The rollercoaster of 2025 season's start

After the best winter preparation I have had in many years, I was excited to kick off the 2025 season. The primary goal for the year was consistency and with that the overall ranking. After a successful winter triathlon world championships, I was confident going to the first XTERRA world cup of the year in Australia.

Unfortunately, I became sick the moment I landed on the other side of the world. I remained positive and thought I have enough of time to get better before the race but the opposite was true. I felt worse and worse every day. I tried to race the short track on Thursday but had very little energy and finished 5th. Not only the result I was hoping for but my it only worsen my condition and I had to pull out of the main race on Saturday. I was prescribed antibiotics and went home. Not an ideal start of the season.

There were 4 weeks before the next stop of the XTERRA world cup in Greece. I have a very good memories of Greece - last year I have finished 2nd and secured first world cup podium there. I thought four weeks are enough to recover after suffering from pneumovirus in Australia but unfortunately I was struggling with a cough for another 3 weeks. I had a good first half the race but then faded and finished 4th. I recorded 8 minutes slower time than the previous year.

At this point, I felt desperate. I trained more and better than last year, I felt good in trainings but I have not shown that in races. I had one week to reset and try again at XTERRA UK the following week. I managed to get in a better headspace and finally felt like myself again. I had a great swim and really enjoyed pushing hard on the bike. I paid the prize on the run but still managed to finish 2nd and finally get on that podium again.

Before going to UK, I was decided I won't be doing anymore overseas races and I'll skip XTERRA Oak Mountain and Canada. But finishing second put me in 3rd place overall and I sensed that the goal of overall podium is not completely wasted. Furthermore, if my math would be mathing, decent races in US could secure me 3rd spot without the need to race in Canada. Well well well...

The bike course in US is fun and I almost easy - when dry. But thunderstorm turned it into a mudfest and I struggled on the rooty slippery single tracks. Ironically, I crashed on the road. Despite the struggles on the bike, I managed to push hard on the run and defended another 2nd place. Unfortunately, the moment I checked my knee in the finish I knew I will be needing stitches and I am out of the Sunday's short track.

What I did not know yet was that the wound will get infected the next day , I will spend a week in a hospital and undergo 2 surgeries to get better. I missed my comeback to road racing and I will most likely miss the cross triathlon world championships. Luckily for me, triathlon season is long and I have a plenty of time to get back and find an alternative race calendar. Let's hope for a smoother ride from now on.