Gotta be cheering for Kanute. That guy's nose has been breaking the wind all morning doing an ITT. He's like the breakaway guy in the TdF who you want the win to be bestowed on vs the closing pack.

I'm rooting for Kanute. I hope he wins.

Javi now in 2nd place.

What's his best 70.3 run? Anyone know?

Is Gomez sprinting a HM?

Yep. Gomez looks great though... Go Ben!!!

Kanute gave back more than a minute to Gomez to the first aid station. He will get passed at mile 9 or so

Gomez wins this race easily...

Lots of talk from the commentary about Ben Kanute hurting a lot based on how his running looks. He always has that run style in the ITU races though. He does definitely seem to be hurting but that 'uncomfortable' run style they're talking about is seen a lot with him. Agree with ya that you have to be cheering for the man after doing all that work by himself on the bike.

Gomez after a slow transition is charging right now! Dropped Kienle like it was nothing.

At this rate probably about 6 miles.

I hope Kanute gets a medal. Mainly because of my ITU bias.

I'm going for Kanute to hang on. He probably won't, but I want him to. I did not see Don nor Gomez really stick their nose out once all through the coverage (sorry, banging on Don again, but he's not the uberbiker that has been claimed on here this year....sorry Milesthedog). Granted the coverage don't show what they are doing all the time, but the guys who put their nose in the wind, you see them doing that often. Go Ben!

The question is "how long can he hurt?" If he can suffer and keep it together to the finish, maybe he can hang on!

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

TOP 10 Pro Men - Thru Run Split 2 - 2.23 mi
1 2:48:43 Ben Kanute
2 2:51:39 2:56 Javier Gomez
3 2:51:46 3:04 Sebastian Kienle
4 2:52:14 3:32 Sam Appleton
5 2:52:14 3:32 Tim Don
6 2:52:15 3:33 Maurice Clavel
7 2:52:24 3:42 Pieter Heemeryck
8 2:52:45 4:03 Tyler Butterfield
9 2:53:27 4:45 Andreas Dreitz
10 2:54:15 5:33 Matt Chrabot

The math doesn't work. It was a valiant effort though. Next year Gomez with AB would be a show.

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Dan Mayberry
Amateur a lot of things, professional a few things.

I think the race for 2nd is gonna be really interesting. Something keeps telling me SK is gonna pay for his tactics today. But could be a 3 way duel between TD, SA and SK.

I hope so too, but it seems unlikely at this rate. From run split 3.5 through 4.2, Gomez made up 23 seconds. He just looks way too strong right now. He'll have a good chance at holding off Kienle though to take second place.

Who knows though. Kanute might get it together and pick it up these last 8 miles.

I agree...just hoping...I like ballsy attempts to just go off the front and smash it, like another poster said comparing it to a pro tour break.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

Yup, only 1:06 down now at 4.9 miles. Gotta respect Kanute's effort - he did what he needed to do on the swim/bike to put himself in the best position to win. Just won't be enough today.

Agreed...Javi clocking 5:11 pace at last checkpoint.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

I don't think SK is gonna get a medal here.

He's now running slower than BK.

Ben looks much better than at the start of the run. Gomez is just in a different league. I hope ben can hold on to top 3. He deserves it.

3:12 in, Ben only has 45 seconds on Javier. Still ~40 min of racing to go. Looks like game is over. Kind of sucks for Ben, but he should get the "most aggressive rider award" for the day.

Yeh SK aint getting a medal. TD has just passed.

Another ITU guy in Tim Don. Will probably be the podium today.

ITU! ITU! ITU!

In all seriousness though that is where the best athletes are, certainly for 70.3.

Don looks like he is running like a 10,000m finalist in the Olympics and only 20 seconds off Ben, who is running like a triathlete.

Lol harsh but true. That being said Kanute is still running himself into a medal.