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Mikkelsen gears up for triathlon

Andreas Mikkelsen will swap the WRC for a different type of competition next month when he joins co-driver Anders Jaeger on the start line of a 226km triathlon.

The Hyundai duo are set to tackle the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon on Saturday, 4 August - just a week after they've contested Neste Rally Finland (26-29 July). It will be the first time they have ever taken part in a triathlon.

Both men have been training hard for the gruelling event that starts in the Norwegian town of Eidfjord. They face a 3.8km sea swim before tackling a 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run.

The route takes competitors across Norway's Hardangervidda mountain plateau before finishing 1850 metres above sea level at the rocky peak of Gaustatoppen. The total ascent is 5000 metres and the event is notorious for its changeable weather conditions.

As part of their preparations, Mikkelsen and Jaeger have been put through their paces by seven-time Norwegian triathlon champion Kristian Blummenfelt.

"We both enjoy a new challenge, also outside of the world of rally, and this must be the ultimate test," Mikkelsen explained. "Believe it or not, we wanted to do this for a long time and we are both excited about finally competing."

Action from the event, which starts at 05.00 local time, will be streamed live at www.nxtri.com.

Red Bull athlete Mikkelsen is keeping his fans up to date in the run up to the triathlon via a training diary Vlog. The first instalment can be viewed below.

Zdroj: wrc.com