From the first time he went under 8 hours?
00:49:33 - 4:24:06 - 2:43:23 - 7:57:02
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Was that course short or was there any cheating going on? How come we don’t see these sort of times anymore? I mean, with all the technological advancments… come on…
Some say the course at Roth is “suspiciously short”. I don’t really know. All I know from my one trip there is that the roads were smooth as silk, and every time you had a headwind, you were in the forest, and when you had a tailwind, you were in the open. Don’t be fooled though, the race has lots of climbing. The swim, which used to be in a canal is super fast (I went 54:32 and my best at IMC was 56:30…when I actually did serious swim training). The run is also beside the canal and has few hills and can be fast since it is on dirt trail that is easy on the tired Ironman legs.
Just in case you did not know, Leder did the 7:57 with no watch. He did not know he was close until he got within sight of the finish line !
We do not see those times anymore because the racers are not of the same calibur. Lothar is older, Van Lierde is older, and the new style of racers like to stay confined to comfy packs. You can’t ride a 4:24 in a pack. The pros are in it for the win or a nice, “Don’t push too hard that you can’t recover, 2nd-5th place, so you stay in the money” It takes one individual to slap the rest of the participants upside the head with some dominating performances to cause the others to up their game.
Agree 100%
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Paul,
I agree with much of your assesment.
I have done Roth 5 times and IMC 4 times - my times on the two courses are very similar, with IMC faster several times.
The big difference in Roth is that Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen and others are there to put on a show and to really duke it out. This was (prior to M dot in Frankfurt) the superbowl for these athletes and they really let it rip. In fact, Mark Allen went there in his prime to be the 1st to break 8 hours and those guys ripped his legs off (metaphorically, and considering that meant 8;20 something for him); anyway, it is a totally different mind set and atmosphere. And with the size of the crowds it make syou want to just go fast all day.
I love Roth and the people there. I intend to go back many more times in the future assuming I can continue to do this stuff. Solar Berg is the single(5 times) greatest moment (s) I have had in sports. I tear up every time. Like in 1997, I think, there is an announcement in German over the loudspeaker at about 6:00 am in the transition area. It is raining and 50 degrees and I hear loud cheering. Then they repeat it in English “attention, the police in Hipolstein have just closed Solar Berg - the reason is that there are over 40,000 spectators already waiting on the hill for you to come.” Mind you, the first racers won’t even get there 'till 10:00, and not a single one had left by the time I was there on my second lap at approximately 12:30. I do not believe that exists anywhere else in the Tri world!
As for the course being short, I never found that to be the case; but, have heard that in the early 90s, before Lothar’s record, they did have a short bike for a couple years. Anyway, it is fabulous!
bump
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Fireluv and the rest of the posts are not talking exclusively about Germany. I don’t doubt what you are saying about the drafting in Germany, but the times are slower in Hawaii and in other locales as well. The reason for the slow times the last few years is that all the male contenders save a few (Stadler) get into a pack and watch each other, waiting for the run.