Although Badmann is always a safe bet, I’m putting my money on Lisa Bentley.
She won IM Australia, and then IM Germany.
She didn’t do Canada this year (presumably to focus on Kona), and if she avoids a flare-up of her CF, or an infection like last year (when she still finished 4th) she’ll smoke it!
Top swimmer, better than average bike compared to most of the top-tier women, probably the only one who can ride within striking distance of Natasha, and capable of a sub-3:15 marathon.
If she can get the nutrition down, which has been her only “chink in the armor” at longer distances, she should be a podium contender.
One advantage the Jones has that a number of the top women’s contenders don’t is that she can swim with the top men. With the seperate start for the women pros, this is significant. She can just sit in for the swim and get a big lead on the other contenders. Their may be a few other women that can do that and they can form a bit of a lead group. It’s a long race and a long day, but when you get 5 - 10 minutes up the road it can be out of site and out of mind.
Agreed. This could be Lisa’s year. She has been so consistant for so long. If their was a true #1 ranking for IM distance triathletes in the world, she would have it. Always comes up big on the run, which will almost always put you in the top 3 at any big IM race. Only liability may be the swim and the new format with the separate pro start. She may have to swim and bike a long way on her own, before really getting into the thick of the race, which is mentally and physically draining. She’s not a quiter, so I am sure that she will shake that off.
I’m pulling for Lisa Bentley. I hope that this is her year. She is an awesome athlete and just too nice a person for anyone to hope that she doesn’t win the big one at least once.
I’ll be rooting for both Natascha and Lisa. I feel bad that Natascha was robbed of the finish line win last year when she deserved it. She’s just such an amazingly consistent athlete on the big day and who can’t love a woman who can ride like that!
A win for Lisa would also be awesome and truly deserving after how hard she’s been working. She came out to root for us BOP’ers struggling on the run at Guelph Lake after winning the thing a few years ago. How cool is that?!
"If she can get the nutrition down, which has been her only “chink in the armor” at longer distances, she should be a podium contender. "
Stage Racer, I think you are forgetting that Ironman is about the person who slows down the least while eating a day’s worth of food (3000 calories) on the fly…
I do agree with Fleck that Michelle will benefit from the draft of the pro men, while many contenders will be spit out the back. I really think that they should start the pro women 5 min after the pro men so that none of the pro women can benefit from the pro men’s race.
"If she can get the nutrition down, which has been her only “chink in the armor” at longer distances, she should be a podium contender. "
Stage Racer, I think you are forgetting that Ironman is about the person who slows down the least while eating a day’s worth of food (3000 calories) on the fly…
I dont agree with you on this one. First off, nutrition is an individual thing and timing and ratios of caloric intake vary depending on the distance. Nutrition is the biggest limiter to overcome on race day. You can do all the long mileage you want, but if you don’t have your nutrition down, it will be a long day.