Finally some representation 😬😃

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swim.bike.run.soccer

It's not a rebraded Storck. It's the same open mold bike that Ribble also uses.

She is (at least was) sponsored by Storck, but Storck might be using the open mould you mention.

Yeah Storck use frames from Chinese manufacturer Pardus (or the same underlying factory)

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Regards, Richard
3D Bits and Pieces - https://www.printables.com/@thetrickster_793480

Would it be fair to say that Rodriguez is the fastest North American IM-distance athlete at the moment? Has Sanders or Long gone faster than this?

I think that's a fair statement at the moment. Rodriguez has improved his bike aero efficiency, if he gets a bit more wattage, he could be a serious Kona contender as his swim and run are top notch.

I bet Jack thinks he's "possibly the best ever"

I guess RvB and Kanute would wish to be included in the North American chat. Do Long and Sanders race full distance nowadays?
If we think Lange is a "serious" contender for IMWC, and he obviously is, then I guess this is a question of how far back from 100% is Lange. Yesterday they swam together, biked for a long time together and then Rodriguez pushed off on the last downwind rush on the tollway and started the run 36 seconds ahead.
The difference was that Rodriguez ran 1:13/1:21 and Lange ran 1:16/1:19.
As far as 'records' are concerned, I believe that at 7:42:38 Rodriguez has just raced the fastest IM debut ever (discarding venues with a significant current assistance). His previous outing was a bike/run.
And that time is faster than Iden's at Florida, 10 months before his memorable Kona 2022 win.
#Thorsten: https://www.trirating.com/...an-distance-records/

Yo! I love a conspiracy but sat with Kat and read her this:

[laughing] “OMG no Jocelyn is great! She’s smooth and is almost too honest herself, leaves huge gaps and if she ever gets even slightly too close instantly overtakes”

Kat’s penalty was when they caught a couple of slower riders who ended up in the group then slowed into a bridge. Probably a little bit trigger happy from the ref and certainly not the worst offence out there, most going un punished BUT glad to see refs actually doing something. It was pretty clear she was the strongest rider in the race so wasn’t trying to cheat and with the win there was no point protesting when she thought the intent was honest from the ref.

Mark

Is Rodriguez on a testing protocol?

With PTN latest release on the T100 athletes not being on testing protocols, my thoughts are if they’re not on IM testing protocols, they should be ineligible for the series.

Athletes don't have a choice whether or not they're put on protocol so that would be an absurdly unfair stipulation.

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Benjamin Deal - Professional - Instagram - TriRig - Lodi Cyclery
Deals on Wheels - Results, schedule, videos, sponsors

I agree on all you mention here, mate. Rodriguez IM debut was in Cozumel, which was no-swim, so as per "full-IM", that may very well be true!
But he had the bike-run experience in the legs already.

And trust me: Waiting 2-3 hours under the Mexican sun in 2023 IM Cozumel, no drinks and no food, before they let us take off on the bikes, did not make that Ironman much easier, even if the swim was cancelled :)

Seeing him run IRL in Cozumel, I already knew he was an ace.
My family is Mexican - and we were ALL rooting and cheering (LOUDLY) here for Tomás´victory yesterday! What a cliffhanger in the end!

It’s unfair that athletes are eligible to compete when they’re not playing by the same sets of rules for those that are tested.

No one disagrees. We'd all love it if everyone was on an RTP but we're not and that simply isn't up to us. Everyone is at least subject to onsite testing. This is an Ironman/federation issue, not an athlete issue.

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Benjamin Deal - Professional - Instagram - TriRig - Lodi Cyclery
Deals on Wheels - Results, schedule, videos, sponsors

Are you talking about these athletes:

Yes, that was the post I was referencing, which led to my question on whether or not Tomas is on a protocol.

He has been an ITU athlete for years, and of course he is on the same protocol as everybody else. Why would he not be?

I don’t follow ITU, and have never heard of him until yesterday’s win.

Are you sure he is? It absolutely sucks we have to have this conversation and it's not even Tomas' fault if he's not in an RTP. However, I'd love if someone was able to show he was in an RTP because I can't find it.

Hey Mark, as always you had a few animated conversations with Kat caught on the live stream while on the run, would love to hear on the podcast what you were discussing, especially in the early miles, there was a lot of hand gesticulating from both of you! LOL!

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-Of course it's 'effing hard, it's IRONMAN!
Team ZOOT
ZOOT, QR, Garmin, HED Wheels, Zealios, FormSwim, Precision Hydration, Rudy Project

I’m glad you thought yesterday she biked correctly but I have heard from multiple people at many races that she has a tendency to get people a little close behind her when refs are around to give some penalties. In theory it’s a legal strategy I suppose but just feels a little slimy to do. It seems to happen more in races where she is tired or not having her best day.

Well I just sat with multiple women who have raced her many many times ant the awards and they all laughed at this notion. I’d hazard a guess that anyone suggesting this is just not as good as her on the bike. Chelsea sits close. You could see it in the Instagram stories of the NZ race. And she got a penalty. Jocelyn is not deliberately slowing down to get people penalties. She hits a pace and holds it.

I have heard from multiple people at many races that she has a tendency to get people a little close behind her when refs are around to give some penalties. //

It is basically like when driving a car, the one behind has all the responsibility for distance, and none on the driver(or rider) in front. Of course during the course of the bike portion of a race there are going to be speed changes, up and down. When you are the leading rider you get the luxury of making those changes on your own needs. It really is one of the only perks to leading a group or just being in front of others. So to blame that person for what really is just inattention to the trailing riders response, well grasping at straws really..


Of course Kat was the strongest rider on the day, but doesnt mean she didnt get caught up in stuff. And as she apparently explained, it was somewhere else where there was natural compression of the group. One thing that could be at issue, is the PTO where she races is much more flexible when someone barley enters the zone, and doesnt force them to make a pass every single time. And to some extent Ironman does the same, but every once in awhile a ref decides to enforce the letter of the rule and if that red light goes off and you dont pass, well that's your penalty right there. I wasn't there so cannot judge intent, but seems like her explanation seems reasonable and it was sort of a ticky tack call, although within the letter of the law..

Correction, “Possibly best ever in the history of the Ironman pro series”

Is Lange's front end a faring?

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.