I’m glad it had nothing to do with injuries! Anyone know if any decent pros in the men’s race for Swansea?Yes - Royle, Davis, Clavel, Bishop; and in WPRO: Matthews, Bartlett, Dant and Astle.
https://files.constantcontact.com/...b19272c.pdf?rdr=true
What really confuses me is why he turns up to race when he’s not fit. He must have a big racing ego, so it must hurt him to lose like this.
He is a PTO board member and has a vested interest in making the PTO work. He was intrumantal in getting the Helvellyn Triathlon sponsored by the PTO back in 2020 between the two covid lockdowns we had here in the UK. He raced ITU Hamburg on the Saturday then flew straight back to the UK and got to the start of the Helvellyn triathlon for 8 o’clock on the Sunday. That is how important the PTO is to Alistair. He got top 10 at Hamburg and won Helvellyn - he looked like shit on the start line on Sunday.
I believe he has also been voted to represent on the IOC board as well. I get the feeling that could spell the end of his racing career and the start of his IOC career - but I could be completely wrong about that its just me blowing steam off on Slowtwitch!
Whatever it is that makes somebody driven - that guy got it.
Confirmed yesterday - he has been appointed to the IOC athletes commission. Along with the Brownlee foundation he (and his borther) really has put a lot of time and effort into helping young people into sport. He has been very visible and vocal locally here in the UK. If his athletic career is coming to an end he has set the base for an amazing onward career helping people in sport and supporting the athletes through the IOC commission. Chapeau.
I’m glad it had nothing to do with injuries! Anyone know if any decent pros in the men’s race for Swansea?
Wonder if this means he is targeting 70.3 worlds instead of Kona, or if Swansea is a shakedown for a 140.6 to qualify for Kona.
Said he had really bad stomp cramps, he’s racing Ironman 70.3 Swansea next week.
I saw that as well. Do we believe him? I guess we’ll see what he does at Swansea.
Said he had really bad stomp cramps, he’s racing Ironman 70.3 Swansea next week.
I saw that as well. Do we believe him? I guess we’ll see what he does at Swansea.Suffering bad stomach cramp is consistent with what we saw on the coverage, from T2 onwards to the seriously pained expressions etc so I see not reason not to “believe him”. If you are querying whether he’ll race Swansea, who knows, but Astle is racing and the race is effectively the top UK 70.3 in 2022, with several other top Brits and Clavel. Matthews and Bartlett in WPRO (if latter recovered from C-19 ‘cold symptoms’). 2 x MPRO and 2 x WPRO start slots for WC St George in October. Think the chances of him starting an IM anytime soon are negligible.
I hope so - I’d like to see a relatively healthy Alistair at a few more big races. I didn’t see much of the men’s race, hopefully just a one-off thing.
He’s entered Ironman Kalmar in August as a last shot.
Very interested in Swansea 70.3 next week.
He’s bound to have some luck someday…
Only heard of Bishop on that start list…
https://www.220triathlon.com/news/alistair-brownlee-to-race-ironman-70-3-swansea/
He’s entered Ironman Kalmar in August as a last shot.
Very interested in Swansea 70.3 next week.
He’s bound to have some luck someday…
3:49 on a very tough course with a 1:09 run.
Not too bad!
Isn’t the guy who came second considered a bit of a super runner; Lopes?
Swam with Horsfall Turner and biked off on his own.
Looked quite healthy crossing the finish line, bonus!
He was on another level in Swansea. Held AHT’s feet in the swim, rode away, then solid on a warm run. His full distance in a couple of weeks will be interesting
What IM race is he down for?
What IM race is he down for?
Kalmar / Sweden
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It’s not the race distance that is the issue is it? It seems like it’s the pressure/tactics that play out in stacked fields that is the biggest obstacle he’s still yet to figure out in LC racing.
I’d wager his next IM he’ll easily “crush it†as it’s what a B/C level field??
That’s not the issue imo w/ AB at LC races. It’s racing stacked fields that brings in more decisions and thus more consequences of said decisions that is the issue.
It’s not the race distance that is the issue is it? It seems like it’s the pressure/tactics that play out in stacked fields that is the biggest obstacle he’s still yet to figure out in LC racing.
I’d wager his next IM he’ll easily “crush it†as it’s what a B/C level field??
That’s not the issue imo w/ AB at LC races. It’s racing stacked fields that brings in more decisions and thus more consequences of said decisions that is the issue.
I’d never thought of that - but it would seem you have a really good point. I suppose the only outlier here is the 70.3 worlds in South Africa where he, Gomez and Frodeno put down 1:07-1:08 runs having been doing all the work on the bike (AB and Frodo anyway)
But other than that, you’re right. I wonder if it’s his balls to the wall mentality from ITU? In ITU he was game changing - he could smash all three disciplines and win. In fact, since he has left ITU, it has become what is was up to 2009 - a bore fest of pack rides followed by the best runner wins.
Perhaps he applies this method to LC and it catches him out.
Why do you think that is? He’s not stupid, for sure.
He really is an enjoyable commentator.
It would be so hard when you still swim and ride at that level, and you have been a top runner, to give it up. Especially with unfinished LC business. I don’t fault him for continuing to chase it.
Agreed.
I wouldn’t write him off just yet. Will he dominate long course racing? No. Will he be able to pull the odd quality race out of the bag? Yes.
Personally, once he gets some run form back, I’d like to see him continue to swim the way he does but then just sit in the bike ‘pack’ and see how that impacts on his run performance. I don’t think you can hammer all 3 disciplines in long course (unless you are Norwegian).
â˜ï¸â€¦.but maybe you can also still hammer all 3 disciplines when you are on a good day.
No I don’t think he’s stupid at all. He’s brilliant at the tactics and the history and the understanding of races. But I think there is an “arrogance†of his will is better than everyone else’s and so if he’s in the hurt locker imagine how bad the others are.
It’s not the race distance that is the issue is it? It seems like it’s the pressure/tactics that play out in stacked fields that is the biggest obstacle he’s still yet to figure out in LC racing.
I’d wager his next IM he’ll easily “crush it†as it’s what a B/C level field??
That’s not the issue imo w/ AB at LC races. It’s racing stacked fields that brings in more decisions and thus more consequences of said decisions that is the issue.
I partially agree with the tactics but not the pressure. London 2012 was a pressure cooker and he did ok.
He leads out, today that lead out was easy and controlled no stress on the body. When fields are stacked he still leads out and I am not convinced this is the best tactic for him. Once/if he figures out LC racing in stacked fields he will be up there with the best.
I specifically said Pressure in regards to LC.
** he’s still yet to figure out in LC racing. **
Bringing up his itu success kinda further showcases the point. He was the patron saint in itu. Now he’s becoming the guy that if they give him enough rope, he’ll hang himself w his bike effort.
A wise coach one told me- “when an athlete shows you who they are, believe themâ€.
Until AB can show us he’s figured out racing stacked world class fields, he’ll just be more of the guy who makes the race and not the guy winning the races.