I agree. I voted for him. After watching what he did on the Super League Triathlon, I'm not sure anyone could run with him.

Superleague is still different than a 3.5hr continuous race. Everyone else on that list save the Brownlees and Mola have proven more than capable at that duration. I wonder how many people know who Mauricio Mendez even is, which is depressing. That guy crushed Galveston with one of the worst professional bike positions I have ever seen.

 I wonder how many people know who Mauricio Mendez even is, which is depressing. //

No kidding, but we could only pic one so I did not pick him either. But if it were top 3 I would have had him in my picks. He is winning everything he enters and is super young still. Once he learns more tactics to go along with his outstanding talents, he may very well be the best 70.3 guy someday. I'm actually more interested to see what he can do at ironman. Give him a couple starts to figure out the race and its complexities, and I bet he breaking up that German podium that looks like the Berlin Wall 40 years ago.


If you have a product that sponsors triathletes, here is a big hint for you. Sign this kid as quick and for as long as you can. It will never be as cheap, and in a year or two he will be out of reach to most once he finds the right agent. Him and Patrick Lange were my two picks to sponsor(in my fantasy league) last year, Patrick is probably already now out of touch for a relatively cheap deal anymore.

It's probably because he is so passionate

Wow. That position...

Ha! I'm surprised it took a week and a half for that bike position to show up on slowtwitch. Shocking, where is specialized on this?!!?!

You can only pick one..........he would have been my second pick.

I just don't see anyone beating Sanders in anything but a championship race. And I think that's is going to be an extremely tough task this year and for a few more years to come.

I am well aware of Mendez. He is choking up in that shot no idea if that is representative of how always rides. At the point of the course the wind was blowing so hard over the bridge + large expansion cracks etc. Who knows. But those shoes...

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Patrick Lange stock has certainly risen, but with any of these guys, they could have a promising career or they could be done tomorrow with a career ending injury. The sport is brutal. The volatility and risk is high. For those few picking up Lange before Kona they probably got a fantastic deal.


Total tangent but I left a comment on Facebook regarding your skinsuit testing many years on this thread. Any chance you could respond with your thoughts. That article is here

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Perhaps even more interesting (you didn't even know who Mauricio was maybe 5 months ago) is that not a single person of the 400 who have voted so far have chosen the current 70.3 world champion.

I voted for him too! He wouldn't loose much in a HIM swim and would be one of the first into T2. He's a thoroughbred, and I imagine could run around 1:10 in a 70.3.

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Total tangent but I left a comment on Facebook regarding your skinsuit testing many years on this thread. Any chance you could respond with your thoughts. That article is here

Sure, so here is what you asked me back then:

First off, I see you said you had "used" jammers. Do you think the fact that they were used at all affected anything. Also how are you are eyeing these 100 times. Are you using an analog pace clock, digital pace clock, stop watch.

1. Of course any used suit is going to be a tiny bit slower than a brand new one, so yes there is some minute slowdown in the jammers, but not relevant really to my overall tests, and they were consistently the same jammers.


2.It was digital for the timing. I would never use analog for something like this, really increases the margin of error in the times. With digital I can get within a couple tenths in the send offs, and you get an exact number to look at when you finish. Of course you could be anywhere in that one second, but I take into account when the number flips and if it is like a tenth before, I rounded up on the split times.

Ok so it was digital off the clock on the wall. You weren't timing it with a stopwatch.

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Ok so it was digital off the clock on the wall. You weren't timing it with a stopwatch. ////


Yes on this particular test, but in the past have used a digital watch too, but with others doing the timing. This really is the most accurate as then you can factor in 1/10's of a second. But the way I did it is good enough to spot general trends and there was no confusing data to throw a monkey wrench into my results. In every case they were faster, and by about the same margins +/- a second.

Now I think I pointed out that this was a very narrow comparison. In reality for me it would be the difference between the suit and a shaved down body with a new racing jammer. That certainly would have tightened things up, but of course was not practical for so many tests. In the end it is really just the compression that is the major difference, so probably the one second per 100 we saw during the suit wars..

Too funny. I was going to pick him and then thought of this position and realized it may be a few more years for him.

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Who?

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

well he is up 1% since posting so he is already on the move ;)

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I always deemed Rich to be more of a fast twitch/huge anaerobic capacity Kind of guy. Maybe like Whitfield was.

But I might be off with that assumption

And I think he could pull over one hell oft a 70.3 anyway. But may be not as suited as for Sprint/Short course.

But then again Lionel seems also suited for short power bursts and is still a killer long course athlete.

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10k - 30:48 / half - 1:06:40

i guess it says a lot if the combined podium from last year 70.3 gets 3% or so of votes
and and out of top 10 athelte 30%
if all those in the list were there the swim would get faster the lead pack bigger and the fast runners likely be fresher off the bike
not neccesarliy in favor off sanders.
I think in a small field 30 % or so for sanders is fair at a world champ race with very deep filed its way too high. and one would assume that the field this year will be deeper than last year.
location and year after the olys.

one would have to agree that murreys run is so strong that it should get more than 1or 2 or whatever %.
Fact is it is way harder to predict the 2017 70.3 world podium than the 2016 olympic games podium.

