Triathlete Iain Veitch is surely now one of Scotland’s unsung sporting heroes after winning the tortuous “SaharaMan” event at the first attempt.
Iain, 44, from Peebles, travelled out to Algeria to contest a triple challenge that has long been on his bucket list as a follow up to winning numerous endurance events at home and occasionally abroad.
And amid dunes and watched by camels he came out way in front of rivals over a 4k oasis swim followed by a 180k cycle and finally the classic 26.2 mile marathon run. All this on shifting sands, burning tarmac and taking in some sights which, Iain says, were .quite surreal.
All this a far cry from the annual Edinburgh New Year Triathlon around Arthur’s Seat and featuring a swim in The Royal Commonwealth Pool which Iain won for the fourth time at the start of 2026.
“It seemed to me at times that the whole SaharaMan event was put together by A1. What else to make of running in a desert past neolithic paintings on rocks while across to my other side I actually spotted a mummified camel!
“I’m absolutely delighted to have won and that’s filled a void for the next while but I really don’t think this will catapult me into the sporting mainstream by any means.”
Fame and fortune were the last things on Iain’s mind, anyway.
“I received a really heavy crystal trophy almost as soon as I crossed the finish line and some bits and pieces for entering; nothing extravagant at all.
“For me the prize was fulfilling an ambition while enjoying an amazing experience. There was also some great camraderie and it seems that the more extreme the event the more it brings out some remarkable people.
“I am also delighted for the two brothers who organise The SaharaMan as there were a number of obstacles to be overcome which meant up until a couple of hours beforehand the race was in doubt.
“A bit of North African bureaucracy was partly responsible and so was the possibility of storms.
“The bureaucracy meant changing hotels a few times in the build-up but it all worked out ok and it was a strange feeling having achieved something I’d long wanted to do in going back to my hotel, looking at my sand covered feet with broken nails and trying to put it all into perspective.
“Honestly, it was a bloody hard race lasting for me a bit over 10 hours and i have a particular admiration for those entrants who maybe underestimated what was in front of them but kept pushing themselves anyway.
“I’m just glad I had a bit to spare in the end as my main challenger (defending champion Vitezslav Fort of Czechia) dropped back in the latter part leaving me to enjoy the finishing laps without so much pressure while nothing dramatic happened to de-rail me which is always something you worry about in a triathlon.
So, will Iain look to defend his title next year?
“The people were so great that I’d love to go back and spend a bit of time exploring the area and seeing the incredible sights” he says.
