Australian Cross Triathlon champ preps for Queensland Back 2 Back TreX weekend

SUNSHINE COAST, Australia - Jan. 8, 2015 - PRLog -- It has been a month since Max Neumann took out the Australian Cross Triathlon national championship, and the 19-year-old is gearing up for next week’s TreX ‘Back 2 Back’ double Cross Triathlon weekend (Jan 17-18) in his native Queensland as he looks to fine tune for the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships to be held in the Snowy Mountains (NSW) next month (Feb 28 - March 1).

Neumann, who took two weeks off following his victory over pro rivals Leon Griffin and Ben Allen, is back in full swing and said the weekend’s double will be challenging and recovery between races will be key.

“I will go hard first race, and hard second race,” said Neumann, who is racing his first career TreX Back 2 Back. “You can’t really hold back as you have other guys right up your backside.

“Recovery between the races will be critical for success in a double because if you come to the second race tired you’ll flop.”

Based on the banks of Ewen Maddock Dam, the QLD Back 2 Back will held over two days in the spectacular Sunshine Coast Hinterland, with competitors tackling the course on Saturday and then backing up Sunday morning to do it all again.

Winners are determined by a cumulative time for both days.

With the Oceania champs looming ahead, Neumann is feeling no pressure to perform in Queensland.

“The Back 2 Back is going to be an interesting race,” said Neumann. “I’m expecting a few top quality guys, but there is not really any pressure on me to perform.

“This will be a great race to fine tune my form so I can make sure that I’m ready for the Oceania champs – the big one.”

The long course features a 500m swim, 14km mountain bike and 7km run through rainforest trails and fern-filled bush land which provides the perfect setting for the TreX off-road triathlon.

Aside from the long course, other events include sprint, junior, teaser and Dirt Kids races.