He has already done it twice: in 2015 and 2016 Jan Frodeno won the Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona on Big Island, Hawaii. Now the German top athlete and global Brand Ambassador for Mercedes-Benz has done it for a third time. Following a break due to injury in 2018 and an average performance because of back problems in 2017, the 38-year-old was in top form this year and relished the challenge: “The ‘Legend of Kona’ gets a triathlete’s heart racing”, said Jan Frodeno of competing. “I have an irrepressible urge to launch an all-out attack again here.”

This was not easy in view of the extreme conditions in which the participants have to swim 2.4, cycle 120 mile and run 26.2 miles on Hawaii. This is because tropical heat with temperatures over 30 degrees and extremely high humidity of 70 percent and above are typical during the triathlon in Hawaii. The competition is the ultimate heated battle by the time the athletes reach the final marathon stage on the black asphalted and shadeless Queen K . Highway.

Good preparation is everything

“Anyone wanting to win on Hawaii must undertake preparations that are as intensive as they are well balanced”, says Jan Frodeno. “Preparations like this have many facets. The inevitably harsh training, nutrition, mental aspects, as well as optimisation of the equipment and adapting to the heat – everything has to dovetail in the end.” For the German triathlete this targeted focus on the competition in Hawaii began shortly after his victory at the Triathlon European Championships in Frankfurt, which qualified him for Hawaii. Since then, in his adopted home of Girona he has completed an ambitious training programme, supported by his team and, of course, his family. This includes a partner which is reliable and energy-charged in equal measure: the EQC Edition 1886 (combined electrical consumption: 20.8 – 19.7 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km)^[1]. Mercedes-Benz provided its global Brand Ambassador with the special edition of the premium electric SUV for the preparatory phase in Girona.

Perfect training partner

Jan Frodeno is putting the EQC Edition 1886 to intensive use in Girona. When he is not at the wheel himself, such as on his morning drive to the sea for swimming training, his physiotherapist accompanies him in it, mostly for cycling training. The EQC is impressive in all disciplines: the electric vehicle offers the familiar high comfort, the dynamism and the quality of a Mercedes-Benz with zero local CO₂ emissions and a range of more than 450 kilometres, which makes it ideal for everyday use. Then there are the avant-garde aesthetics and a multitude of user-friendly services. The EQC thus marks Mercedes-Benz’s departure into a new era of electric mobility. So Jan Frodeno is more than pleased with his climate-friendly training partner: “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the EQC. It offers unadulterated dynamism and driving pleasure with its brilliant acceleration. All this with a good conscience, because thanks to the two electric engines there are zero local CO₂ emissions.” A further advantage from the athlete’s point of view is the lack of background noise. “The EQC is the perfect support vehicle – for instance, you don’t hear it at all when climbing a pass in the Pyrenees.  This means that nothing distracts me from my training and, above all, I can enjoy the landscape and the peace and quiet in the process.” Jan Frodeno has also been impressed by the many useful assistance systems and service functions of his emission-free companion. For example, alongside latest-generation driving assistance systems, the EQC Edition 1886 offers an extensive service package with maintenance service, a collect and return service, a vehicle warranty extension, an optimised navigation system and charging management system.

He has already won it twice. On October 14, top triathlete and Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador Jan Frodeno competes for the fourth time in the world’s toughest Ironman in Kailua-Kona in Hawaii. Mercedes-Benz was at his side during his preparations.

The annual contest in Hawaii is the world championship over the Ironman distance and ranks as the toughest competition of them all. The reasons lie in the extreme climatic and geographical conditions: strong winds, intense sunshine, heat and around 1500 metres cumulative elevation gain make the competition, made up of 3.8 kilometres of swimming, 180 kilometres of cycling and 42.195 kilometres of running, the ultimate sporting event. “The worst bit is the final kilometres of running to the finishing line,” says Jan Frodeno. “By then, you’ve already got many hours of competition behind you, with all the highs and lows. And it is the one who can handle the low points best who will end up the winner. So what ultimately decides on victory or defeat is mental toughness.” And Jan Frodeno has plenty of that to add to his physical prowess. This combination has already brought him two victories in the Ironman Hawaii – in 2015 and 2016, he was able to go back home as world champion. Now, following a strong start to the season, he aims to win for the third time and will again compete on 14 October in Kailua-Kona on Big Island.

