Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014 | Page 44

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Mike Cannon

Who’s Gonna
Take TriRock?
Next month, triathlon fever hits KZN with
the TriRock Durban on Sunday
5 October offering athletes stunningly
scenic venue and routes, and we
caught up with some of this year’s
favourites to ask them how they feel
ahead of this great event.

T

Ma

Marinda
Engelbrecht

With insight beyond his years, Mike explains what attracted him to
triathlon: “I’ve always enjoyed pushing myself, seeing how far I can
go and testing my body. The sport appealed to me because it’s one
where being ‘fast’ isn’t quite fast enough if you haven’t mastered the
other two disciplines. You’re constantly learning, modifying and making
changes to your training programme to gain those few extra seconds.
You are not only competing against others, but also against yourself.”

WINNING WAYS

he TriRock Durban will start with a 1.9km swim at the Bay of Plenty,
followed by a 90km bike leg along the North Coast and a 21km run with the
Moses Mabhida Stadium as iconic backdrop. Besides stunning scenery, the race
will once again feature some of the hottest KZN triathlon talent, including the
winner of the recent TinMan Triathlon on Durban’s beachfront, Mike Cannon,
who is enthused about TriRock taking place on his ‘home turf.’
“There are so many talented athletes in KZN, who are often starved of races.
I have raced overseas quite a bit and can confidently say that the TriRock
Durban ranks amongst one of the best races I’ve ever done. The supporters
are unreal and the scenery is beautiful, which makes racing more of a pleasure
when it’s on your home soil. This year’s race is going to be tougher, with an
almost 100% increase in numbers.”

Images: Courtesy TriRockSA

Michael Davidson

Another one to watch is last year’s TriRock Durban race winner,
Michael Davidson, who looks set to do well again thanks to his sense
of motivation and the dedication he pours into those hard hours of
training: “My main motivation is to improve my performance every time
I go out and race. Often my aspirations are at a higher level than my
level of preparation, or what my body is prepared for, so if I’m beaten,
it simply makes me train harder!”
And what is the champ’s favourite part of racing? “The purity of
competition, the elation of winning, the introspective moment when
you realise you’re not going to win, the support, the weekend warrior
battling up a hill, the little boy staring at you while you are deep inside
the hurt box.”

BALANCING ACT

In the women’s race, last year’s winner Marinda Engelbrecht will
be hoping to def