The effort to take part in international sports competitions in Corona times is great.
Marianne and Peter Grünebach were not afraid of that.
At the World Championships in the winter triathlon in Andorra, the couple was promptly on the podium.
Andorra triathletes are used to having a lot of luggage.
After all, it is important to carry equipment for three disciplines.
For Marianne and Peter Grünebach there was also a special transport item: a bulging folder in which the couple had stowed the results of their PCR and TMA tests as well as the nomination letter from the German Triathlon Union and many other registration forms in different languages.
The rules for participating in the world championship in the winter triathlon, held this year in Andorra, were very strict in view of the corona pandemic.
That was fine with the pollingers.
And in the end, the whole campaign, including the outward and return journey by car, went “without any problems”, as they announced.
"It was a great experience to be able to experience such a high-level, international competition during Corona times," said Peter Grünebach.
It was easy to get over the fact that “the opening ceremony, the start with distance rules and face mask and also the award ceremony went differently than usual”.
Once again the people of Pollingen returned with two medals: a silver one for Marianne Grünebach, a gold one for Peter Grünebach.
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Strong performance: Marianne Grünebach won her twelfth international medal with silver.
© Finisherpix
Not only the formalities due to Corona were a bit unusual, but also the conditions in the competition.
Since there was little snow in the Naturlandia nature park at 2160 meters above sea level, after the bike split, the participants were forced to carry their cross-country skis, sticks and boots from the transition area over 700 meters uphill to the cross-country ski trail.
Strong winds created an additional challenge on the day of the competition.
Marianne Grünebach dueled in the age group "65-69" on the approximately 15 kilometers (4.1 km running / 5.3 km mountain bike / 5.5 km cross-country skiing) with the American Sheri Schrock for gold.
When running, Grünebach (22:12) were faster, in the other two disciplines the opponent had better times.
The pollinger won the silver medal with a time of 1:21:32 hours - her twelfth precious metal at a World Cup or European Championship.
Peter Grünebach parries the competitor's attack while mountain biking
Peter Grünebach won the second World Championship title in a row in the winter triathlon.
In the “70-74” class he clearly won with a time of 1:05:43 hours, ahead of the Estonian Anti Oot (1:10:38) and the German Reinhardt Engert (1:11:48).
With his result, the 72-year-old would have ended up in the middle of the field even in the “45-49” class.
After the run, the athlete from the “Team Erdinger alcohol-free” was in front (18:07).
On the mountain bike route, he did not take full risks in the long descent and was promptly overtaken by the Esten Oot.
On the next ascent, Grünebach managed to push himself forward again - after that he did not give up the lead.
In cross-country skiing, the Pollinger then got everything out of himself, went “right up to the pulse limit”, as he put it.
He extended his lead over Oot in this discipline by 3:18 minutes.
On the podium, Grünebach received his 30th medal (World Cup or European Championship).
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Joy at the finish: Peter Grünebach won the title in his class - as in 2020.
© Finisherpix
In total, the German age groupers won eight gold, five silver and one bronze.
In the medal table, the selection landed in second place behind Spain.
Another athlete from the region who stood on the podium was Claudia Bregulla-Linke.
The Uttinger won gold in the women's class “50-54” with 1:06:42 hours.
In the competition of the elite athletes over 31 kilometers, Hans Christian Tungesvik (Norway) and Sandra Mairhofer (Italy) won the titles.
The serial winner of previous years, the Russian Pavel Andreev, came second this year.
The only German elite starter, Sebastian Neef, landed in tenth place.
The television broadcaster “Andorra TV” used the elite race as an opportunity for extensive coverage of the sport, which usually takes place in a niche.
Peter Grünebach was also interviewed in the course of the preliminary reporting.