Originally published at: Stephanie Clutterbuck and Her Ventum Tempus are Primed and Ready to Race in Kona - Slowtwitch News
Stephanie Clutterbuck knows how to make a splash. The 31-year-old Brit is making her professional Kona debut, but she’s no stranger to the big island or the lead swim pack. Always wanting to be a professional athlete, Clutterbuck has a background in swimming and rowing, but when a career didn’t work out in those sports, she found triathlon–and her niche.
Clutterbuck was a very successful age group racer, winning IRONMAN Portugal in 2021, IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2023, and becoming age-group 70.3 world champion the same year. She was also part of the Zwift academy in 2023 and has been to Kona twice before. Her first attempt, in 2021, ended with a DNF and heat stroke, but in 2022 she finished 19th with an impressive 52:37 swim.
Going Pro
Taking her pro license in 2024, Clutterbuck upped her game. She quit her corporate job and, along with her social media exploits, has dedicated everything to triathlon.
“Looking back when I made the step up [to become professional], I had some great advice from a lot of people around me, but one piece of advice that stuck with me was something along the lines of ‘professionalise the work and it’ll pay off quickly,’” Clutterbuck says.
Putting that advice into practice, Clutterbuck has assembled a stable of high-calibre support which includes IRONMAN world champion Tim Don as her coach, and she trains alongside Kat Matthews and other pros when she can.
“I’m very thankful to work in a great environment with a supportive team and setup around me from my coach Tim Don, to my partner Matt, who manages everything from sponsors, content, training and everything else in between,” she says. “This has helped me concentrate on training and continue my progression.”
A Pro Bike to Match
She has also partnered with Ventum this year. Gone are the bright Zwift Academy colours of her previous Canyon, and enter the matte purple and blue of the Ventum Tempus.
“I changed to the Ventum Tempus at the start of this season,” she says. “It’s an insanely fast bike, rides well, corners like a dream. It’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it from the Austrian mountains to the flat highways in the USA.”
She completes her set up with a custom cockpit from Aerogrip, Princeton wheels, a Selle Italia WATT saddle, and Look Keo pedals with a 56/43 on the front and a 10/30 cassette at the back.
Heart of the Matter
Clutterbuck’s rise hasn’t been without setbacks. Earlier this year she was missing from a few startlines, eventually discovering she had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart). Forced to stop her season in June and take a month of complete rest, it left Clutterbuck in uncertainty.
“Not the perfect prep, but I’m proud of the way I’ve dealt with it and building myself back up,” says Clutterbuck.
Part of her recovery included venturing into the Austrian mountains for an altitude training camp with Kat Matthews. Clutterbuck built back into some fitness and ended the camp with 20th place at IRONMAN 70.3 Pro Series Zell Am See, a mere six weeks of training in her legs. With only a further six weeks until Kona, it was just the boost and environment she needed.
“I always learn a lot from all the girls I have the privilege to train with and race against,” she says. “Training camp with Kat Matthews in the lead up to Kona as I built back from illness helped a lot, mentally and physically there aren’t many better athletes to learn from.”
Heading Into Kona
While fans can expect to see Clutterbuck at the front of the lead chase pack just as she did at the Ho’ala practice swim, her ambitions for the rest of race day are focused on her individual performance.
“After a good practice swim this week I’m feeling confident,” Clutterbuck says. “Lucy is clearly the strongest in the field on the swim as she has been so dominant over the years–but there are plenty of other very strong swimmers who will be up for it on the 11th September.”
“A strong bike will be needed with the calibre of the field, and I’d like to run well off the bike especially onto the backend of the marathon which I haven’t managed yet here in Kona,” she continues.
Physical performance aside, her mental approach is more about racing with her heart, not her head.
“My ideal race would be to go invisible and be able to race my own race,” she shares. “After a tough and uncertain year both inside and outside of triathlon, it’s great to be back racing and I will be doing it with a smile on my face and racing for those who can’t be there with us,” she says, referencing the loss of friend (Sam O’Shea) who recently passed away after a bike crash. “This year has shown me more than ever the importance of gratitude, being kind and intentionally lifting each other up, to carry on the legacies of two incredible humans who are no longer with us. I’ll be racing with them in my heart on Saturday.”- Sarah Bonner
Here’s a look at Clutterbuck’s Ventum Tempus:
Drivetrain
| Groupset | SRAM Red AXS eTap |
| Crank Length | 165 mm |
| Chain Rings 56/43 | 56/43t |
| Power Meter | SRAM Quarq |
| Cassette | 10/30t |
| Frame Storage | Aerogrip |
Cockpit
In addition to her heavy-duty Aerogrip bar, Clutterbuck has been using a unique cooling system (the blue pads you’ll see) that provide cooling to her arms while she’s riding.
| Basebar/ Aerobar | Profile Design base bar with Aerogrip Aerobar |
| Number of Bottles | 2 on BTA TriRig Full System |
| Computer | Garmin |
Rear Hydration and Saddle
| Hydration System | EZ Gains |
| Saddle | Selle Italia Watt |
| Hydration Count | 2 in Xlab Gorilla Cages |
Wheels
| Front Wheel | Princeton CarbonWorks Mach 7580 Evolution |
| Rear Wheel | Princeton CarbonWorks Mach 7580 Evolution |
| Tires | Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT TR 28 mm |
| Tire Pressure | 65 psi |
