Not Iden for the pro series. Iden may well recover his mojo in time for one or both of the WCs, but I suspect that he won’t be 100% all year to be able to snag the pro series title.
Blu on the other hand will absolutely be gunning for it from the first race
Ya, I’m thinking Iden or Blu will win Frankfurt. Maybe Lange finally makes a show of it.
I actually think the Europeans will show up at SA vs Texas. Laidlow will also be there and I think it will be quite competitive, probably on par vs Texas
Hanson (who was #5 in last year’s Series) shares his IM Pro Series races (on his yt channel):
I guess Hanson is not sure whether he might gain more points in IMLP rather than in the IMWC (Nice, with all guns firing there and needs time (away from USA) for getting Nice bike course capable). If he races as well as he did this year in the IMWC he should plan to race Nice.
Same for judging whether Marbella trip is worth it: probably not: his #15 in Taupo did not count for him, and the bike course is scenic.
Those first three races sure look concentrated and ‘early’ in the season (given the late 2024 finish in Taupo). He raced 8 IM Pro Series races last year.
With everyone revealing their race schedules , wonder if more folks might be thinking of making a trip down under to Cairns? Never a popular race with the pros so those who are looking for points and some cash should consider it
Oceanside is full! (Pro entries have closed)
I wonder what field limits they are working to. 70/50?
Last year MPro 70 started from iirc >80 entered and 63 finished, of whom 9 took over 4:28:04 (so zero IM Pro Series points) (all ‘home’ Pros).
Last year WPro 31 started from iirc 40 entered and 28 finished. Knibb was clear of #2 by 11 minutes. I assume she’ll not race this year (since T100 Singapore is a week before) but she may as Singapore is an ‘attend the opening T100 Tour race’ requirement, no actual need to race. IM Texas later that month is the North American Champs and I am guessing Knibb will race that to earn her IMWC start slot before the T100 season heats up, going up against Matthews et al in the process.
You really think she would show up to the start line and not race it to win?? What in her history would ever lead you to believe such a thing is possible??
No, I’m saying that (source Findlay at or after Taupo iirc) the contract requires athletes to attend Singapore, but don’t have to race ie not even start (if it doesn’t fit). There are plenty of regular season races for athletes to race at least the four they need (both contracted and that’s the number to score, pre-GF).
As it is now part of the series there will no doubt be a much larger, higher ranked pro field.
Cairns was an IM Pro Series race last year. But this year Frankfurt is in June (29th) so a direct alternative.
Has any top #40 athlete said they plan to race Cairns? Till then . . .
Berry and Burton won last year (SOF= 79 and 83). Berry went on to #4 overall with her 5000 points and #2 Wilms was on the IM Pro Series 2024 podium. That was Burton’s one and only excellent result of 2024.
https://www.trirating.com/ironman-cairns-2024-analyzing-results/
Thorsten says: “This year’s conditions were among the fastest there have ever been in Cairns, about seven minutes quicker than the long term average. This may have contributed to new course records set by winner Matt Burton. He improved almost ten minutes on Cameron Wurf’s bike course record from 2017 and about five minutes on the overall course record set last year by Braden Currie [who was #2].”
Think Skipper and Barnaby showed up at Cairns last year but I don’t think they featured. I am sure they both had the same train of thought , easier competition, stronger podium potential
Cairns has never attracted a big international crowd but it’s always been a regional championship or Pro Series. Maybe they should give that to Busselton? Slighter closer to the rest of the world maybe?
You’re right: I had forgotten Barnaby made that trip: lucrative in effect. Every second counted.
And of course before the flip-flop-flip we nearly had Long there, for additional entertainment.
With Geens now Australia based he is headed for Gelong on 23 March.
If anyone thought that 70.3 would be easy IM Pro Series points they will have to recalibrate.
As the champion he already has a start at Marbella. T100 Dubai is looking like a wildcard fest for the men as half the T100 contracted athletes will miss it and race Marbella instead.
I think some of the ladies will also give Dubai a miss and show up at 70.3 worlds. Paula, Imogen, EPB and maybe Ash and Julie as the requirements for T100 are 4 races + GF which leaves them some time to do a 70.3 to qualify
Also interesting to see Holly Lawrence and Tamara J moving up to full distance in 2025. Might have some surprises at the pointy end of the race at Kona👍
And near everyone worthy of a wildcard will also be racing Marbella. They will be moving into some bigger ranking numbers to fill the field.
I guess we’ll see which T100 athletes are keeping their options open to race Marbella when they appear on a 70.3 start list (before 30 June). Since the T100 calendar is fairly busy with the only gap suggesting that Valencia, Venice or St George being the options (the latter two are IM Pro Series).
There will also be the consideration of better T100 points to be gained in Dubai in the absence of Knibb. A #4 in Dubai and couple of places higher for the T100 final bonus will be worth more than a #5 in Marbella.
I guess there’s a clear opportunity to ‘blood’ some short course talent in Dubai: the WTCS season finishes with their GF in Woolongong (mid October). WPro wildcards for LLV (mid(?) October) a similar challenge as no SC athletes and none of the Kona athletes (assumed).
Jewett has shared her race calendar
and if goes well presumably IMWC and (optional) Marbella for a full house of IM Pro Series scores.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFyGV6FPhEM/?img_index=1
Jason Pohl has announced he will do Cairns
Smart man! On the money and points for Pro Series!
He started five IM Pro Series races last year.
https://stats.protriathletes.org/athlete/jason-pohl
Edit: Give your assessment of Pohl’s likely impact on the Series.
Looking at the IMLP results (and winner), it’ll be interesting to see Foley’s plan and how well he does (assuming he campaigns for the Series again)…
Who?