would that put him in a similar league as Peter Reid in terms of greatness since each would have won Kona three times? Reid has the fastest Ironman run split; Stadler has the fastest Kona bike split; each has won multiple Ironman races . . .
Supposing Stadler wins Kona next year, will he become one of the greats alongside Allen and Reid?
Peter would be the first to tell you there was some kms missing to the run course when he ran 2:35… but still a very impressive performance that day …
I like Normann’s chances again this year. He has been my pick the last 3 years, and he only disappointed one of them. I still think we were robbed of a real German Ironwar the year of the flats…
He is already in the league of Reid, and others with multiple Ironman wins, but has a way to go to be compared to Mark Allen, Dave Scott, Newby, or Natasha…6+ Hawaii wins, now that is a very elite club…
If he’s still winning World Titles in 2010 - 2012, then we can put him up there with Scott and Allen.
My guess for this year is:
As a result of the swim being smoother and the winds being rougher.
With the winds being rougher, the consequence is likely to be the same as 3 years ago…Normann gets off the bike while everyone else hits Hawi…
no cause there’s still the 8 meter rule 
i thought they accredited stadler’s relatively same swim time to the rest of the guys (where he would have gotten 2nd if he had his normal swim time) because of the choppy waters?
Even though Normann can’t run … ha… I still think he is going to win it again
GO NORMANN!!
Wouldn’t choppy waters hurt him more than help?
I’m a good swimmer and pray for tough water conditions. 
paw
This year will not be the year of the German.
faris will ahve a shocker.
I have an insite into his training and he isn’t doing stuff anywhere near Macca and Stadler as far as qualty is concerned.
If Stadler can do it again, then indeed, he should be up on the wall as one of the best ever at IMH. However, in my mind he’s still a bit of an enigma. The two years he won were rather unusual years at IMH. I know that this board is particularly partisan to the big bikers, but IMH has not been friendly to the big bikers over the years. So we shall see what happens this year.
i’m also a good swimmer and i’m pretty sure if there’s drafting it’s better if it’s choppy cause it keeps everyone closer together
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Supposing Stadler wins Kona next year, will he become one of the greats alongside Allen and Reid?
No. As long as still has that gay tatoo, you should not use his name along with the true greats. At least Scott had the sense to express himself with a pornstar mustache, which is easily removed.
Damn man, that’s a bold prediction! Predicting a flat four months before the race!
I think that everyone is making a mistake when they omit Cam Brown. After an off year last year, and now PF keeping him out of IM Germany, he’s going to be a force in Kona.
If Normann were to win this year, he would have one thing that Reid doesn’t: a repeat. I believe that of the multiple winners, Allen, Scott, DeBoom were able to repeat, while Stadler, Reid, Lierde, and Tinley were not (speaking of the men only, of course).
-C
…As long as still has that gay tatoo, you should not use his name along with the true greats…
Gotta agree here. Sorry Normann if you read this, but the tattoo is bad. Quite a while ago I did the videos for the tattoo removal laser compaies so have some insight; yours could come off quite nicely.
I love Cam. He’s consistent and runs a smart race. But, Stadler has something to prove and Faris wants it really badly - this is where the race is going to be. So does Beke plus has good karma after IMAZ. Macca’s going to get a flat coming back from Hawi (leading the pack except for Stadler).
I think if Normann wins again he will be ahead of Peter…because Normann posts here. 
I hope Normann wins. Is he among the greats…I don’t know.
I love cam too. Met him a few years ago in taupo and he was very nice.
But he is too soft to win Kona. Also he won’t be at 100% for Kona.