does anyone know who has the fastest bike split in a half Ironman? Is Lieto’s 2:02 at Clearwater it?..plus, since he was off the front in the 70.3 Champs then he was not drafting.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the fastest on record for a half. I’m glad you metioned the fact that he was off the front too. I think a lot of people are hung up on the amount of drafting going on. The bottom line is that this was truly a super fast course with no wind!!!
Bjorn has also ridden 2:02 at Florida Disney half (now florida 70.3) racing to an overall time of 3:55 that year (2004).
He wasn’t exactly off the front the whole time, he had to pass a lot of people to get there. He was ~2mins down after the swim.
2:02?? wow.
I agree - I thought Bjorn held the 1/2 IM bike split record. Although Lieto (and not far behind was Rappstar 
- had a smokin split on those flat Florida courses.
Disney actually is NOT flat. Central Florida has rollers, nothing hard, but rollers nonetheless. It was also a hot windy day when Bjorn went 2:02. A 2:02 at Disney is harder than a 2:02 in Clearwater. I was totally blown away when I saw Bjorn’s split on that course.
Hey RA, where have you been wheel sucker?
I’d like to see Lieto and Bjorn at the Esprit 1/2IM with the bike course on the Formula One circuit. I’d bet they would go under 2 hours.
-C
Marc Becker did a 2:06 bike split on his way to a 3:56 Great White North HIM in 1995 and he wasn’t even a Pro!! AND that bike course isn’t flat by any means. Now that’s a real stud!!
Riding off the front of my homies? 
Ask Grogzilla!
I won’t ask him, I know you are one of the strongest sprinters in central FL.
Ah . . . the myth . . . spread by my own two lips!
Wednesday night airport slugfests are back on. Come join.
Since my original answer didn’t show up…
The fastest I know, was this year at the Antwerp Ironman 70.3. A couple of guys rode below Lieto’s time, with the fastest being Andrew Johns with 1:59:07.
I think Rappstar may have something to say about the “not drafting” part of that.
I’d put Lieto’s 2:02 in front of Bjorn’s 2:02. Nothing against Bjorn, but being a World Championship, it should really have the distance well measured. Well… but then again…
Florida is a more hilly bike course, but it is also much more protected in terms of wind. I think Clearwater is not “easier” than Florida, and 2:02 on each course is basically equivalent between the two.
The big factor, and this is NEVER the fault of the athlete (IMO), is how close the lead vehicle and/or motorcycle is to the lead rider. Bjorn, given how fast he swims, would have had a leadout vehicle the whole time. Lieto, only for about half. I am not saying this was a definite factor in either ride, but it certainly can make a big difference in time.
I would like to see RD’s be much stricter about instructing the lead-out vehicles. A lot of times, they let you get way too close. I’ve had it happen in some smaller races where I’ve led the bike. You get up close and you can cruise at like 50+kph (30+mph) easily.
Both rides are equally impressive. Let’s not get in a debate about which was better.
For the record, I think Lieto’s 2:08 on the long Vineman 70.3 course and Bjorn’s 2:08 at Timberman were, overall, much more impressive than the 2:02’s…
I know Bjorn and I are both on the hunt to break 2 hours on an accurate course (and I think Lieto and Sindballe as well), which the Marc Herreman’s Classic 70.3 course was not. I don’t think anyone has broken 2:02, but I think with all the focus on 70.3, the 2:00 mark will fall this upcoming year. I’m just hoping I get a chance to do it at somepoint this upcoming year…
I know Bjorn and I are both on the hunt to break 2 hours on an accurate course
…and run over 1:30h afterwards.
Sometimes it’s about having fun… 
Don’t be so serious all the time!