The 2019 Ultra520K Canada mega triathlon transitioned into Day Two today with a mere 275-kilometer bike race.
To get an idea what that means, imagine driving from Penticton to Osoyoos, then driving just about all the way back, to Okanagan Falls. Then you zig-zag through the mountainous ribbons of road that make up the White Lake Protected Area, past See Ya Later Ranch at the top, then past White Lake itself, finally ending up at Twin Lakes. Scream down the long Hwy 3A hill to Keremeos, then head west on Hwy 3 until you end your drive all the way out in Princeton.
Now do the same thing on your bike.
As this is written, just half the athletes have completed their Day Two journey. And it's increasingly looking like a three-man battle royale for the top spot.
Finishing first in today's bike leg was Ontario's Jon Bell, with a time of 8:19:21. Just 14 minutes behind was Kevin Esser of the USA at 8:33:33. In third place was Day One leader, 52-year-old Vancouverite Barry Berg at 8:41:29. It was a relatively steep drop-off after that, with Spain's Leo Lopez Manas taking fourth with a 9:54:05 clocking.
Given that Bell, Esser, and Berg were also the top three during Day One's swim/bike leg, with another sizable buffer to fourth place, it would take a performance of Herculean proportions during Day Three's 85-kilometer run along Princeton-Summerland road to unseat any of the top trio, never mind all three.
But the results from the first two days do seem to set up a heck of a showdown tomorrow. The final placing may simply be a question of who among the top three is the better runner. Heat will play a factor too, with a projected high of 34C.
Of note locally was today's showing by the lone Penticton athlete, Stephanie Rivest. It's her first triathlon of this length, and she shone with an eighth-place overall finish, and first amongst females.
The winning athlete will cross the finish line, at Summerland's Memorial Park, tomorrow at approximately 2:30. Everyone is invited.
In the meantime, live results will be posted all weekend long at the Ultra520K Canada Facebook site.
