Who’s currently the best triathlete in the world exclusive of format?
Jan Frodeno
Vincent Luis
Gustav Iden
Kristian Blummenfelt
Lionel Sanders
Other?
Define “best”.
I want a bathroom mirror with ‘Best Triathlete in the World’ ribbon!!!
sorry, probably, LR answer.
Let me try again:
How long before somebody points that you didn’t include in your list Danieller or Lucy Charles? 
sorry, LR again.
Nah, I give up!
My guess is that Jan makes the most money out of all the top pros, and he is the one guy that doesn’t lose races, to anybody. All the others lose races here and there, but when it all comes together, Jan just finds a way to win. And he has shown lately he can still race fast for a few hours, as well as 8 hours, so pretty hard to put up an argument against him.
He would be considered the favorite in any race he enters, and that would be true if every single one of those you listed showed up to race, so there is your answer(for the men of course, which is all you asked about)
I want a bathroom mirror with ‘Best Triathlete in the World’ ribbon!!!
sorry, probably, LR answer.
Let me try again:
How long before somebody points that you didn’t include in your list Danieller or Lucy Charles?
sorry, LR again.
Nah, I give up!
There is no wrong answer. If you believe Lucy or Daniella are the best you may have a reason. Daniella is currently the most dominant against her competitors.
Who’s currently the best triathlete in the world exclusive of format?
Jan Frodeno
Vincent Luis
Gustav Iden
Kristian Blummenfelt
Lionel Sanders
Other?
Daniela Ryf is more singularly dominant than any of these except maybe Jan.
My guess is that Jan makes the most money out of all the top pros, and he is the one guy that doesn’t lose races, to anybody. All the others lose races here and there, but when it all comes together, Jan just finds a way to win. And he has shown lately he can still race fast for a few hours, as well as 8 hours, so pretty hard to put up an argument against him.
He would be considered the favorite in any race he enters, and that would be true if every single one of those you listed showed up to race, so there is your answer(for the men of course, which is all you asked about)
disagree with the second paragraph. in terms of being a legit podium threat from supersprint to ironman, I think that’s Ali and Javi. I wouldn’t rate jan too highly below 70.3 at the moment. (hell, Javi even won xterra once!)
I mean he said any races he enters. I can’t see Jan lining up for a Supersprint…
disagree with the second paragraph. in terms of being a legit podium threat from supersprint to ironman, I think that’s Ali and Javi. I wouldn’t rate jan too highly below 70.3 at the moment. (hell, Javi even won xterra once!) //
Of course there is no one guy that can win every format at every distance. The term best was vague, so I will take it to mean right now in the races that are happening with big $$. In a super sprint format it is hard to beat Luis, but Blum often does on a given day, so hard to say who is the best there.
But throw up a race between 3 to 8 hours, which most have been lately with decent money, and Jan is your guy. Of course he cannot do every single one of them, but if I recall correctly, he wins every one he enters, and has for the past few years. I’m not looking at this question as a legacy one, just who is the best today in the big races.
Iden is a real thread in anything in that range too, but yet to prove beyond the 5 hour mark, and routinely gets beat at the under 2 hour one(which of course Jan does not race anymore)…And not sure one can say who is the best under 2 hours anymore, since Allistar has moved on somewhat, it is wide open who wins on a given day. Lots of favorites there, but just one when Jan pitches up.
I want a bathroom mirror with ‘Best Triathlete in the World’ ribbon!!!
sorry, probably, LR answer.
Let me try again:
How long before somebody points that you didn’t include in your list Danieller or Lucy Charles?
sorry, LR again.
Nah, I give up!
There is no wrong answer. If you believe Lucy or Daniella are the best you may have a reason. Daniella is currently the most dominant against her competitors.
Have Daniella or Lucy ever finished in the top 5…top 10 overall of any major race that also had a Pro Men’s Field?
To be fair, have they ever started with Pro men? Would be curious how they hang in on the bike and run off sitting in. And yes, Lucy has already proven she could come out first pack on swim.
Who’s the best runner regardless of distance?
kilian Jornet
Elihud Kipchoge
Usain Bolt (or whomever is currently the best at 100m)
I think the question does not make much sense, as the race distances require significantly different abilities. To be honest, I triathlon differences are much smaller and can be overcome just by changing the training regime for some time, but you cannot be great simultaneously at all distances.
Who’s the best runner regardless of distance?
kilian Jornet
Elihud Kipchoge
Usain Bolt (or whomever is currently the best at 100m)
I think the question does not make much sense, as the race distances require significantly different abilities. To be honest, I triathlon differences are much smaller and can be overcome just by changing the training regime for some time, but you cannot be great simultaneously at all distances.
Yes, there is no “best”.
So I find threads like this really irritating. I know many will think that’s being pedantic or missing the point, but it’s a discussion without an answer so I hate when it’s posed as though there is one. If it was a different question that clearly acknowledged the subjective nature of the topic, it would irritate me far less, and I’d happily just skip it!
Nicola Spirig. going to olympics for 5th time. Has dominated some 70.3’s on her ITU bike. won IM Coz. Is a mother with law degree
I don’t really keep up with professional triathletes anymore but I’d say whoever the top ITU guy is (Luis?), is the best triathlete in the world.
Who’s the best runner regardless of distance?
kilian Jornet
Elihud Kipchoge
Usain Bolt (or whomever is currently the best at 100m)
I think the question does not make much sense, as the race distances require significantly different abilities. To be honest, I triathlon differences are much smaller and can be overcome just by changing the training regime for some time, but you cannot be great simultaneously at all distances.
Yes, there is no “best”.
So I find threads like this really irritating. I know many will think that’s being pedantic or missing the point, but it’s a discussion without an answer so I hate when it’s posed as though there is one. If it was a different question that clearly acknowledged the subjective nature of the topic, it would irritate me far less, and I’d happily just skip it!
The question was meant to be fun and lighthearted in terms of discussion. Feel free to participate or not to participate. It’s totally up to you.
IronCowboy, obviously…duh!!!
It’s Jan…full stop. The only potential question mark to that would be that Jan and Gustav have never faced off. Until that happens the champ is the champ until someone knocks him off the top step.
Gomez?? the one with more ITU world titles in history .ABrownlee? Two olympic golds and probably the best ever ITU guy for a single race
These guys are not dissapeared, we´ll see in Tokyo, we´ll see them in Kona. Just another level above Frodo, Iden, Blummy, Sanders … Javier, dominating since 2006, Alistair since 2009 (with some flare ups, yes)
In a 70.3…which is the field where you might compare them, I vote for Javier and Alistair over Frodo in a normal course, not in a car loop. Sanders? He can win St.George ahainst Sam Long but not against Frodo, AB and Gomez…maybe Iden is in the pack. Blummy just no…close but no
JUst my opinion
Gomez?? the one with more ITU world titles in history .ABrownlee? Two olympic golds and probably the best ever ITU guy for a single race
These guys are not dissapeared, we´ll see in Tokyo, we´ll see them in Kona. Just another level above Frodo, Iden, Blummy, Sanders … Javier, dominating since 2006, Alistair since 2009 (with some flare ups, yes)
In a 70.3…which is the field where you might compare them, I vote for Javier and Alistair over Frodo in a normal course, not in a car loop. Sanders? He can win St.George ahainst Sam Long but not against Frodo, AB and Gomez…maybe Iden is in the pack. Blummy just no…close but no
JUst my opinion
Remind us who won Ironman WC 70.3 in South Africa…i’ll hold.