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One of Guernsey’s – and the world’s - fastest athletes in her age group is aiming for three world championships within three weeks.
Triathlete Andrea Nightingale is preparing to qualify for the age group world championship 97km road race and time trial event as well as the Olympic distance triathlon in the summer. Before that, she will also be taking part in a 600-mile charity ride for Les Bourgs Hospice in May.
The step up in gear comes after the athlete’s fourth place in the 20km cycling time trial race at the Age Group World Championships in Perth, Australia last summer. Two weeks later, Andrea was the fifth Briton home in the Olympic distance triathlon event in Mexico in the 55 to 59 age group – coming 22nd overall in the race.
Andrea, who is supported by Ravenscroft, said: ‘If I qualify I will be going for three world championships within a three week period. My new road bike is amazing and means I can now go for the 97km race as well as the disciplines that I took part in last year.
‘I’m aiming for the UCI Gran Fondo and Chrono Age Group World Championships in Albi, France between 24th and 27th August and Standard (Olympic) Distance Age Group Triathlon in Rotterdam between 14th and 17th September.’
To get there, she will be competing in several UK qualifying events, including the 26.55km time trial and 127km road race during the Tour of Cambridge in June as well as the Ripon and Arundel triathlons the following month.
‘I’m pretty sure that I will enter the national 25-mile time trial, being held in South Wales on 5th August. If I win at this distance, it will make me national champion,’ said Andrea, 55, who is Guernsey’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy Co-ordinator.
She will also be taking part in the 30/30 cycle challenge for Les Bourgs Hospice. The goal is to cycle 600 miles in just six days from a tiny village called Les Bourgs, which is between France’s mountainous Massif Central region and the Alps, to St Malo.
‘We are starting the challenge by cycling up the iconic Mont Ventoux, which is a 22Km warm up climb – most of which has a gradient of roughly 9%. We then get to Les Bourgs village from where the challenge to cycle the 600 miles back to St Malo will begin,’ added the athlete.
‘The village of Les Bourgs is situated in a deep valley so the start of the journey means even more climbing; the aim is to cover around 80 to 120 miles each day. We hope to raise £10,000 for the hospice from the ride, which is in its tenth year.’
Katy Sandrey, group head of marketing & PR at Ravenscroft, said: ‘Andrea’s commitment to her sport and charity efforts is truly inspiring. Aiming for three world championships is impressive, let alone doing it in three weeks. Good luck to everyone involved in the Les Bourgs challenge for their fundraising efforts.’