Fascinating insights

Those who are interested can now experience how he prepares for this challenge: on behalf of Mercedes-Benz, a team of film-makers and photographers has accompanied Jan Frodeno during training in Hawaii. The resulting photos and videos provide insights into the world of the triathlete: viewers can accompany Jan Frodeno on his training in the water, on the bicycle and in running shoes. They get to know the most difficult sections of the circuit, thus becoming immersed in the fascination of the Hawaii triathlon. Jan Frodeno also talks about how he motivates himself to constantly go beyond his own limits, gives insights into his training and nutrition schedules and outlines his strategy for a third victory in the contest.

Reliable partner

Jan Frodeno has been associated with the brand with the star as a global brand ambassador since July 2016. While preparing for the competition, he relies on the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, which is a reliable partner both on- and off-road. Jan Frodeno’s support team drive him to the starting points in the vehicle, accompany him on his training units and take care of his water and energy needs while out on the road. “Mercedes-Benz stands for sporting spirit, perfection and supreme performance. The same attributes are essential for a triathlete,” says Jan Frodeno.

Strong fellow-contestants

Jan Frodeno will be joined at Ironman Hawaii 2017 by three other Mercedes-Benz brand ambassadors: starting in the men’s competition is Sebastian Kienle, reigning European champion and world champion in 2014. Taking part in the women’s contest are Daniela Ryf from Switzerland, Ironman Hawaii winner in 2016 and favourite for the 2017 world title, as well as Anja Beranek, who finished last year’s Ironman Hawaii as Germany’s best female athlete. As part of its triathlon involvement, Mercedes-Benz Vans supports these sports-people with V-Class and Marco Polo vehicles on their training and in competitions. The Media Site also contains photos and videos on Sebastian Kienle, Daniela Ryf and Anja Beranek. Mercedes-Benz wishes all the brand ambassadors a fair, sporting contest and good luck.

For anyone that watched the Ironman World Championship in Kona over the weekend, or for those of you who’ve followed our coverage of Mercedes-Benz and their vehicle sponsorship of Ironman Europe, you’ve likely questioned whether or not you yourself have the fortitude to complete such a daunting task.  Here at eMercedesBenz several staff members have talked about it, and I myself took the daring leap and signed up for my very first Ironman. If you’re unfamiliar with the Ironman, it’s considered one of the world’s most difficult races, spanning a total of 140.6 total miles, and broken down into 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and 26.2 miles of running.  Endure the pain and complete the race, and you can forever consider yourself to be among the most elite endurance athletes.

Over the next few months, I’m going to be covering the gear that I personally am using to get ready for the Ironman.  It’s gear that applies not only to those competing in the Ironman, but also to anyone with a passion for swimming, running and biking.  Below is a sneak peek at a few of the brands and products that I’m going to be featuring, so stay tuned for more comprehensive looks at this gear and more.

Specialized Shiv Pro-Race

My weapon of choice for the biking portion of the Ironman, the Shiv Pro Race is one of the fastest bikes on the planet, delivering the perfect blend of stealthy power, drag-defying aerodynamics, and tailored fit options.  I’m customizing it with a wealth of other gear (some of which you can see below), to ensure I’m maximizing my efficiency and technique.

Tacx iGenius Multiplayer

How do you train for an Ironman in the dead of winter?  With an indoor trainer.  My choice?  The Tacx iGenius Multiplayer.  Tacx has become a household name for cyclists all over the world for the simple fact that the Tacx trainer allows you to improve your power and fitness regardless of where you live and what the weather is like outside. The iGenius Multiplayer lets you accurately tackle grades up to 20% and simulate courses around the world without ever leaving your home. No matter what distance race you’re training for, this will ensure you’re ready.  Want more incentive?  Sebastian Kienle rides one, and did I mention he just took the top spot at the Kona Ironman?

