This place won't change next year, pre Kona will be full of threads about Sanders all the talk will be about Wurf, Kienle and Frodo when only one of them will have podiumed in the last two years!

Lets assume he was fatigued going into the race. Starts swimming and immediately the body doesn't feel good. Has a very poor swim which isn't a surprise from Lionel. However, looking at where he swam at the practice swim a week prior we can say he swam very bad. Something was up.

Now onto the bike. He starts riding and immediately the legs feel fatigued, no pep. He pushes the watts he knows how he can push. Add in the same drafting you always see in the front group. How many times did we see Lange sitting up and or soft pedaling when on camera? But still rides a crazy fast time. While Lionel is way back by himself pushing big watts but isnt the match for a group dynamic.

Watts and Time are not the best measurement of how he did as the dynamics of the race play a bigger reason into times done. You put LS in a smaller field with those watts and he will ride much better comparative to others who don't have group support.

Also in the watt category, if LS was fatigued from the weeks of training and almost two Ironmans before. If he was out of the aero bars more because he was fatigued and frustrated, he's going to push higher watts and go slower.

What does all this mean? Shit who knows. What I do know is that LS caused himself to miss out on another big opportunity off his own ignorance. His videos are entertaining but educated people see the his videos as a complete train wreck. Not some gleaming hope of whats possible. He has proven time and time again that he cannot manage himself and he's too stubborn to allow someone to work with him. When DTD worked with him last year is when we saw the most growth. Fast forward one year and we have LS self coached, talking massive game, making massive errors, and bombing at the most important race of the year.

I have no feeling about Lionel one way or another. However he's obviously extremely gifted ( as are any # of pros) and has a grazy drive. BUT.... it's painful to watch a athlete waist (IMO) yrs of his career because he thinks he knows best.

As for his fans.....What can I say your just fun to troll:)

Has anyone seen any interview or quotes from him post-race? I'm really interested to hear.

I get being annoyed by over zealous fans but rejoicing in the failure or misfortune of someone really makes you a total dick.

Dammit Lionel....maybe why your body was off is you did an IM in Tremblant on empty 7 weeks ago and you did all these 3/4 IM days too close to the race. I think he says it in the video.

In fairness to the Sanders overhype, Kienle under performed too as did did Frodo and so did Gomez.

I as well.

I don't get the hate either.

Dude obviously had a crap race, well below his potential.

I had hoped for a repeat of last year, only with Sanders having more in the tank when Lange caught him and the 2 racing down to the finish. Instead we saw someone get pulled by a teammate all day and then run off the front by himself for 2 hrs.

As impressive/incredible an exhibition as Danielas race was, it was boring as well. No fireworks, no big battle of wills, just her being a machine and running everyone else into the ground.

Watching Lange get led out for passes and getting pulled all morning by Drietz was just depressing. Sure, it was legal, I guess, but how one can celebrate that and revel in the downfall of a guy like Sanders who does the exact opposite just mystifies me.

End point of my ramblings: why celebrate someone imploding when that implosion only means we get a less exciting race to watch?