We interviewed Antonio de la Rosa, Adventurer and Race Director, from ECOTRIMAD

Beyond a mid-distance triathlon "to use" ECOTRIMAD has its own brand and personality, or at least it is recognized by the 5.000 riders who have enjoyed and suffered competing in the spectacular northern mountains of Madrid, the same triathletes who have felt playing the sky with his hands as he passes under his goal arch in the Medieval Villa of Buitrago de Lozoya and his charismatic castle.

 

 

5 editions have consolidated ECOTRIMAD With his own spirit, an exciting project that arose in the 2011 from the hand of three passionate athletes: Joaquín Peces, Ramiro Lahera and Antonio de la Rosa who joined forces, experience and knowledge to design the triathlon that "always would have liked to do" , a sporting event that does not leave anyone indifferent.

But all the triathletes we ask ourselves once, who will be behind the organization, who has designed these spectacular circuits and who struggles year after year to maintain that different triathlon in which Ecotrimad has become?

Today we interview Antonio de la Rosa, Career Director of Ecotrimad and a "character" with a spectacular experience and curriculum. Antonio has been 7 times Spanish champion of quadratlon and 7º of the world, First Spanish to make a Deca Ironman y World Champion of Adventure Raids. He is currently an adventurer of recognized prestige whose challenges do not leave anyone indifferent. In 2016 you will cross Alaska (1,700 kms) on a fat bike, the North pole on Stand Up Padle and the South, on the bottom Ski.

Antonio also has extensive experience in the organization of sports events. Apart from Ecotrimad he has organized 2 raids world championships (Spain 2010 and Costa Rica 2013), various trail running events and is Technical Director of the first stage MTB event in Madrid, La Sierra Norte Bike Challenge. All this has made the Community of Madrid has appointed Antonio ambassador of active tourism in Madrid.

How and when did you meet and how did the idea of ​​Ecotrimad come about?

I met Joaquín (Quino for friends) and Ramiro at 2008 through a good mutual friend, Nacho Cembellín who apart from being a good sports photographer trained triathlon and shared equipment (Emphorma Triathlon) with them.

We know that Ramiro, Joaquín and Antonio, are three profiles of very different athletes and professionals. If I gave you these three words, with what would you describe each of them? Innovation, Dynamism and Realism ...

Buuffff, let's see ...Joaquin is the organizer, planner, who is pending details, is a coach and good athlete, knows very well what the triathletes demand and always looking for how to improve and change things, no doubt would include as an innovator / organizer.

Ramiro, makes ideas and projects come true, drives, fights and moves all the pieces so that the objectives are achieved, as well as marketing and financial aspects ... heh, so it always makes us have our feet on the ground ... he would be realistic and make ideas come true.

Talking about me is more complicated ... hehe, I think it would be dynamism and operability, I can not stand and I think that what my colleagues value in me is that they know that I am capable of resolving any situation, with or without resources, and It is good to lead and motivate a team of people, I am optimistic, positive and of course everything is outdoor is my natural environment.

First of all, and that is a key for us to continue working together in Ecotrimad and other projects, we are good friends, we respect each other as we are and although we discuss, we have fun and passionate about what we do.

Tell us, how was the first edition?

2011 !!!!!!!, a whole Adventure. The idea was framed in December of 2009, Joaquin proposed it to Ramiro and they to me. Keep in mind that we were the first medium distance triathlon in Madrid, many people did not think we were able to get the permits to do so. The Community of Madrid and the Canal de Isabel II believed in our project and we were 1 for a year and a half working on it.

The day of the competition ... spectacular. The 500 triathletes that participated in that first edition will not forget it. We were about to cancel it. As we always say, after that Ecotrimad ... what they throw us out. Swimming began with 28 degrees and sun, at 2 hours, in the middle of bike sector, an impressive spring storm fell, the hail caused triathletes bruises, the temperature under 15 degrees and it did not stop raining until I finish. The truth was epic, intense and very hard, not only for the participants. On the other hand, an experience that nobody of those who were there will forget it. As we say, as triathletes "I would be proud to have finished that triathlon". You can see the videos of that year, I think they convey what we live quite well.

How is the day to day of an organizer one month before and one month after the test? Does it really take so much work to organize a triathlon as they say?

Really, this much of the triathletes do not know it, we organize short distance triathlons, mtb, duathlon and trail tests, and I can assure you that a medium / long distance triathlon multiplies the work to be done: Permits, Civil Guard, 100 minimum volunteers, refreshments, Sanitary Services, Communication ... in short, really for Ecotrimad we work all year round, although with the experience and equipment that we have, we are getting more shot. The month before is usually crazy.

What do you think ECOTRIMAD differentiates other MD triathlons

Easy…. its environment and layout, swimming and running through the walls of Buitrago and the bike through 4 swamps and mountains that are some of the natural gems of Madrid. A demanding triathlon that you have to do if you want to call a triathlete, a different sporting experience. Ahhh, and this is very important because not many can assure you, a triathlon made by triathletes for triathletes, always trying that the participants feel closeness, empathy and complicity.

What news have you incorporated this 2016?

This year we had to give, once again, a return to Ecotrimad. The calendar of medium and long distance triathlons is crazy, in my opinion, it is unsustainable, mainly because there is not enough demand, it is not normal for 14 Ironman tests to be organized in Spain. In 2011 when we started there was 3.

We have changed the course of the race again trying to sweeten it with 3 around the dam of Riosequillo, until now we were doing 2, which makes the course more flat and entertaining, within its clear hardness. The bike, the swimming, the boxes and the finish area remain the same.

This year, as the most important novelty, we will organize 2 Olympic distance tests. The first without drafting, the 14 of May (1.900 mts swimming, a return to the bike circuit of 37,5 kms and 10 kms of race with a single return to the dam of Riosequillo). We believe that this format, by date and distances, is perfect as preparation and test of the triathletes for medium and long distance competitions in which they compete between June and October.

On 15 Sunday, we organized the 4th edition of Ecotrimad Sprint. What we have done face to this 6th edition of Ecotrimad is to include that day an Olympic distance test with drafting (2 swimming laps, 36 kms of bike and 10 kms of race.

If you had to describe ECOTRIMAD with three words, what would they be?

Let's say ideas, okay? Differential experience, unique environment and close deal

 

Photo: Facebook Antonio de la Rosa