Rutger wins the Knokke Zwintriathlon
for the third consecutive time!

He also wins the Marc Herremans trophy!

Similar to what happened last year, Rutger has returned from a high altitude training in Font Remeu (France) exactly three days before the race. The Zwintriathlon is his last triathlon in Belgium for the season and also a test of his condition in preparation of the Ironman Hawaii. This year there is even more: If Rutger wins, he will conquer the Marc Herremens trophy! This trophy goes to the first triathlete that manages to win the event three times in a period of five years. Rutger won the last two editions, so with a new victory he will be able to take the trophy ( a real piece of art) and a prize purse of 7500 Euro. Of course, his fellow triathletes have other  ideas about today's result. All the big names of Belgian Triathlon (minus Luc Van Lierde who is preparing Hawaii in Lanzarote) and most of the Dutch toppers are also at the start.

The swim leg start at 2pm and does not bring surprises: teammates Thierry Verbinnen and Stijn Goris confirm that they are currently the best swimmers. They come out of the water first, closely followed by Frederik Devreeze, Dennis Looze, Peter Croes, Nick Marland and Jo De Neve. Rutger comes into T1 about 50 seconds later, together with Marino Vanhoenacker and Koen Hoeyberghs.

The Zwintriathlon is a no-drafting race, hence the three superbikers can move to the front in no time. Rutger knows he his the best runner in the front pack, so he decides to just follow during the remainder of the bike leg. Marino Vanhoenacker knows that Rutger knows.... and tries time and again to escape. After a few attempts he succeeds to reduce the group to 4 people. Rutger, Peter Croes and Koen Hoeyberghs are the only ones that were able to follow. A few minutes later Marino attacks again, immediately followed by Rutger. Peter Croes, who was not attentive for a moment, has to let the two others go for some 50 meters and  then, together with Koen, spends the next 4 kilometers to get back. In the end the group of four reaches the transmission zone with an advantage of about 1'40".

Rutger accidentally drops his bike in the transmission zone and hence looses about 10 seconds on Marino who comes out of T2 first. Rutger realizes he should not leave Marino in front alone for too long a time: this would give his opponent extra adrenaline to go for the victory!  Hence he bridges the gap immediately. However, this effort leaves him gasping , so he has to slow down for a while. One kilometer further though, he attacks and quickly gets a 15 seconds advantage. From now on, he controls the race and slowly but surely increases his lead. Rutger reaches the finish after 1 hour 47'30", 40 seconds before Marino Vanhoenacker and one minute before Peter Croes. He is very happy with his result: this victory eliminates the bad feelings after the Ironman Frankfurt disaster and proves that he is on the right track in his preparation for Hawaii.

The Zwintriathlon is finished with a Gala-dinner in the Casino of Knokke.  During the dinner Rutger is awarded the Marc Herremans Trophy and a 7500 Euro check. Rutger then announces that he donates the full 7500 Euro prize to the Marc Herremans Foundation "To Walk Again" , which raises funds to do research on spinal damage.