Carlos Verona will make his triathlon debut with Jan Frodeno

Charles Veronacorridor of Movistarwill participate next Sunday in his first triathlon, the Sgrail100 which will take place around the Cadaques (Girona)where the Madrid cyclist, trained by the German Jan FrodenoOlympic champion in Beijing 2008 and triple Ironman world champion, will try to “have fun and have a good experience” in the triple discipline.

After a season complicated by the uncertainty of Movistar’s permanence in the highest category of world cycling and its participation in the first Gravel World Championship, the 29-year-old rider from San Lorenzo de El Escorial, who lives in Andorra, the launched challenge. by Frodeno to test his skills in a triathlon without competition.

Verona sought “the best possible trainer with Frodeno”, with whom he shared bike rides around Andorra, and following the rules of the legendary German triathlete, he was ready to live a new experience. A few weeks ago he had the opportunity to participate in the historic first edition of the Gravel World Championship.

“The experience of world Gravel is fun, something historic to be the first. I liked the experience, but another thing is the competition, because the level is very high. After the Vuelta, I went to Veneto to enjoy myself, I finished 26th, but the going was very positive,” explained Carlos Verona to EFE.

The telephone group runner opens the doors for enjoyment in other sporting modalities after a tense season, “where things did not go well at the beginning and after the Vuelta, with a second place of Enrique More there was a turning point” that allowed Movistar to close the year with several wins.

“FRODENO OFFERED ME THE TRIATHLON AND I ACCEPTED”

Verona meets Andorra frodenocurrently 41 years old, a triathlon legend, organizer of the Sgrail 100, which immediately convinced him to accept the challenge.

“I will tackle the triathlon as the final test of the season to have fun, it is not competitive, it is about living an adventure rather than a race itself. Frodeno suggested it to me and I accepted after talking to the sponsors, which include I also made an exit to train with him, we talked and we signed up”, remembers Verona.

The Sgrail 100 will consist of a 1.5km swim, a 90km gravel bike and a 10.5km run. The main obstacle for Verona is undoubtedly swimming, because this discipline is not her thing.

“I haven’t been swimming for at least three years. I did 3 training sessions and I gave some classes with Frodeno, mainly to improve my technique and not fight in the water,” he said from in his Andorran residence.

Verona assured that with Frodeno he “surrounded himself well and the illusion was superior to all”. “Although I am now in a rest period after the cycling season, I continue to do sports, I like to run in the mountains, ski… I always do something,” he said.

For the foot race, Verona recognizes that speed is not its distinguishing feature, but considers itself “diesel.”

“I’m not a fast runner, but I can run for a long time. The terrain here is uneven, it’s about going up and down mountains.”

After his triathlon debut, Verona will attend the first contact with Movistar next week for regular preseason issues and in mid-December planning will begin for the 2023 course, where the native of Madrid will try to ” take another step forward” .