Spandexboy wrote:
Ryf is an outlier--like Chrissie-- and I don't think getting to within 30 minutes of the winner at Texas is that big of a deal as there are too many legal drafting or otherwise that increase the speeds at this event and thus reduce times. Not a shot at her, but the Ironman Texas course and Ironman's race to the bottom. In addition, what males are racing and how the male group races will significantly affect how close she gets. When you compare Ryf--hands down the current best female long course triathlete by far--to the current consistently best male long course triathlete--Jan Frodeno--she is in the 40-45 minute range, not the thirty minute range. Ryf also has a massive advantage over the male pro athletes in that she gets to ride her own race whereas the men are racing each other to the detriment of their overall and bike and run times.
That said, I love and hate Ryf's dominance and wish we could have seen Chrissie and her race each other. I think the only female athlete that could challenge her right now is fellow swiss triathlete Nicola Spirig and she has the talent and skills to challenge Ryfs dominance. Spirig won the only Ironman she entered and Apparently will not be pursuing an iron distance triathlon racing career.
Ryf is an outstanding athlete, but I think she is on par, or maybe even not quite as good as Chrissie. Chrissie was conistently a much better runner than Ryf, despite Ryf being a much more trained athlete with many many more years of triathlon experience than Chrissie. Ryf while a stronger cyclist was not massively stronger then Chrissie. These races are probably the best comparison of the two, as conditions on both days were apparently similar according to reliable sources and the course was the same as far as I can tell.
2011 Roth vs. 2016 Roth
Andreas Raelert
0:46:18 4:11:43 2:40:52 7:41:33
Chrissie Wellington
0:49:49 4:40:39 2:44:35 8:18:13
Vs.
Jan Frodeno
0:45:22 4:08:07 2:39:18 7:35:39
Daniela Ryf
0:49:10 4:31:29 2:57:40 8:22:04
Intetesting to note that Sebi Kienle was 2nd in 2011 with 7:57 and Dr. Joe Skipper was 2nd in 2016 with a 7:56 and a 2:38 run!
Don't take this the wrong way - 2016 is a terrible comparison. Daniela was tapered for Frankfurt - 2 weeks earlier - which she dropped out with hypothermia, and then raced Roth, knowing she was going to have to race Switzerland the next week. I don't think it's a great comparison to Chrissie looking to beat her world record and at the prime of her racing.
Also - Frankfurt Daniela was only 38 down to Frodo who was trying to prove a point to Lange, while in Hawaii with a good 5 minutes lost to the jellyfish - she was only 34 down to the two time Kona champ.
Last year Matt Hanson went 7:39 - yeah yeah about Texas, but if she's 25 back - that's getting VERY close to 8 hours. THAT gets very interesting. Seeing 7:5X:XX from a woman would be INCREDIBLE.
DFRU - Detta Family Racing Unit...the kids like it and we all get out and after it...gotta keep the fam involved!