Brick sessions with a difference – Wurf preps for IRONMAN SA at UAE Tour

It’s safe to say that no other athlete lining up for IRONMAN South Africa on Sunday will have had the same race build-up as Cameron Wurf.

The Aussie, who was 11th at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona last October as he saw his bike course record go to Sam Laidlow, was in action last week at pro cycling’s UAE Tour.

Riding for the INEOS Grenadiers, who he helped to a famous Paris-Roubaix victory last April, he’s revealed how he manages to still get his triathlon training in while part of the pro peloton.

Nice a big target

He told Cycling News: “I’m not too concerned about my fitness dropping from this week, if the stage is a bit more tranquilo and about sitting in the wheels, I do a bit more exercise before the stage or afterwards.”

That’s involved swimming in the morning before stages – or runs afterwards, pretty much unconventional brick sessions!

And looking at the year ahead, it’s clear he still has strong triathlon ambitions, explaining: “I’ve got a few Ironmans planned, the South Africa Ironman is next weekend and … apart from that, there’s the Ironman in Lanzarote in May, and one in Nice in June, and then all being well I’ll get an opportunity to try at the World Championships next September in Nice.

cameron-wurf-kona-2022-bike — Wurf in action at Kona last year [Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN]

“The Ironman stuff is for me, but the team’s a lot bigger than me, so that’s 100% the priority. I’ll contribute the best I possibly can to get the best results.”

Wurf left it relatively late before qualifying for last year’s IMWC with a dramatic second place at IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz in July.

And he’ll be looking to tick that box early this weekend, with the top four in South Africa all rewarded with spots in Nice.

Written by

Jonathan Turner

Jonathan is Editorial Director for TRI247 and RUN247. He was previously Head of Digital / Comms for pro cycling’s Team Sky and now spends as much time as he can running with his local club. Swimming is not yet on the radar.