By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE NEWEST addition to Geelong’s strong triathlon tradition is already making waves.
The Geelong Performance Coaching team is second in the Gatorade Triathlon Series, with race four of the five races at Portarlington on 15 March
GPC has accumulated 133 points, 10 behind series leader Melbourne Triathlon Club.
The Portarlington race is the longest-running triathlon in Victoria on one of the most scenic courses in Australia.
GPC coach Stephane Vander Bruggen hoped the team could capitalise on home-ground advantage.
The team’s achievement confirmed Geelong’s status as a national triathlon force, he said.
“We’re a new squad, we only started in November, so to be already ranked second in Victoria is beyond our expectations,” Vander Bruggen said.
“We hope to close the gap in Portarlington because it gives us a good chance to score some points and win the Gatorade series club competition.”
A Belgian, Vander Bruggen was previously a professional triathlete and used Geelong as a training base for two months every year. After meeting his wife in Geelong, he has been based locally for 12 years, adding coaching to his resume.
“We wanted to make the new squad more about the athletes, offering them more local support, helping them get to world championship races, doing some fundraising.
“The response has been so great we have had to put on two new coaches already.”
Some of Australia’s top triathletes, including Marcel Walkington, Mitch Kibby, Ellie Salthouse and Grace Deveson, will compete at Portarlington.
Organisers expect between 1500 and 1700 competitors to enter either the Gatorade triathlon, with an 800m swim, 26km cycle and 8km run, or an Active Feet competition comprising a 300m swim, 10km cycle and 3km run.
The organisers said registers were open at supersprint.com.au/gatorade.html.