Unfortunately for Sanders I am not sure Chattanooga is going to help the situation out on the bike other the giving Sanders a realistic possibility of making the back of the front group in the swim. I think he can do well in an upstream start swim. If he makes the group that could really change things up but he needs to develop some really short, but high top-end power to snap the group and pull away. A good solid 2 mins at 460-480 should do the trick.

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Bigger issue - No Andy or T.O.? They should be an option and not lumped into "other".

I stuck mendez on the poll for a reason. I don't know if he's even going to 70.3 worlds, but to me he is the most interesting raw young talent in triathlon today.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

If I remember correctly, in his victory speech at Texas 70.3 he said he looks forward to testing himself at 70.3 worlds.

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Nah, that win was more of a game plan, rather than being the best. Reminds me of Dave Scott vs Mark Allen: Allen played the game right and won, but he didn't go out there and push the race. He bought time...Timbo did the same, and I think less of him and Mark Allen for it (smart on their part, and victorious, but less "wow factor").

When you say 'triathlon', you mean 'non-drafting triathlon', right? Otherwise I think there are many young talents in ITU that may make your list ahead of Mendez when considering possible raw talent for the future (in draft or non-draft).

Why do you think he is the strongest runner? AB as far as I know has the better pr and crushes the run in everything he enters (except superleague). I think Murray is a huge talent, but think it will be a couple years before he is ready for 70.3, I think he is still best suited for sprint/oly as of now.

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Terrible Tuesday’s Triathlon

I meant like literally *strongest*. This is different than say fastest runner. Murray to me seems like very much a strength athlete which translates really well as you go longer and longer.

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This poll shouldn't surprised me but really Sanders over Gomez or Frodeno? Lets all pick the chap with the great back story over previous 70.3 and IM world champs. Murray is an interesting wildcard. Yes he was great at Super League but Gomez/AB. Plus when they were much younger he beat AB to the world duathlon champs. However Gomex/AB have let him win a few early session races for a few years now. Then when the racing gets serious he isn't in contention. I can't see why it will be any different. Yes the swim isn't as fast in 70.3, as ITU, but it's longer and there is less of a pack so less drafting. I suspect AB/Gomez will have more of a lead coming out of T1 and will not be waiting.

"When you say 'triathlon', you mean 'non-drafting triathlon', right?"

what i mean is, at 21 or 22 or however old he is he's already very close to the best overall triathlete in the world right now when you throw offroad into the mix. who's the men's version of flora duffy? if you ran an xterra race, and a 70.3, and an ITU WTS race, and you through all the times and places together to make an overall winner, who beats this guy?

and as has been pointed out, his bike position reeks.

mexico has had really good triathletes in the past. but never a world beater. i'm eager to see this guy rise to the top.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

The poll was who is the best 70.3 Athlete..............

Not who is going to win the 70.3 WC.........I could definitely see your argument for that one race.

But, I honestly think anyone would be hard pressed to make an argument how anyone on that list beats Sanders in a 70.3 TT or even a 70.3 NON-Championship race.

Not directly to you but what's the sang? Evolve or die...

The athletes that are winning 70.3 WC are the ones that have evolved and adapted to the current rules and style of racing. It's still racing. They aren't doing a pool TT, trainer ride for max watts, etc. Tim Reed and Jan deserve more credit for adapting to the current rules/style of racing and winning.

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Another location.



Also, given that you know how individual aero testing is I'm surprised your proselytize your shoes as much as you do...

I'm really struggling to follow your logical here? In a race format that doesn't exist and in races that where all the top athletes aren't there Sanders is unbeatable? My money is always on the athletes that win the races everybody wants to win. What would be Javier/Jan/Alistair.

PS I hope Sanders proves me wrong and laughs in my face :)

I get that....and I stated that if the poll were who will win the 70.3 WC or even who would win in a race between these fellas....... Your argument is much more valid and we can talk all day about that.....To be fair though I do think Sanders wins it this year.

The poll was "Best 70.3 Racer"

I honestly don't think you can make an argument for any of those guys other than Sanders to win a "Regular Season Championship" or "70.3 MVP" on the 70.3 Ironman Circuit.

0.27 CdA???

Okay that makes sense. They kept mentioning during superleague that Murray had the fastest 10k leg in a trip but haven't found it. There are though a lot of other factors than pure strength to consider. Murray has been better at sprint compared to Olympic which is why I think it will be a few years before he has the endurance required for 70.3.

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Terrible Tuesday’s Triathlon

Right but the thing with Murray is that in the ITU Murray's weakness is the swim. Often times in a sprint the swim doesn't separate so neither does the bike. In an olympic the swim often separates and Murray is in the chase pack effectively out of the race. He then hammers and often runs his way to anyone but Brownlees and Gomez. Doing multiday event is sign of strength in and of itself. Island House was another good showing of what Murray is capable of.

