Skip to Content. Richard Murray talks of back-to-back podium finishes in Europe, feeling like a kid in a candy store with his brand spanking new bikes and accidentally starring in his own version of The Nutcracker. Written by Richard Murray. After my exploits in Leeds, I managed to remain on the podium with a second-place finish at the Triathlon Bundesliga in Dusseldorf. It was one of the hardest bike rides all season and it was a battle on the run.
It was a tough event after a hard training week, so I was happy with my only race for the Ejot team this season. It was my tenth time racing for the German-based outfit. The Bundesliga, which is well-organised and professional, is a triathlon series in Germany comprising four races over the season. It is a great place for German and international athletes alike to gain exposure to high-class racing. I began racing in the second division Bundesliga, which is where international triathlon started for me.
I get paid an appearance fee along with the prize money as well. In contrast, when competing in the ITU World Series races you only get paid if you finish in the top And, if you DNF, you have to foot the hotel, food and flight bills yourself, so it can get pricey if you endure a few bad races. A number of the younger guys I was competing against took selfies with me before and after the race, which was an interesting experience. At the age of 29, I was the third-oldest competitor in the Bundesliga, while my teammate, Lasse Luhrs, who has a very youthful appearance, is only We easily jugged down a two litre beer as the podium finishers.
The drug testing in Germany is interesting because they are the only ones who use an iPad instead of paper. When you have a good race, you give them blood and urine samples. In the last two months, I have been tested eight times.
I took the Vado for a spin the other day but I had to charge the battery first. E-bikes appear to have become one of the most in-demand items. The Venge, also courtesy of Specialized, is back with a vengeance. This beautiful beast, with pedals and cages, tips the scales at 7 kilograms. The main focus now is on my roadbike because I will be racing in Hamburg next weekend. Hamburg is a special place for Rachel and I. Hamburg is only a drive away from where we are currently based in Beuningen, which is awesome from a logistical point of view.
