TSP13: Tri-Athlete Magazine Postcards
I picked these postcards up in 2021 on ebay. From an anonymous person formerly involved in triathlon media and imports. He also helped me with TSP5: UK Triathlon Magazines 1986-1990. You could order them from Tri-Athlete for 20 French Francs. That was about 2 British Pounds.
I’d previously owned a set. And although the order form I’ve posted is from Tri-Athlete France. I ordered mine via a 1989 copy of Tri-Athlete UK.
The postcards depict mainly triathlons in France. Nice, Avignon, Sallanches, Nantes and Lyon. As well as 2 photos from the 1988 European Middle Distance Championships in Stein, The Netherlands.
The images really capture the triathlon aesthetics of the day. France is IMO the best country in the world to be a triathlete. And is still a unique place to go and race. You have to do it one day. But make sure you get off the beaten track. To races still organised by clubs and small towns.
Image: 1988 Nice Triathlon by Thierry Deketelaere.
The first postcard (above) shows athletes walking through an aid station at the 1988 Nice Triathlon. Most have made a full costume change from bike to run. And it looks like a pretty hot day on the Promenade Des Anglais.
We can see a Nike vest in the teal and charcoal colourway. And I’m not a sunglasses expert. But are those Oakley Factory Pilots on number 703?
Image: 1988 Nice Triathlon by Thierry Deketelaere.
Postcard 2 (above) is pre-race in Nice 1988. In the super-long transition. I’ve got a Nice special episode coming out soon. With my brother as co-host. We talk a lot about that famously unfair Nice transition area.
Postcard 3 (below) shows athletes jumping in the water in Stein for the 1988 European Middle Distance Championships. The athlete in the foreground is wearing a sleeveless blue, mauve and yellow Aquaman wetsuit. When did wetsuits all become black? Terrible idea in my opinion.
Aquaman started producing triathlon specific suits in 1984. Sleeved suits were allowed by the European Triathlon Union starting in 1987. And you can see some in the photo. Personally. I still prefer sleeveless.
Image: 1988 ETU Middle Distance Championships in Stein by Renato Cudicio.
Image: 1988 ETU Middle Distance Championships in Stein by Renato Cudicio.
Postcard 4 (above) also shows an image from Stein. We’re looking through a rainbow created by the swim-exit shower spray. I think. You don’t really see these over-head shower gantries at races anymore.
Postcard 5 (below) shows Georges Belaubre at the 1986 Coupe de France in Lyon. This was the first edition of La Coupe.
La Coupe de France was the final counting race in the season-long French Championship points chase. In 1986 and 1987 you raced purely as an individual. But from 1988 onwards team elements were introduced.
For 1980s British football fans. The French Championship was the Division One title. While La Coupe de France was the FA Cup. They were kind of connected via the points system but also important stand-alone events. Worth winning by the ambitious French triathlete of the day.
The race took place on 7th September 1986. Over the B distance. Which was something like 2km/75km/18km. Georges was probably the best French male triathlete in the early and mid-1980s.
There’s lots to unpack in the photo. The non-protective helmet. The handlebar-mounted water bottle cage. The Nike Poissy kit. The bib-style number. And. Of course. George’s descending technique.
Georges actually won the race in Lyon. At age 43. With Yves Cordier 2nd and Laurent Boquillet 3rd. 4th was Rodolphe Von Berg. The dad of current long distance pro triathlete Rudy Von Berg.
5th was Glenn Davies from New Zealand. An athlete I know nothing about. But Tri-Athlete magazine describes him as gentil. Kind.
Image: 1986 Coupe de France Cat B in Lyon by Thierry Deketelaere.
Image:
1986 Triathlon International du Mont Blanc in Sallanches by Renato Cudicio.
Postcard 6 (above) shows a cool running and diving start in the town of Sallanches at the 1986 Triathlon International du Mont Blanc. You can see plenty of mountains in the background. The distances were 1500/46/13.9 And the course was hilly. I wonder what the temperature of the water was?
Postcard 7 (below) shows a swimmer running to transition and a cyclist exiting transition at the 1986 Avignon Triathlon. The shot is taken from a temporary bridge erected over the course. Check out the race report that I’ve linked to below. The bridge is seemingly dangerously overloaded with journalists and spectators.
Image: 1986 Avignon Triathlon by Thierry Deketelaere.
Postcard 8 (below) has another image from Nice in 1988. Of an athlete shading their eyes and looking down the beach. Maybe assessing his tactics for the impending fast and physical swim start.
Image: 1988 Nice Triathlon by Thierry Deketelaere.
Image: 1988 Nice Triathlon by Thierry Deketelaere.
Postcard 9 (above) is another Nice 1988 photo. This time it’s a pre-drone aerial shot. Of two cyclists riding. Yes, riding. Out of transition.
The photo on postcard 10 (below) is taken at the 2nd Coupe de France race of 1986. This time in Nantes. Two weeks after Lyon and over the A distance. Which was 1000m/40km/12km. And. The race was won by …. Georges Belaubre.
I don’t know who the athlete on the postcard is. But he looks pretty fatigued. As he kind of stumbles forward just after getting a sponge.
He’s wearing the classic Le Coq Sportif tri-suit of the day. In the grey with yellow sides colourway. There were plenty of other designs. Erin Baker wore the pink with blue sides during her 1986 European campaign.
Le Coq was the dominant triathlon textile brand of the mid-1980s. In 1986 and 1987 they even sponsored a European race series called Le Circuit International Arena - Le Coq Sportif. Again more on that in future
Image: 1986 Coupe de France Cat A in Nantes by Nutan.
