RP29 wrote:
Yes I do all my training and racing on the same bike and just happend while racing. I also mentioned the possibility of interference to the mechanic but he said that not possible. In kona that could've been a possibility with all the bikes around but in Cabos I was basically riding on my own when it happened.
I'm really sorry to hear about your issues. Both of these races represent large investments of training time and financial costs!
My guess is that SRAM management would be more interested in helping you out than the staff your LBS has managed to contact. SRAM personnel were at Kona and having a KQ'er ko'd with their premier component line is something that would/should concern them. They want to increase the use of eTap as Shimano is dominating the electronic shifting market. Ask your LBS to elevate the issue with SRAM and try contacting SRAM through social media channels. If you use LinkedIn in your profession, a quick search of SRAM public relations should provide another means of contact.
I have been using Shimano DI2 for years. Finding LBS wrenches with DI2 experience has always proved difficult, if not impossible. Diagnosing DI2 at the LBS just isn't available in my area and the only sure diagnosis for some issues typically requires swapping parts. Since the LBS doesn't stock DI2 this falls to the end user. With eTap being much newer to the market I assume this same situation is pretty common.
My wife was knocked out of a KQ attempt during the extreme weather one year in Whistler due to a (gen1) DI2 shifting failure. We were sure it was moisture related. It took some repeat issues later to discover it was actually a pinched wire at the aerobars and it only occurred intermittently. For your case, I'd recommend just swapping out the blipbox harness, etc. If this takes doing it at your own cost for now I'd rationalize that this is a much lower cost than lost race fees, travel, qualifying, etc.