Geneva ITU: Bad Luck Comes in Threes?

A flat tire just 1.5 km into the bike portion put an end to my day. This now puts me at 3 DNFs in a row for the last 3 ITU races - flats both here and in San Francisco, and Kelowna where I had to pull out with back spasms. It is very disappointing to finish a race this way. I had swum well and was starting the ride in a good position. But on one of the first few corners my back wheel slid on some grit and almost came out from under me. I somehow managed to stay upright and thought momentarily that I had avoided disaster. But then immediately my back tire literally exploded. After the race I looked at the tube and was shocked to see a gash 2 inches long in the tube. I have never seen a puncture that big before.

A flat tire just 1.5 km into the bike portion put an end to my day. This now puts me at 3 DNFs in a row for the last 3 ITU races - flats both here and in San Francisco, and Kelowna where I had to pull out with back spasms. It is very disappointing to finish a race this way. I had swum well and was starting the ride in a good position. But on one of the first few corners my back wheel slid on some grit and almost came out from under me. I somehow managed to stay upright and thought momentarily that I had avoided disaster. But then immediately my back tire literally exploded. After the race I looked at the tube and was shocked to see a gash 2 inches long in the tube. I have never seen a puncture that big before.

Its very difficult to watch the race from the side lines and wonder what might have been. The pack that I most likely would have finished with was fairly small and had a large lead on the next pack. I cant help but to think that it might have set me up for a very good finish. But thats how racing goes. Live and learn. I'll have 5 weeks to now think of what I could have done better and get ready for the next race in Kelowna.