Felipe Bastos celebrated his 35th career victory at one of the true great Southern Classics - The Heart O' Dixie Triathlon.  “This was the event's 30th anniversary and I was pleased not only to have been invited, but to line up with some of the best from the South, and even more so to come out with a win,” Bastos said.

 

Despite a crash on the bike, Bastos completed the 0.5 mile swim, 27.5 mile bike, and 7 mile run in 1:57:23, winning the point-to-point race by twenty-six seconds over second place.  “While riding in 2nd, a few seconds back from the leader, I moved left from the shoulder onto the roadway and my front wheel got caught on a crack in the asphalt. I immediately met the pavement, crashing at 51 kph (~32mph). I got up quickly, was able to get back up to race speed riding mostly on the adrenaline from the crash, and entered T2 in 3rd place.”

 

The run course headed south along a rolling county highway, ending in the middle of the Neshoba County Fairgrounds with the final 800 meters on a red clay horse track.  “I loved the finish,” Bastos commented.  “I originally thought the finish was on a standard 400 meter track, but when I reached the end of the race, I was surprised to find an 800 meter race track.  There was a grandstand where people could sit in the shade and cheer.  It was great.”

 

Next up for Bastos is the Pumpkinman Half Ironman in South Berwick, Maine, on September 13.