http://triathlon.competitor.com/2014/03/news/alan-webb-to-make-triathlon-debut-sunday_94999
Not familiar with this format. Does this mean Alan is part of a team, if so, who’s he handing off to.
Looking at the distances, I think he’ll finish his leg right around 18 flat.
Who’s in first LV, or WEBB?
Pretty simple format plus it’s draft legal.
4 team members, 2 guys 2 girls. Each leg does a full short distance Tri and then tags next teammate.
Please USA don’t let him go last, all I see is cam dye type of leg.
At the same time though, the guy going last is least likely to be in a group, where his inexperience is most likely to show, I would think
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By the 2nd leg there wont be 5 people within the front group, I’ll wager.
I hope this format gets picked up in the Olympics as it looks like it would be fun to watch
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It may be fun to watch, but it’s difficult to maintain interest in a relay where every leg takes 15+ minutes. I had a hard time watching some of the nortic relays in the Olympics when I initially thought they’d be a hoot. I think if there’s too much separation too soon, it takes the edge off the excitement. If the teams are fairly evenly matched and the race is tight for a while, it may be quite fun to watch.
I wouldn’t use this event itself as a judge on the format being an success. At the Olympic level, there is plenty of excitement, this event itself is more of an “development” event for the NA athletes. ETA: They will be using some of the top juniors to race on a few of the teams as well. This particular venue is going to be good just for getting the event more exposure to people in the US.
Prediction:
Webb blows any medal chance for the US.
Edited to Change:
Webb will blow any chance for his team to medal.
I don’t think you have looked at the starting list if that is your prediction. No I’m not making the case for the strength of Webb, but more or less the “soft” competition that will be racing in Sarasota. This really is a more true continental cup caliber of athletes vs the normal ITU “studs” that we all gush over.
I attempted to see the starting list, but they didn’t have the athletes actually listed. Could you provide a link?
Just look at the elite fields on the men/women and then you’ll be able to see who will likely race Sunday. Andrew Yorke will obviously be on Canada’s A team.
My guess on women’s side is that it’s between Haskins/Gorman/McLarty for the women’s team “A” team.
But final teams wont be announced til Sat night.
In terms of Webb, this is the perfect opportunity for Webb. It gets his feet wet in ITU, in a very soft field and gets USAT all excited when/if he “helps” lead the USA to a NA Patco win.
Webb’s team of cook, Webb, Gorman, LV finished 5th. Webb had small mishandle on bridge coming into the run. Canadians 1st, 3rd, Mexico 4th and team of mcclarty, largestrom, shoemaker, donner 2nd.
Swim split- 350m-4:48 (no wetsuit I don’t think)
Bike split- 6.4k- 10:14
Run split- 2.0k- 5:50
Out split by LV.
Not bad for the old man’s first shot out…steep learning curve. Couldn’t he just do a couple of local sprints to get his feet wet? No one would have a clue who he was? 
Haha.
I predict big things for Mr. Webb.
Very steep learning curve. My guess is 2nd pack ITU athlete and running off bike will be different.
The splits also highlight that Groman is a stud. I think split-wise, she would have got to the run before Alan (12 secs or so). Looks like Alan can’t really be anything but pleased for that debut though. His transitions weren’t the slowest of his team, and he’s the least experienced. His bike was okay (particularly if he fumbled and lost time time). This showing certainly vindicates him. He belongs.
There is a reason they moved Gorman up to the elite field this year. Racing the juniors and TTing by herself at front doesn’t help her. Good response this weekend with a podium on saturday over last weekend’s elite debut. She’ll likely drop back down into JE’s rest of year or maybe pick off a few other sprint distance ITU stuff.
But more than Webb’s debut, the young kids with Kanute and Farkas going 2nd/4th and the great story of Kevin McDowell with an 9th place finish. Those are some young studs that will enjoy seeing how fast they go and see what the others can do over this Olympic qualification cycle.
He did more than fumble on the bike, he had a full out crash… pretty solid road rash on his shoulder. Very impressive day when you consider that.
Ah ok, I left Saturday afternoon and was relying what twitter was saying. How/why did he crash?
My greater point is that for as great Webb did in his 1st super sprint introduction to the sport, those young guys are the guys he’ll be chasing. So while we are patting him on the back for getting through an super sprint, his competition is nailing results. I think having Webb in ITU is going to be great from a PR standpoint, but I also think he’s in for a long road ahead to making the team. Which I know he and his camp know that, and this was a great baby step into ITU.
The course is exactly what you want to build ITU courses out of. I love this venue, as the bike trail around entire lake that essentially had entire course built within itself off while still not closing down entire traffic lanes for the locals (venue has a 4 lane parkway that had 1 lane closed closest to the park).
It was an interesting performance- before, during, and after.
There is lots to be learned.