The IM Pro Series kicks off in Australia next weekend.
Current start lists are here:
(21 WPros) Slater and Hollioake are the only athletes I can see finishing top 10 in the IM Pro Series. Berry and Thek are T100 contracted. Wouldn’t it be great to see Adam (who was top of the first PTO Rankings in 2021) get back to that speed.
Noted, although interest will be as much on some of the unrated ones: Matt Hauser, Tayler Reid, Brandon Copeland, Jimmy Whelan to name a few. Jumpei Furuya also an ex-ITU, Josh Ferris an ex top Australian draft legal junior. Not sure how Charlotte McShane will transfer to long (middle) distance.
Unfortunately I don’t! She was just the only name on the F side that excited me. Although maybe I wasn’t paying attention and the short course women like McShane and van Coevorden could spice it up.
She trains with my son (swim club, but they’re among the few triathletes training with the squad), so I’ll tell her she has a new fan She does have a name that stands out!
3 weeks ago I would’ve said it was fait accompli that Jelle would win Geelong quite comfortably. But with him being sick, missing a chunk of training and having Singapore to focus on it probably means he trains through Geelong a touch more than what he might otherwise have done. So that could open the door for Hauser to have a strong run and push him.
Aaron Royle is also seemingly in the best position he’s been fitness wise in at least 12 months, so I think we can expect him to ride much stronger than we saw in 2024 and probably come into T2 with the leaders. I don’t think he can run with Jelle/Hauser, but he’d have to be confident of the podium.
Hauser’s TTing is surprisingly good despite not having the experience over the distance. Hard for me to see him getting dropped unless someone really puts the screws down… but struggle to see who that would be in this field. Maybe Reid could be someone who sees his only way of winning as getting a little gap on the bike?
Birtwhistle & Osborne could have great runs and be competitive if they don’t have to overbike. Henrik Goesch is always strong in Australian races and Josh Ferris is an unbelievable talent, but probably just not quite ready to win a race with this strong a pointy end, but definitely a name to watch if he can stay injury free for 2 years.
As far as an Aussie race goes, the men’s field is about as good as you get. Cant wait!
Here’s tri247’s take on the runners and riders. It’s Cheltenham this week: the odds on favourite (feel three out) and last year’s champion fell at the final hurdle - so an outsider won at 25:1!
For tri247 it’s between Hauser and Geens, and between Thek and Berry.
Who would be more confident of winning over 13 miles if those two men leave T2 together? Might drive tactics in the final 1/3 if the bike.
Surprised Currie doesn’t get a shout in the insights above: all the other blokes seem to.
With the exception of Geens and maybe Stimpson, this race has a distinctly parochial feel.
No doubt because of his recent form in his past few+ races. He has become someone you cannot count on anymore for that cracking race, seems to be going through something either body or mind wise, or maybe both.
I’m really excited to see what Hauser can produce, hope he is on form for this. OF course Geens has to be the favorite, he is WC after all. But thanks to Jack’s insight to his recent illness, could be the equalizer for a guy like Hauser or even someone we are not thinking about to emerge with new form…
So his injury is shortening his legs?? Just kidding, but dont think a bike size change would keep him out of races. And injury makes sense, he certainly has been going though something negative that has been affecting his old racing prowess. Hope he can get through whatever it is and get to the front of races where he belongs.
Just telling you what he said. Just getting over an injury and unsure he can/wants to perhaps, rush to swap the shit over and questioned whether it would arrive soon enough from felt. Etc etc.
I like him as well, would recommend watching his video, it’s short. He’s made a new pain cave for himself also in it.
@Ironmandad has penned a piece looking at this start list and IMSA’s and mulling over "what-can-we-learn-from-the-start-lists-of-the-first-two-IM Pro Series-races.
She does have a name that stands out!