Is there anyone there?
Decent but not packed crowds in the T area so far.
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This is the bike course that we have these athletes on? The biggest story now is who’s nutrition is going to be f’d because they can’t fit a bottle on their bike anymore? WTF are they doing with courses like that.
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Are there good alternatives in central London? (I don’t live there, I don’t know.)
Im travelling abroad, dipping in and out, why is Knibb 4th on the bike?
If that’s the only* location they can use in all of London, fair enough. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing, that that is the only thing they can use.
She was 4th out of the water. Has neither gained or lost (much) time on the others since T1. If she has a “bad” day, takes it easy, or struggles with the course, who knows?
Bottles
Athlete fail if they lose a bottle:use a loop that works. The road surface is entirely ‘known’ and there are numerous ‘sleeping policemen’ on each lap.
Bike course
These roads are those near the dock (for the swim). Rewards athletes who can cycle on ‘normal’ roads (and penalises indoor boring machine exercising).
Central London
The only open water that could be used in central London is the Serpentine in Hyde Park, where the 2012 Olympic course was, with the bike course round the Park (so staying away from vital thoroughfares which can no way been closed).
Knibb climbed the stairs a few seconds back, and did so moderating her steps. She put her socks on and so at first bike check she was 25s down on Learmonth: she has maintained that gap for this first 45 mins. If Knibb rides as normal she will push this middle 40km. She will be unconcerned about Learmonth (weak run): Waugh (with her excellent run) is the threat to her but also looking ‘over her shoulder’ to Derron. Knibb has slowly already increased the gap to Derron.
GTB has, as I suggested ^^, shown she has not developed TT riding capability.
Gentle who is now with GTB is I regret, is not a player.
How will LCB run?
Waugh holding serve so far on the bike (actually still ahead of Knibb) is going to make for a fascinating run. I wonder if Knibb has rode the 1st part of the bike controlled, and will sorta drop the hammer now until the bike vs steady so far.
GTB Hydro Gains broke. She lost her two cages, may have failed on the slider mount.
Waugh taking the lead is sorta fascinating strategy considering her strong run. Knibb sorta stuck in ~30s back no mans land now that the 3 Brits are all together at the front.
Waugh is not concerned about either of these two. She will prefer to have a small gap on Knibb (and will expect Knibb to try to catch. Waugh will want to have a 2 minute gap on Derron.
I assume Knibb’s power advantage is balanced by her typically less comfort in the wiggly bits.
I expect Byram to move up: she rode up to LCB here last year and ran well enough to get #5 (Simmonds out front at T2, LCB dropped out, Matthews and Philipp overtook her).
Perterer was able to stay with Matthews in Texas for over an hour (so travelling at Knibb speeds). She was #2 in Singapore, in very different conditions, of course.
It’s 26oC and full sun.
Didn’t say she was concerned with the 2 other Brits, more that they can “work together”, while Knibb seemingly is sorta stuck chasing still vs having already gotten to the front in other T100 races. I’m guessing Knibb is going into peak IM training volume, especially with what she needs to figure out (nutrition).
If Derron comes off 3+ mins back, can LCB hold on for a podium spot?
Knibb takes the lead 30km to go with the bike. What will the gap be to Waugh over the next 45 mins.
Derron just lost 45s in the latest time updates? 3:15 back now? Timing error I think it’s back to ~2:4x back.
They could make them do the same course as AGs. Like this it’s a shit show between the surface and how technical it is.
that’s tough on an athelte in her off season. not even performing at the oly distance as she could.
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Rather doubt that they’d be able to get the road closures on a Saturday reaching into central London (which is where the 100km amateur course goes in an ‘out and back’). These pro races must be lapped for both spectators and the video coverage.
Isn’t “technical” a good feature of a course? Pity some of the surfaces are poor.
what time is the men’s race, they have ~20km left on the bike for the women. Is the men starting soon?