Big Island of Hawaii in six months time.
Photo Credit: Richard Pearce for IRONMAN
“I’m incredibly excited to qualify for Kona, it doesn’t matter if it’s for the first time or the 5th time. It’s always a real buzz & I cannot wait to represent my country once again on the Big Island, at the Ironman World Championships in October.”
Looking back at his crazy schedule, the PTO World #55 admitted that the spring had been action packed and said that now was the perfect time for a little R&R.
“I’m totally exhausted, it’s been a busy week for me. With the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday & Flèche Wallone on Wednesday with the Grenadiers, travel to South Africa, and then the Ironman, I’ve certainly had a very productive and busy spring. Time for me to take a couple of quieter weeks to rest up for the Summer.”
