A while back (something like 2018) I did Full distance Vitoria Gasteiz, back when it wasn’t Ironman branded yet. I specifically remember they told us we could do the bike without the BIB, but had to wear it on the run. Which I did for aero reasons. Just an example that it can be done.
at pretty much any ETU/WT race I’ve done in the past 3-4 years the bib was only mandatory on the run.
We have so many numbers everywhere, helmet, bike, tattoos on the arms that it really isn’t necessary to have one more flapping around.
In Nice, for the IMWC, the bib was not mandatory during the bike
Elsinore in 2019 was the same. Bib optional on the bike, but mandatory on the run. Since then, bib on from the bike.
For emergencies, just provide a papper bracelet to fill out. Allergies, etc goes on a second bracelet.
Or a sticker for the bike? Couldn’t even be good for training.
Or maybe the bib is the least annoying solution to the problem…
I believe this is all based on local Federation rules to extent as race officials belong to the local federation. I think Kona and Nice WC essentially would have the only “flown in” officials. But I doubt Ironman is flying in AusTri race referees for Nice. But bringing in referees from the North of France etc.
Two thoughts, two posts.
Post 1.
I listened to the Pushing Limits podcast with Fred Funk (in German). Fred is an outstanding individual in many ways, least of which is his very clear pronunciation and the tendency not to speak too fast. When German is your (the listener’s) second foreign language, this is a massive help. Thanks @pk for your recommendation.
Some loose stories:
- The front of the race went insanely hard on the bike (as was plain to see) but also benefitted from motos riding on the side that turned out to be windward side during the crosswind, which picked up on the second lap. Not only the front had this assistance. Funk was riding with Blummenfelt and Ditlev for a while, 3 (yes three) motos with them. He then got dropped and lost “his” moto.
- Blummenfelt would go very hard on the climbs and rest on the flats. He’s a very competent cyclist, he just doesn’t do high sustained power.
- Solar Hill is fantastic for PROs on the first loop, but a PITA on the second loop (see the struggles to pass age groupers which we all witnessed on the broadcast).
- The run is pretty hard with the gravel and the endless straights along the canal; there’s a hill on the section towards the town that saps any residual energy from your legs - and it’s also lined by fans, so it’s funny when they scream “NO WALKING! NO WALKING!” at you.
- The registration line (if I understood correctly - it was a line of athletes important enough to exist) was 1.7 km long at some point. Fred didn’t have to wait in it. Roth was super crowded this year, parking space was running out very fast.
- One of the co-hosts noted the rampant drafting on the bike (in the top of the age group field) with 3-4 meter gaps, though an official’s intervention did split a group in one case. Not much officiating the age groups generally. This is also my experience from Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee - non-existent officiating of the AG race (I didn’t care much) with a crowded course
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Post 2.
I’M GOING TO ROTH BABY!!!
(to do a relay, so no need to complete 140.6 miles either!)
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Never heard him speak English before but why is German is second foreign language? I would have thought that’s his first language?
Most of the “veteran” German pros like Patrick L and Laura P speak slowly and clearly as well?
Nah, German is my second foreign language. I was writing from the POV of a listener. Edited the post for clarity
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Got it now! Interview was actually in German!
Anyone that can speak more than one language is a winner in my books!
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I read this and thought i can’t shrink the bib number in a printer to make it smaller. I don’t read this as to mean trimming the sheet because the number is not being reduced in size by trimming like LCB did.
"[quote=“Ajax_Bay, post:396, topic:1286903”]
[Challenge Roth Rules] Startnummern dürfen nicht verkleinert oder verändert werden. Die Startnummer sind verpflichtend so zu tragen, dass Sie identifiziert werden können (beim Radfahren hinten, beim Laufen vorne).
“Bib numbers may not be reduced or changed.
[/quote]
First - my German is limited - the translation is by Mr G. I have pasted a fuller quote than the six words you quoted. Suggest “changed” clearly prohibits physical ‘reshaping’. [Many decades I was DQd (different sport - langlauf) for folding down my number before pinning to my top.]
Second - I don’t think I’ve suggested that LCB trimmed her number. I have reviewed and LCB’s number is not trimmed in T2 and not on the run.
Third (as an aside) - I note Wilde got penalised in Hamburg and think that was for trimming maybe his bike number but idk. Couple of antipodean lads having a wheeze together?
"Penalties:
- Hayden Wilde (NZL): Served during the run — 10s*
- Brayden Mercer (AUS): Served during the run — 10s*"
From the current World Triathlon Competition Rules dated 13 Dec 2025 #23/212
9. Failure to wear the unaltered race numbers if provided by the LOC, in the proper
way ordered by the Technical Delegate and announced at the Athletes’ Briefing;
Age-Group: - Warning and amend if possible, or - DSQ
Elite - Time penalty
See 2.9 (a) [which says:]
"2.9 Race numbers:
a.) Any numbering item will be used without alterations"
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It depends. German has some hard-core accents. Especially southern Germany. Where Fred Funk is from. Like Kajet, German is also my third langauge. I’m pretty good. But I have to concentrate well with anybody not speaking straight up hoch-Deutsch.
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Have you watched “We Are Triathletes”?
Good insights from ‘honest’ Kristian Blummenfelt - recommended
I always like to listen to all the post race podcasts from the 3.
This line of comments you were making was really weird. I mean like athletes have ‘unbelievable’ performances every single day, rookies win Wimbledon, score game winning touch downs, win triathlons. Sodaro won Kona in what I’m sure she said was a unbelievable performance. We all thought Sodaro was unbelievable, and she hasn’t done shit since, was she a doper? So what’s your point, if they don’t all say ‘yeah I expected to win’ then they have raised doubts about doping??
That was only part of the comments though. The bigger quslestiom I had was when she was explaining that she was riding efforts so above any goal/plan that she had to turn it off and just went with it. To then run an 13 min PR for an athlete so young and still developing…..that is something. So it wasn’t just the unbelievable comment. It was every explanation that thus explains why she thought it was in fact unbelievable that is interesting to me.
Athletes riding well above race/goal/expected watts may not be a big deal to you and that’s fine. If that’s how the pros are doing it these days, fair enough.
So it’s not the “omg I just had a great day” that most athletes say in post race day interviews. It was the deeper race recap that made for an interesting take on her race. Again all info she all is providing this isn’t some out of left field idea.
Sodero had an athletic history. So not that unbelievable
Just a general question. Is there drug testing at Roth? Does anybody know if any pros or amateurs were tested?
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