“I don’t think the podium is a realistic goal right now”
The first part of the season, at least what is supposed to be the first six months of it, is over. And to Alberto Morenothat this year debuts with the colors of anB Triathlon, It has been relatively complicated.
A foot injury slowed down his progress, completely disrupting the planning of competitions that the man from Igualada had planned. Finally, despite having wanted to debut in Challenge SalouBack in April, he had to wait until the end of May to put on his first number.
It was in Mediterranean Epic Triathlon, where he took a brilliant second place after Gonzalo Fuentes. Just two weeks later, in a demanding Zarautzko Triathlon, he crossed the finish line in ninth position. “There is a lot of work to do,” he said on his Instagram account at the time.
Next challenge, this weekend
Now the time has come to put on the trisuit again and compete for the third time. It will be at IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra, where he will try to remove the thorn from his DNF in 2021, the inaugural edition.
“I think I arrived a little better than Zarautz“he tells us two days before the race.”Both the Zarautzko Triatloia and the Mediterranean Epic were two races after which I did not rest“.
Between both races -fifteen days-, there was still discomfort in the foot, despite what he continued training as if it were preseason. Now, he has been able to rest a little more.
“I’m going to take it easy to try to get there as well as possible and see how it goes“. The idea is to see, especially in the foot race, how it has evolved in the last three weeks. “I miss running a lot“, is sincere, before acknowledging that the fight for the podium, a priori, seems complicated:”I don’t think I’m ready to be at the front, but I can do a fairly decent race“.
The goal is clear: “to get a good race, but I don’t know if I’m fighting for the top, because I imagine not. You have to be realistic, and I’m not here yet, because I’ve had a lot of stoppages, with the injury, and people that has had continuity is several points above right now”.
“I don’t think a podium is a realistic goal right now.”
A luxury poster
Given the concentration of IRONMAN tests -up to five last week and three this week-, the great unknown was knowing who are the rivals that Albert will face this Sunday. Little by little this doubt will be resolved, as they themselves confirm it on social networks.
Josh Amberger happens to be the big favorite for victory. On his Instagram account he announced a few days ago that in addition to Andorra, he will be at IRONMAN Vitoria, where in 2019 he foresaw second place behind Eneko Llanos.
We will also be able to see Cameron Wurf, who resumed triathletic activity after having started at the IRONMAN World Championship in St. George with hardly any specific training.
Albert points to another name to follow: Gregory Barnaby. “He comes from doing world cups,” he points out. In his most recent record, a fourth place in Challenge Walchsee this past weekend.
“There are many people who can make a very solid career“, continues Albert, analyzing the favorites squad”.And for me they are the main favorites“.
At the national level, three other names must be taken into account: Erik Merino, Xavi Torrades and Jordi Montraveta.
Albert’s must is that the race is far from having a simple route, something that favors him to open the greatest possible advantage in the cycling segment. “Toughness races like this, in the end, there aren’t many“.
“Although I’m not one hundred percent, I think it’s important to go out and compete to pick up the pace“, he concludes.