Means Lange ain’t 3 peated.. (Poor Dreitz).

A part of me is happy that Lange will have to win on his own and not some team tactics BS.

Can’t wait for Kona!!

I was totally thinking exactly this when I heard the news that Dreitz crashed.

Prior to that, I think the difference was over 12 min from Dreitz back to Lange at the 62km mark, yet Lange "somehow" just ends up riding right on his wheel for 180km on the Big Island.

I really have zero love for Lange and I hope he has to race without his domestique and we will see if he can put these accusations to rest or not.

Means Lange ain’t 3 peated.. (Poor Dreitz).

A part of me is happy that Lange will have to win on his own and not some team tactics BS.

Can’t wait for Kona!!

I was totally thinking exactly this when I heard the news that Dreitz crashed.

Prior to that, I think the difference was over 12 min from Dreitz back to Lange at the 62km mark, yet Lange "somehow" just ends up riding right on his wheel for 180km on the Big Island.

I really have zero love for Lange and I hope he has to race without his domestique and we will see if he can put these accusations to rest or not.

Brownlee will not make the podium

Means Lange ain’t 3 peated.. (Poor Dreitz).

A part of me is happy that Lange will have to win on his own and not some team tactics BS.

Can’t wait for Kona!!

It’s just part of racing, and all they can really do is increase draft zone. But they can’t dictate you have to race your own race....that’s not really done except in the run.

Those swimmers who “sit in” on others they essentially are pseudo teammates at that point.

I think it’s just a “dirty” part of racing that they can take advantage of. they do I believe have some “honest effort” rule but if your are the front of the draft train how in the hell can WTC bust you for that.

We long ago broke off from some “individual” race with just how good and even most athletes are and thus will be on the same real estate most of the race together. Kona also isn’t that tough of a course is it to “break up” packs? Unless horrible conditions, but most years there’s always going to be the packs together and basically “working together”.

Keep in mind he also finished what top 15. It’s not like he quit in T2 after his domesticque work. Maybe he improves by a spot or 2 if he raced exclusively for himself but he did fairly well for his own result. So you’ll be hard for me to want WTC to then look in and say x is or isn’t racing “hard enough”.

I don’t think this was a Charcot/LS completely tanking one result for other athlete.

Agreed, with Ali in the race, it gives the race a completely different dynamic with him and Jan at the front, it will take the UBER bikers a LOT longer to bridge up to them. The way the race is shaping up, I can't see anyone that will challenge Jan.
Having said that, in the immortal words of NFL broadcaster Chris Berman, "that's ....why....they....play....the.....game".

I'm with you all when rooting for the underdogs that go off the front, and lay it all out there. They make the race exciting, colorful, and make others rise up to beat them. But why bag on the guy that actually has the smartest race on the day and wins? That's what I dont get....Carry on, rant over..

I have never seen a bunch of crybabies as I do in this thread, and most of you have no idea what you are talking about..

First of all, Dreitz started the bike nearly a minute behind, so if he soft pedaled to wait, that would be a nice trick..

They maybe rode all of an hour or so together, along with 12+ other guys, different ones taking pace at different times. It was not prearranged, but once in the large group, no doubt lots of those guys were plotting to get the best out of it. Did I miss where the other 12 guys who rode this pace are also not doing Kona too? Is there any doubt that this group will form once again like it has just about every year since the race started? And do any of you suppose that someone is going to feel good and push the pace, and when they dont, someone else will take over?

And as for Dreitz, dude got 13 overall last year, so pretty fucking good if he was just some domestic. Seems to me he rode his ride, and had his best run. Just like 1/2 the guys in that group did, while others overcooked hanging in there. If he slowed down while riding, he was probably looking for some help, and if it doesnt come, well he was willing to sit on the front and set pace, his pace..

Almost forgot the secret German they were speaking with each other, they are friends people! Jeesh, have none of you ever talked with a buddy when you happen to be riding with them in a race? I know I have, and guess what, I talk to people that aren't my buddies, some banter, and some strategy in the moment..

A lot of you guys sound like the ones that bag on Gomez too, same stupid argument. You are mad I guess because everyone doesnt race off the front and win..Well guess what, that strategy almost never works, witness the 70.3WC this past weekend. I just dont understand how people cant understand that folks that compete at the highest level, have different strengths and weaknesses, and have strategies to maximize their races.

I'm with you all when rooting for the underdogs that go off the front, and lay it all out there. They make the race exciting, colorful, and make others rise up to beat them. But why bag on the guy that actually has the smartest race on the day and wins? That's what I dont get....Carry on, rant over..