As Ali pretty much calls it a day at SC thought a post celebrating his achievements and performances was called for.
For me he’s the GOAT SC athlete but I realise I’m bias being a Brit, I can definitely see arguments for Gomez also, however you can’t get away from the fact that if Ali was turning up for a race fit, absolutely no one was beating him, didn’t matter what type of course it was, sprint or Oly.
What do you think his best ever performance was? It’s hard to argue against London Olympics beating probably the other two GOATS (his brother and Gomez) convincingly on the biggest stage.
The two Leeds wins stand out for what he did on the bike but his 2009 season was absolutely phenomenal (can’t remember from memory his best races from that, happy to have my memory jogged on individual great performances as I’m planning on rewatching a few races over the next few weeks)
Always Leeds 2016 for me. Front pack swim, then roared through transition and blasted up the hill to see who could make the cut with him in a breakaway. I remember the demonic look is his eyes as he attacked the hill out of transition.
Once he crested and the lead group formed he checked out the breakaway and noted the absence of his brother - slowed the group up to allow JB to bridge across from the chase, then drove them away from the remaining chasers to a race winning position by T2. Then it was the trademark searingly fast first 2.5k to drop the rest of the breakway and cruise it home for the remainder of the 10k to soak up the home crowd. A race of world class ITU athletes, shaped and bent to his will.
It was indeed a great performance, but there are some caveats. Course designed by him. I am not aware of any other athlete with this privilege. In addition, it was not an individual event for him, but a team event. Besides his brother, which your already mentioned, team Brownlee included Varga as a domestique. Not just in the water, which would be normal, but on the bike. If you watch the video, you will see that Varga refused to help Gómez brake the gap, ruining his own race in the process.
I’m not so sure about Varga refusing to do a turn for the sake of the Brownlees, if he was working for them and sacrifing his own race he could of took his turn and slowed the pace.
It was indeed a great performance, but there are some caveats. Course designed by him. I am not aware of any other athlete with this privilege. In addition, it was not an individual event for him, but a team event. Besides his brother, which your already mentioned, team Brownlee included Varga as a domestique. Not just in the water, which would be normal, but on the bike. If you watch the video, you will see that Varga refused to help Gómez brake the gap, ruining his own race in the process.
So not a level playing field that day.
That’s why he’s the GOAT. He played the whole game, the entire game, ala Michael Jordan.
The purpose of racing is not to see who’s the best athlete, the purpose of racing is to WIN.
He’s a jerk but it’s hard to argue he’s the GOAT of SC. For me his most impressive performance is his Rio win. Go back and look at that. He destroyed the field. Sure, Gomez wasn’t there but people like Luis, Johnny, Schoeman, Murray and others were there and Alistair destroyed the field on the run. It was a master class on how to kick butt at SC.
It’s unfortunate that Alistair finished his SC career on such a sour note but he ended his SC career the same way he raced, brutish and aggressive. His legacy is still that of a great champion.
That being said my favorite SC athlete is still Gomez!
Favorite moment: 2013 Kitzbuehel - 12k bike up a mountain. Ali got off the bike a minute up on 2nd place. Because of the 8% rule half the pro field didn’t get points from the race and he basically jogged the last 100M.
I am looking forward to his transition to LC. I hope he stays injury free. I hope the embarrassment from this weekend lightens him a little bit. He certainly has faults, but he has appeared to be good natured and thoughtful off the course.
The difference is this is an individual sport. Having arrangements with competitors to favour you against their own options does not earn you GOAT points in my book. Nor do taking the goggles and cap from your competitors or ducking them.
The difference is this is an individual sport. Having arrangements with competitors to favour you against their own options does not earn you GOAT points in my book. Nor do taking the goggles and cap from your competitors or ducking them.
I disagree with you but the penalty for acting like a turd is certainly subject to interpretation and severe scrutiny.
Favorite moment: 2013 Kitzbuehel - 12k bike up a mountain. Ali got off the bike a minute up on 2nd place. Because of the 8% rule half the pro field didn’t get points from the race and he basically jogged the last 100M.
I am looking forward to his transition to LC. I hope he stays injury free. I hope the embarrassment from this weekend lightens him a little bit. He certainly has faults, but he has appeared to be good natured and thoughtful off the course.
That is my fave / most memorable ITU race.
The women’s race was great too. Jodie Stimpson kicked everyone’s butt on the bike and the run up the hill.
I’ve seen Alistair race quite a few times from the side of the road, non stands out more so than 2009. For 10km’s Alistair and Javier threw surge after surge at each other on the Gold Coast at the Grand Final. It was a phenomenal foot race to witness.
No doubt the SC GOAT. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional. Remove the olympic golds and you can add Gomez and Mola to the conversation but the two golds make it a lock.
The difference is this is an individual sport. Having arrangements with competitors to favour you against their own options does not earn you GOAT points in my book. Nor do taking the goggles and cap from your competitors or ducking them.
Short course hasn’t been an individual sport since they legalized drafting.
Ali’s been at the top for a crazy long time. Rio was a clinic.