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Gomez won Xterra worlds in 2012, so I'll go out on a (very, very sturdy) limb and say he'd probably beat Mendez.

interestingly, i've heard that mauricio isn't really ''allowed'' to race ITU WTS. that was what was told to me, but i'm not exactly sure how it could be true. but mexico's leading "international" level triathlete OTHER than Mauricio, Grajales, is pretty much hoping that Mauricio WILL never race draft legal, because he'd probably crush Grajales.

but, the question you ask in the quote above:

who is the best overall triathlete in the world right now, all types/distances <4hrs considered...

i think mauricio might very well be that person. BUT, i didn't vote for him in THIS poll.

no way, not under those conditions.

Gomez is already an Xterra World Champion, a 70.3 World Champion and an ITU World Champion. Until someone else can claim that, why would you chose anyone else?

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

The problem with this poll and this thread is that there are two different measures being applied here. One is perceiving the 'best' 70.3 athlete as the person who wins the WC. The other way is on some sort of MVP amalgamation of 'best' as being across a season based on a number of races.
The second option will always be subjective as it brings personal bias and geographic location into the equation, hence Sanders is considered likely be the 'best' by more people as he has won a number of races in certain places and he has a certain back story and origin.
I guess though that this poll and discussion is based on the inexact nature of triathlon, exemplified by Kona being considered (and self promoted) as the ironman length race WC when it could be counter argued that it caters for certain kinds of athlete.

crush Grajales? Really? Grajales is one of the most consistent runners on the ITU circuit.

Yeah, there is no comparing the ITU swim to Xterra or 70.3. Grajales has enough trouble. Is there any way Mendez is up there?

He sounds like a great kid and will be fun to watch - TRS just had a good interview with him. I'm just not sure his swim would be up to WTS standards.

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Aaron Bales
Lansing Triathlon Team

My understanding is that Dan was specifically talking about up and comers (U23 athletes). So Gomez does not qualify here.

Pretty sure Mauricio would be the top athlete from Mexico in ITU racing.

Javier Gomez

you think he'd go better than 2nd in a wts race? Lol

Except he doesn't race ITU.. and there is normally a reason for that. Generally anyone good enough to race ITU does, those that aren't able to cut it try other styles of racing. Pretty much every young person I know of who races 70.3 or longer or differing forms of tri chose these distances once they realised they weren't quite the level they wanted to be in ITU. Many then suddenly have great success once changing over. Xterra is a different skill set, yes, but there is no denying he chose a form of racing with a diluted top end. I don't believe Mauricio would beat many of the top ITU u/23 guys in the world at the moment if they were put in races together.

What he said!

So I feel the need to explain myself further here.

When I say a NON-Championship race I mean that any 1 or 2 or even three of these dudes is in 70.3 race against Sanders they lose 9 out of 10 times.

The thing is you throw in swim pack(which may not be as bad this year) and bike pack dynamics it becomes exponentially harder the more top athletes you add to the race.

If you are one of those people who believes that an athlete who destroys everyone in the regular season (but then doesn't win the championship) is not the best "athlete" then I guess I will never convince you.

Just saying it is much harder to show up and blast it (week in & week out) than show up for a WC and hang on for a win.

This is very true about Mendez. Couple things to note, he is only 21 and most likely won't be doing an IM for a few years. His true love is in the mountains, but he knows he can make a mark on the road as well. The agent group he is with now seems to have gotten him a lot of new sponsors this year, which is pretty good considering not many people even knows who he is and they seem to have a long term plan in place. He is one to watch. An interesting fact about him is that he rode a tt bike for the first time only weeks before his first 70.3 two seasons ago (2015).
My impression is that he knows he couldn't beat some of these guys today but with the rapid rise in the sport, the future should bring great things for him. He is a sponsors dream, hard working, realistic on the business side, very gracious and is a winner.

No it isn't!

You really think that Preforming at an incredible level 8 or more weekends out of the year is less impressive than winning a tactical battle in a WC race?

It really proves you got things right for that one race but can you do the same thing next week or next month?

I honestly just don't see that.

Maybe I look at the world differently

The thing with Mexico's triathlon federation is that to be eligible for wc and wts races and be part of the international itu team you need to be able to swim a 1500m pool time trial under 17:25 and run a 5k track tt under 15:20. What I guess, is that in a given year Mauricio didn't made those cuts (probably the swim), so he turned to xterra and 70.3 racing where he found out that he had alot of talent and future.

Pictures of AB in the TT

http://www.kimroy-photography.co.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=601024

He's definitely got a decent looking position going.

http://www.kimroy-photography.co.uk/...php?g2_itemId=601034

The way athletes are listed, Challenge Mogan Gran Canaria doesn't appear to be having separate pro field or at least just a tiny one. I recognize Daniela Ryf, Natasha Badmann, Lucy Charles and Stephen Bayliss on their list. Perhaps there are other less well known pros as well. I'd guess Alistair's race would be a solo TT almost from the gun. It will be interesting but St. George will be even more so. The next month should give some exciting insights into how the 70.3 championships might play out.

Hugh

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Genetics load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.

I can't find any sort of pro start list for it at all...

The pros are mixed right in with the age groupers in their age appropriate category. AB is not listed yet but Ryf, Badmann, Charles and Bayliss are.

http://challengegrancanaria.com/...stration/start-list/

Hugh

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Genetics load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.