Jard sur Mer is a nice little place for a race. South of Saint Jean de monts and Les Sables on the Vendeee coast. There were primes for fastest swim bike and run in the race and for team also. Antione Lesoz and I were our total of representatives for the team so that money was instantly scratched out. I swam so so, and got out the water 4th or 5th ish (no prime), then quick transition got me on to the bike in front (no prime for that either). I attacked from the start but the team of Saint Jean de Monts had alot of guys to chase me including Barrett (American), Adam Fitz (Aus), Max hillairet, Julien Leroy, and Nicholas Alliot were not keen to give me any room and after 6km
alone I was absorbed into the mass of yellow lycra. Antione had a great swim and he was in there also. We did a few pace changes but it was quite clear it was going to come down to a run so I was content to stay in the bunch and work enough to ensure groups behind didnt arrive. Julien, the cheeky bastard, had saved himself in the swim, and banked on being the last to arrive in the front bunch. He attacked in the last kilometer and was first in an out of transition, taking the prime for quickest bike in the process. He was quite happy with himself after the race. On the run I soon passed Julien (the prick) and was joined in the front of the race by Antione and Adam. Near the end of the first lap I twisted my ankle on the bottom of some stairs that (for reason that now escapes me now) I had attempted to descend like a crab....sideways!!!??!!
Well, it hurt. And for 20 or 30 steps after the stairs, after I had converted my stride from crab to wounded human, I was sure I would have to pull out. I had slowed and toyed with the sitting option but pain did not seem to increase and I was still moving and I was in 3rd so I shuffled on. It took some time and some super ugly running but I managed to regain contact to the 2 in the lead midway through the second lap. Now I thought the run was 3 laps. Antione knew nothing but assumed it was two, thus nearing the end of the second lap and spookily close to the flipen stairs he launched a stinging attack on Adam and I. It took me some time to respond and the stairs slowed me to the pace of a geriatric sloth. Heading to what I thought was the last turn around was Antione some 10 seconds ahead, heading to
what he thought was the finish. The finish was not far past the turn around so heading there Antione started high fiving the crowd and putting his arms up. I was confused but also thought if this is the end I better start sprinting to get to him. I then saw the lead marshal bike make the turn and Antione follow. He said after he nearly died when he saw the error. Needless to say, sprinting at the end of the 2nd lap didnt make the 3rd lap a cup of tea. I dont remember much of it other than thinking 'boy Antione is going slow' while at the same time making no impression on his lead. You can do the math. Antione won the race by 6 seconds, and got the fastest run prime by the same time. I ended up second with a fat right foot that stoped my doing anything in the following week. Adam finished third, with Barrett claiming 4th. Just for the record Julien was 16th. There is no prime for that buddy!!
It was all about 3s for me in this race. Third time doing the course, was number 3 and I won for the third time. 
Caleb Hill (in Cesson team) from New Zealand and Adam Fitzakerley (Saint Jean de Monts) had a slight lead out of the water and I joined them on the bike after 5km. We rode pretty much together for the rest of the 40km, and I was able to run away in the 10km run to win by 35 seconds.
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