What surprises me is that last year she deliberately didn’t race T100 Singapore, having signed a contract to do so, and didn’t race Oceanside, which she’d won the previous year. I presumed this was to race IM Texas ‘fresh’ which she then did with an excellent swim (in Zilinkas’ draft) and an excellent bike (4:19, busting the record). But her intent was ‘just’ to KQ so she ran within capability, in 3:04.
This year she flies across the world for Gold Coast ( I assume to set up a tilt at regaining her World Triathlon Long Distance Tour World Champion title ('cos don’t believe it’s the $$) and then 7 days later races Oceanside (inter alia to assure her Nice slot) but only 3 weeks before IM Texas. Odd.
I guess a rationale could be that racing a hard hilly race 3 weeks before a hot Ironman replicates what she’ll have to do in September/October. Or just to clear the decks for a short course period May-July. Except she said she’ll be racing Pamplona T100 in mid-May. What’s an observer to think? Glad Lorang seems the cool sort.
“After Oceanside this weekend, Knibb has confirmed that she will be looking to compete at the next T100 women’s event in Spain on May 23, while it is understood she is also looking at IRONMAN Texas on April 18, and joining the start lists for as many as six WTCS events – the next three of those being Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 25, Yokohama on May 16 and Alghero on June 5.” To which I’ll add Charleston USA ITT later in June
We’re close to needing an ST ‘Knibb thread’ to get all this together as opposed to decorating if not derailing individual race and series/tour threads.
To return to the thread, for a moment, Merle raced extremely well in her first competitive draft-illegal (and RR) race. Look forward to her next one - hope she races Aix (home race). Loevseth ran better than she’s ever run before. Clearly an effective off season / first 3 months with good training partners and ambiance. Roll on Texas, baby. Sanchez must have something amiss. Shame Findlay was not OK.