Fi’zi:k Saddles

Comfort is key when long distance riding, and you don’t get better than fi’zi:k saddles.  fi’zi:k is a racing brand that represents beauty, speed, passion and freedom for those who savor the feeling of competition, and and they also make the ultimate saddle for triathlons.  Its shape allows for the best aereodynamic performance with the perfect blend of maximum riding comfort.

SRM Training System

One of the biggest advantages you can have while training and completing an Ironman or long distance cycling race is a power meter, and there are a lot of options out there. The very best choice when training with power? SRM.  First Patented in 1987, the SRM PowerMeter gave the cycling world one of its greatest innovations for performance based training tools. Training by the metric of power allows for cyclists to have truly objective data based on their performance, rather than rely on heart rate, speed and perceived exertion.  It’s the easiest and most complete way to monitor each and every pedal stroke, and a must for anyone seriously competing in a competitive cycling event.

Roka Maverick Wetsuits

Forget what you know about wetsuits, ROKA westuis are unlike any others.  They’re designed to make you faster in the water by keeping your body in the perfect position while still allowing proper arm rotation.   The top of the ROKA line – the Maverick Pro – notes a completely revolutionary design.  It’s formed out of the world’s best neoprene that’s thinner over your shoulder and back area for ultimate flexibility, but it’s thicker in the core and legs for the perfect level of stability.   There’s nothing like like the ROKA Maverick Pro on the market, and it’s the wetsuit I’ll be wearing in next year’s Ironman.

While I’ve given you a glimpse at a few of the brands we’ll be featuring, there’s plenty more to come as well.  Stay tuned as I’ll also be discussing my picks for pedals, shoes, helmets, glasses, goggles and more.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave the past couple weeks, you know the 2012 London Olympics are in full swing, and personally, I can’t get enough of them.  I don’t care what the event is, I’ll watch pretty much any event in the Olympics, simply because I love watching people compete against one another.

What amazes me most about the Olympics is how minute the difference is that separates the winners.  It’s not uncommon for victory to come down to a few hundredths of a second in many of the events.  When you compete, speed matters, down to the most minute amount.

And while I’m not an Olympian, I do compete in a variety of a cycling races on an amateur level, with my favorites being road cycling and triathlons.  As such, I’m always looking for ways to better my time, and one of the latest ways I’ve found to do so is with some new gear from one of my favorite cycling gear makers:  Louis Garneau.

I recently picked up their VORTTICE aero helmet, Carbon Pro Team shoes and Quartz helmet, and all have surpassed my expectations in terms of both their comfort and performance.  Here’s a look at all three, and why if you’re in the market to shave some time off your rides, how each will help you do so.

Louis Garneau VORTTICE Aero Helmet ($250)Let’s face it:  for novice riders, an aero helmet isn’t an everyday purchase.  They note a distinctly alien-like in appearance, they weigh more than traditional helmets, and unless you’re in aero position, it’s unlikely you’ll see any benefit from one.

But once you make the switch to a tri-bike, an aero helmet needs to be at the top of your must buy list.  Tri-bikes are built to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, and aero helmets are built to maximize your aerodynamic efficiency when you’re in a tucked position.  They’re simply made for each other.

I’ve tried a few aero helmets prior to Garneau’s VORTTICE, and for me, they suffered from a couple major flaws:  they were uncomfortable, and they were relatively strict in terms of the position you had to be in to gain the maximum aerodynamic advantage.  For me, the Louis Garneau VORTTICE solves both of these key flaws.

First of all, lets talk comfort.  At the front of the VORTTICE you’ll note a singular opening strategically placed at the point of the helmet receiving the highest amount of pressure during your ride.  While some helmets attempt to deflect this air around the helmet, Louis Garneau decided to vent it through the helmet.  Air enters the VORTTICE through the vent, is then diverted through channels inside, and it exits out the rear.  Not only does it minimize air resistance in the front of the helmet, it also produces exceptional ventilation while riding – eliminating the overheating issues I’ve experienced with other aero helmets.  I’ve ridden with the VORTTICE on 100 degree days, and it’s handled the heat beautifully.

