So Hunter Kemper does Chicago on a ITU bike. Given the history of this race (windy), what could he have possibly been thinking? Don’t give me that this was a throw away race, training race, etc. He left money on that course. First out of the water and a super fast runner, he conceded that race on the bike.
He’s one of my favorite pro’s, so I was disappointed to see him not contending for the win.
perhaps it was a mechanical or he thought the course too technical or hilly for his tt bike?
Maybe he remembered Potts’ crash from last year and wanted a bike he could control better as he weaved around AGers.
I can assume he received the course layout as I did and all the other athletes did. Up and back (x2) doesn’t seem very technical to me.
Especially when two ITU pro’s finish 1st and 2nd.
Perhaps, since he is an ITU racer he rides / races a road bike most of the time and that is what he is most comfortable and fastest on. Just a thought.
I think you nailed it.
I suspect he hasn’t spent any time in a TT position lately, and didn’t want to try something “new” on race day.
My guess, either he was travelling a lot and just had that bike, or he uses that bike for everything, no matter what the course. Keep in mind the difference between the bike he had and a pure TT bike may not be a lot of time.
Styrrell
“the difference between the bike he had and a pure TT bike may not be a lot of time”
**
I was thinking the same exact thing, even though my local bike shop owner said it probably costed him several minutes. 
Perhaps, since he is an ITU racer he rides / races a road bike most of the time and that is what he is most comfortable and fastest on. Just a thought.
I’m sure he can change to a TT bike comfortably. Pro riders don’t use their road bike in a Time Trial b/c they’re more comfortable on it, they use a TT bike b/c it’s smart and faster. They’re much more comfy on a road bike since they are on it for 99% of what they do.
Probably heading from Chicago to Iowa for Hy-VEE ITU and didn’t want to haul around two bikes…
Not several minutes.
Styrrell
Probably heading from Chicago to Iowa for Hy-VEE ITU and didn’t want to haul around two bikes…
Hy-vee isn’t ITU anymore and I believe no drafting but i’m not in DSM anymore so I haven’t been following it this year
EDIT: However the Hy-vee course looks like an ITU course this year which may be the real reason.
Did you not watch the clearwater race last year?
Hmm. If this is true (I don’t have any reason to doubt you) then this really makes Hunter look like a fool. I can understand the rationale of only wanting to bring one bike from race to race, or for continuing to prepare for a more important race on the bike that he would be racing in the more important race, but if Hy-Vee is NDL then the decision to race on the road bike in Chicago is foolish for all of the above reasons.
Hmm. If this is true (I don’t have any reason to doubt you) then this really makes Hunter look like a fool. I can understand the rationale of only wanting to bring one bike from race to race, or for continuing to prepare for a more important race on the bike that he would be racing in the more important race, but if Hy-Vee is NDL then the decision to race on the road bike in Chicago is foolish for all of the above reasons.
You missed my edit,
here is the hy-vee course
http://www.hy-veetriathlon.com/webres/File/EliteMap-2011v1.pdf
4 laps with ummm (wow this map sucks) 16-18 tuns per lap. Thats about as technical as you can get for a non-drafting course, I’m actually not sure how it wont be a drafting course legal or not.
I was at Clearwater last year, but what did I miss?
I didn’t see any of the tops pro’s riding road bikes.
i think hunter’s just ITU-focused, and so whatever the race, that’s what he’s going to ride. while i understand this, i don’t agree with the reasoning. even pure bike racers are adept at moving to a TT bike and position for one day out of many, and their mass start positions, equipment, technique, and performances do not suffer.
therefore, i think what we see is a limitation in his sophistication as a triathlete.
this isn’t to take anything away from his abilities as an ITU athlete, or his professionalism in any other aspect of or approach to his job. it’s just a limitation, no different than a really good bike racer who just hasn’t yet gotten his arms around timed racing.
furthermore, i think greg bennett, as fast as he is during timed race events, still leaves a lot on the table because he’s not listening to the best people. there are still too many pros who’re out there taking less-than-optimal advice, or taking only their own counsel.
I was at Clearwater last year, but what did I miss?
I didn’t see any of the tops pro’s riding road bikes.sy
Jody Swallow. She only won the race, so it was easy to miss.
I was at Clearwater last year, but what did I miss?
I didn’t see any of the tops pro’s riding road bikes.
Jody Swallow, the women’s winner, was on her ITU bike as she was coming from another race if I recall correctly.
The most Anti-ST setup in the race:
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Features/2010_Clearwater_70.3_Worlds__1797.html
.