My big pet peeve on the TriLive feed is that thew official ITU commentators don't know the official rules... Emma Frodeno's comment about the 15seconds being added on if they don't serve a penalty is absolutely wrong, and I can't think of when that was ever the case except with USAT rules... If you fail to serve a penalty, it's a DQ, but for the last decade, the athlete has the right to continue the race (except as mentioned when they are lapped out or pulled for a first runner/last biker scenario, since that's an elimination rather than a DQ) and then appeal at the finish. It takes away from the coverage when they talk out of their arse about rules, since many people watching don't actually know better, and then are shocked with the results (usually for WTS events, there's an official in the TV coverage booth, typically they are there to observe, but I'm sure if the commentators weren't sure and asked, they could get a clarification). It looked like AB just paced Richard Varga for the run knowing that he was DQ'd. Also not sure why they ever announced it was a 15sec penalty. They may have heard the radio call for the infraction, without realizing that it was an auto DQ, and not waited for the second call from the Head Ref to the penalty box to post that it was a DQ.
That being said I am surprised only the two got DQ'd, I saw some solid photos from that first buoy carnage that showed clearly 4 guys on the inside of the buoy (and you could ID most of their numbers from their swimcaps in the photo, they might have all gotten lapped out anyways, but still). To be fair to AB, he tried to make it, he went under the buoy, but went around the inside of the anchor line rather than the outside... I'm not surprised that people got disorientated in that washing machine though, guys were getting nailed, getting stood up, etc. I've not seen that type of carnage in a race since the new contact rules came in last year, with the exception of the ladies race in Superleague Jersey). He clearly payed for having no WTS ranking coming in and getting stuck on that inside end of the pontoon with the riff raff... I don't think either Brownlee was in tip top shape, and while their results read as being a bit washed-up, I assume that if Ali commits to Tokyo, and the two start training together regularly again for ITU, they will be podium threats at any given race.
I also agree with the comments about Vincent Luis, he's a solid medal threat for Tokyo if he can stay healthy. He's always been in the ballpark, and he's shown that he can be a big race performer... I was very impressed by his swim, he led it for 70% of the race, with Varga only leading for small bits and leading out of the water by a body length... Add to the fact that he briefly went down (and tangled up JB as well) on the bike makes it even more impressive.
In terms of Van Riel, I'm not sure if anyone saw his IG post after the race, his dropped chain there with 3km to go was apparently from the elastic band from his shoes in T1 getting bunged up in his rear derailleur causing the chain drop, which is why it took him a solid 30sec to get the chain back on so that he could ride... The development of someone like Van Riel could be critical for guys like Luis and Blummenfelt having a podium shot at Tokyo, those guys, a healthy Schoeman and healthy and fit Brownlees could put a lot of pressure on the Murrays, Molas and Birtwhistles closing a break off the swim (that said, if Mola's swim keeps coming along the way it was at the GF, he might still be able to get on terms)...
That being said I am surprised only the two got DQ'd, I saw some solid photos from that first buoy carnage that showed clearly 4 guys on the inside of the buoy (and you could ID most of their numbers from their swimcaps in the photo, they might have all gotten lapped out anyways, but still). To be fair to AB, he tried to make it, he went under the buoy, but went around the inside of the anchor line rather than the outside... I'm not surprised that people got disorientated in that washing machine though, guys were getting nailed, getting stood up, etc. I've not seen that type of carnage in a race since the new contact rules came in last year, with the exception of the ladies race in Superleague Jersey). He clearly payed for having no WTS ranking coming in and getting stuck on that inside end of the pontoon with the riff raff... I don't think either Brownlee was in tip top shape, and while their results read as being a bit washed-up, I assume that if Ali commits to Tokyo, and the two start training together regularly again for ITU, they will be podium threats at any given race.
I also agree with the comments about Vincent Luis, he's a solid medal threat for Tokyo if he can stay healthy. He's always been in the ballpark, and he's shown that he can be a big race performer... I was very impressed by his swim, he led it for 70% of the race, with Varga only leading for small bits and leading out of the water by a body length... Add to the fact that he briefly went down (and tangled up JB as well) on the bike makes it even more impressive.
In terms of Van Riel, I'm not sure if anyone saw his IG post after the race, his dropped chain there with 3km to go was apparently from the elastic band from his shoes in T1 getting bunged up in his rear derailleur causing the chain drop, which is why it took him a solid 30sec to get the chain back on so that he could ride... The development of someone like Van Riel could be critical for guys like Luis and Blummenfelt having a podium shot at Tokyo, those guys, a healthy Schoeman and healthy and fit Brownlees could put a lot of pressure on the Murrays, Molas and Birtwhistles closing a break off the swim (that said, if Mola's swim keeps coming along the way it was at the GF, he might still be able to get on terms)...
