Looks like some big names in Samorin this weekend. Kanute, Skipper, Wurf, McNaMee, Kienle, Von Berg, Dreitz, Clavel.
https://app.lap.io/event/2019-challenge-the-championship/starters?category=MMPro
I’m going Kanute (1), Kienle (2), Von Berg (3). I think Kienle will be looking for a bit of redemption on Von Berg after a disappointing St. George.
I don’t see any women on the list who can challenge Lucy.
I’m gonna go Von Berg again, then Kanute. Good rematch from Oceanside, and I think this bike course might suit Rudy better than Kanute. Kienle swims too slow to beat those guys.
Kanute, Heemeryck, Von Berg
People sleep on Pieter Heemeryck all the time, even when he comes up 5th in probably the best 70.3 WC up until now (last year’s edition) and had the best bike split there. “He won’t be a threat, he only has a 1h11’ open halve marathon” they said… He turned full pro this year after combining his racing with a job as a teacher, already finishing 2nd in 70.3 Campeche, winning Challenge Salou and Challenge Gran Canaria this year.
Hm, I’m going Kanute or Mcnamee; making the assumption that the latter can limit his losses on the bike - it is very flat iirc?
Sebi.
Lucy.
Women’s Podium:
Charles
Wurtele
Radka Kahlefeldt
Men’s Podium
Kienle
Kanute
Pieter HEEMERYCK
The men’s field is still top notch despite missing some past athletes that raced. With lots of dark horses. The women’s field is a little less deep, a solid level of competition with a bunch that could finish on the podium over my picks. Should be great race.
Swim may be shortened.
Swim may be shortened.
Please elaborate.
Cold water. Reece Barclay mentions this on instagram.
State of the Danube river, flow and temp.
Interesting that Challenge make a big deal of qualifying then invite athletes to make up the numbers.
Von Berg
Kienle
Kanute
Dark hose: Funk
.
Kienle
Dreitz
Kanute/Von Berg
.
Lucy
Salthouse
Roberts
Kienle
Bowden
Von Berg
.
Wurf
.
Cam Wurf is in Boston (for some reason) right now.
Great field! Kudos to Challenge.
For the women I am going to go:
Lucy
Radka
Ellie
Men:
Kienle
Kanute
Mendez
to round of the top 5 Heemeryk and Angert
I talked to kienle while he was running in st george. He was super pissed, kienle is going to be on a terror.
The new aerobars have not helped Kienle yet! Actually quite some down with Pietr Heimrich in first! But it is CLOSE in the mens race!
Is it just me or is the Championship the most boring race ever to watch?
Is it just me or is the Championship the most boring race ever to watch?
I think it is the lack of spectators that is the “issue”. The commentation is as “good” as IM. The race itself is SUPER close on mens side 2-4 within 20 seconds. But the atmosphere is lacking a bit.