Another thing I love about the VORTTICE is its fit.  When you’re in the Tour de France, you get an aero helmet fit specifically to you.  Normal cyclists don’t get that luxury, so finding an aero helmet with the perfect fit is far more challenging.  With the VORTTICE, you can get an exceptional fit across a variety of head shapes and sizes, thanks to Louis Garneau’s Spiderlock SL system.  A series of webbing gives you a comfortable, secure fit that’s easily adjustable, and because the Spiderlock does such a great job keeping the helmet in place, it allowed Garneau to keep the ear sections a little wider.  For me, that was a major plus of the VORTTICE, as almost all of the other helmets I used were too snug around my ears.

The second key element to the Louis Garneau VORTTICE is its aerodynamic efficiency (or more specifically, it’s broad range of aerodynamic efficiency).  Typical aero helmets are optimized for aerodynamic efficiency in ideal conditions, meaning when the wind is coming at you and you’re in a perfect aero tuck.  That’s why most aero helmets note a full teardrop shape that extends all the way to your back.

The VORTTICE, on the other hand, sports a tear drop shape that’s cut off in the back, which serves two key purposes:  it reduces drag when you’re in a crosswind, and it reduces drag when you’re in a tuck and you put your head down (both of which, if you haven’t already guessed, are quite common).  Because surface area is reduced, wind resistance is reduced, thus making you faster.

When you’re in ideal conditions and a picture perfect tuck, the VORTTICE is equally as exceptional.  Up front, graduated dimples reminiscent of a golf ball help keep air flow close to the helmet.  This air is then diverted to a series of channels in the middle of the helmet, which create a vortex like effect as they divert air back.  Providing additional efficiency, an integrated (and removable) lens is included, which extends down to cover roughly half your face.

While I haven’t taken it in a wind tunnel, I will say the VORTTICE feels incredibly fast.  For me, the biggest areas I notice a benefit in is either in crosswinds or when my head’s down, but these are both common enough that the VORTTICE has become my go-to aero helmet.  Add in the extra comfort and beautiful fit, and Garneau’s VORTTICE is the perfect compliment to my triathlon/time trial arsenal.

Here’s more details of the VORTTICE aero helmet as noted directly from Louis Ganeau:

• Weight: 15.9 oz/450 g
• Certifications: CPSC-ASTM-CE-AS 2063
• Vents: 2
• In-Mold Construction: Industrial process binding the  front liner and outer shell for increased durability.
• Spiderlock SL: Lighweight rack-and-pinion system, micro-adjustable using only one hand, offering extreme comfort and stability.
• Steplock Divider: Cam locking device to quickly adjust strap position.
• Sealed Pro Ice Padding: Washable sealed adjustment padding for enhanced durability. Provides cool effect when wet. Ergonomic design for optimum comfort.
• Vorttice Lens Included: Designed to minimize fogging.  It features UV 400 resistance.

You can learn more about the Louis Garneau VORTTICE helmet at the official Louis Garneau website.

Louis Garneau Carbon Pro Team Shoes ($330)

I’m a huge fan of Louis Garneau’s cycling shoes, so when I saw they came out with new Carbon Pro Team Shoes, I had to have them.  I’m sort of like a girl in that respect – when I see a cool new technology packed pair of cycling shoes, I have to have them.  And Garneau’s latest offering hasn’t disappointed.

Most importantly, there’s the incredible outsole.  The Carbon Pro Teams are built on Garneau’s Carbon X-Lite outsole, their stiffest, lightest outsole to date.  Not only is it super light, it’s super thin, meaning your foot is closer to the pedal for maximum power.  Mated to the outsole, the Pro Teams feature insoles utilizing Ice-Fil moisture technology.  The fibers in the insole work by converting your foot’s perspiration into a refrigerant, thus keeping your feet cooler and dryer as you ride.  Of course, you can alway swap the Ice-Fil insole for a traditional cold weather insole as well.

