monty wrote:
I think what Lionel is experiencing in this race and future ones where he makes a good pack in the swim, are the affects of having to swim a lot harder than he is used to. Old Lionel would just sit on his pace once popped early, and swim hard. New Lionel has to swim like his life depends on it, go with pace changes, and just do whatever he has to to hold his group. There is a cost to this, I just think he doesn't realize that yet.
And his power is not that out there, I cannot vouch for whatever he measures it with. I know that Bjorn did a workout tt here up our mountain and held 465 watts for over 45 minutes, all in the aero position. Maybe loses 10 watts and goes an hour? He was a little bigger than Lionel, I think low to mid 170's lbs at the time. They are probably very similar riders time wise too.
Lionel next project is to get more comfortable in that 2nd pack swimming, he is not going to make the lead group any time soon, or ever. Just how it is with swimming. But he can learn some things not to burn so many matches and retain more of his most powerful weapon, the bike. He will keep all those ITU guys coming up in distance honest for sure, and crush a few of their dreams!!!
Mark, thanks for coming on here consistently and giving these perspectives. I never would have thought of that and it makes total sense. he knows he needs to be closer to the front for worlds so like you say, he needs to find that group that may be just a fraction out of his comfort zone and needs to hold on to them no matter what.
Great perspective, much appreciated.
Mark