Fit wise, the Carbon Pro Team shoe utilizes what’s called HRS-300 technology in the heel area.  Getting geeky for a second, it’s an internal polymer system that secures the foot in place, optimizes fit, and reduces loss of power through slippage.  In the real world, it means your foots stays glued in place –  no slippage, which equals no power loss.

Up front, two velcro straps and one ratchet strap offer a secure fit, and they do so without placing strain on your foot’s pressure points.  These straps (in tandem with the HRS-300 technology) make Louis Garneau’s Carbon Pro Team shoes, the stiffest, most secure and most comfortable cycling shoes I’ve worn, bar none.

Here’s more details of the Louis Garneau Carbon Pro Team shoes:

• ELITE FIT
• Carbon HM X-Lite outsole
• New HRS-300 system featuring built-in rigid nylon with a 0.6-mm membrane
• PU Lycra inside heel cup
• Breathable Dry-type microfiber and nylon cycling mesh upper
• Fully adjustable micro-rachet
• Ice Fil Ergo Air Cool Stuff blue double density EVA and Hot Stuff red insoles
• Visual display of cleat position compatible with DURA-ACE, TIME, LOOK and SPEED PLAY cleats with shims (F-4, R-4)
• Shoe bag included
• Offset straps
• Ergo Air insole interchangeable
• Lightweight
• Approximate weight (size 41/1 shoe): 258 g/9.20 oz

To learn more about the Louis Garneau Carbon Pro Team cycling shoe, head over to the official Louis Garneau website.

Louis Garneau Quartz Helmet

For traditional road racing or just everyday rides, my go-to helmet is the Louis Garneau Quartz Helmet.  To be honest, I even use it when I’m mountain biking.  It’s simply the most comfortable, coolest helmet I’ve had the pleasure of wearing.

So how did Louis Garneau make the Quartz so comfortable?  By adding huge ventilation channels (with 33 a total of 33 vents) to provide ultimate cooling and weight reduction.  Of course, too many vents typically means reduced rigidity; however, thanks to Garneau’s monocoque structural base (MSB) technology, this isn’t the case with the Quartz helmet.  The base of the helmet is reinforced around the perimeter for superb protection, while additional composite reinforcements help spread the shock of impacts while still noting an exceptionally light weight.

Providing a superb fit, the Quartz helmet utilizes Garneau’s Spiderlock SL system.  As is the case with the VORTTICE aero helmet, the Quartz fit system easily adjustable and comfortable irregardless of your head shape, while angle adjustments and ergonomic foam padding make the Quartz the most comfortable helmet I’ve worn.

Here are the full details of the Louis Garneau Quartz helmet:

• Weight: 8.8 oz/250 g
• Certifications: CPSC-ASTM-CEN-AS 2063
• Vents: 33
• Super MSB Technology: Ring-shaped protection at the base of the helmet reinforces the perimeter for enhanced protection.
• In-Mold Construction: Industrial process binding the front liner and outer shelle for increased durability.
• Evacuation channels: Moisture channels provide better airflow and moisture wicking.
• Ringlock: Frame ring that ensures helmet’s integrity on impact.
• Spiderlock SL: Lightweight rack-and-pinion system, micro-adjustable using only one hand, offering extremet comfort and stability.
• Steplock Divider: Cam locking device to quickly adjust strap position.
• Sealed Airdry padding: Washable sealed adjustment padding for enhanced durability, ergonomic design for optimum comfort.
• V-Pro System: Receptacle molded into the helmet in order to put on and off the visor as often as you wish. Plastic plugs are included to fill the holes when not used.
• Quartz Visor: Specifically designed for the Quartz, this visor perfectly adapts to the helmet design. Can be installed with the included V-Pro system.

To learn more about the Louis Garneau Quartz helmet, head over to the official Louis Garneau website.