Another one in Germany in case anyone here cares.
50 Kona slots.
Cheers
Uli
Interesting - there were rumours on the UK tri sites that this was going to take place.
Is there a website or more info?
Seems very much that this is IMDEs baby brother
Timing also sucks - its the same day as IMCH, and it means there are 2 German IM events and Roth within a 3 week window?
My pet hate is how all these European events are so bunched up - would be great to have more outliers in May/September
where do the kona spots come from? In other words, which races lose slots, or is Kona getting bigger?
More slots to German races are still needed if you would take kona serious as a world championship.
Kona is supposedly getting bigger.
Two loops on the bike (plus 10k to get to the loop):
Flat run (and swim).
No more info so far.
Why is closesness to other IM races an issue? Who does two IM in one summer (apart from people just wanting to finish)?
More slots to German races are still needed if you would take kona serious as a world championship.
What a load of crap. By this logic German athletes should be cleaning up in winning the age groups in Kona - which simply isn’t the case. Any German athletes that did not get a slot would never have been in contention for a Kona win to begin with.
of course. that goes for both amateurs and pros. I view Hawaii as triathlon’s version of “The Master’s” or something… it’s the highest prestige event in our sport but does not have the top guys in the world there every year, like say Tennis, ITU triathlon, etc. might have.
Also, in addition to giving more slots to Germany and Europe you would need more drug testing and course certification.
You are very mistaken here. There are a lot of german AGers who are really fast and who never make it to Kona because of several factors:
- cost
- the time of the year (not ideal to get ready in Germany in September)
- work
You are very mistaken here. There are a lot of german AGers who are really fast and who never make it to Kona because of several factors:
- cost
- the time of the year (not ideal to get ready in Germany in September)
- work
They all go to mallorca in september to train so time of year isn’t a problem and they what 6 weeks vacation first day on the job.
so work and time of year aren’t the problem.
that leaves cost… Gets us all I guess…
Oh boo hoo. For whom do those three factors NOT come into play?
mm
Boo hoo?
It comes more into play if you come from Europe…
Let’s see quickly…
Frankfurt 2009:
M25-29:
the first 4 guys are all under 9hrs. The first to his slot is 5th.
M30-34:
the first 4 guys are all under 9hrs. Only 2 took their slots.
M35-39:
the first 7 guys are under 9hrs. 5 took their slots.
M40-44:
the first 5 guys are under 9hrs. The last 2 of the top 5 took their slots
M45-49: most of the top take their slots
You can see the same pattern at many Euro races…And you can be certain that many of the top americans would pass on their slots if the ‘world championships’ were held in Europe.
Agghh conflicts with Alp d’Huez (I think)…and I agree that there are lots of age-groupers around the world who would get their asses kicked over here in Deutschland (I am one)… must be the beer.
I agree – late August would be much better.
First of all, I heard number of slots in 2010 at races like IMC is going down. I see no issue with increasing the number of slots in Europe and cutting some out of North America…the bottom half qualifiers in North America Ironmans are much less competitive than the bottom half of the qual list in Europe. North America has waaaaaay too many slots as things stand…and no this does not affect me, as the race I am going to do in Europe will not have any more slots in 2010. But if any of these North Americans actually travel to race in europe, they would actually see how much more competitive things are on the other side of the Atlantic…and guys, stop crying about Euros getting 6 weeks of vacation…if you want it bad enough, you can get a job there too :-).
Anyway, good to see another Mdot IM In Central europe!
What do I do wrong here in Germany? I only have 4 weeks of vacation…
Going to race in Kona is not ideal if you come from europe, have a family and/or job. The people I know who went to Kona had a very low succes rate. Heat, time zone difference, short days in the north of europe and a very hard qualifying race in july are the main causes.
Check out the last few years, women results in frankfurt. Many competitive age groups have only one slot. The average level of these relative small age groups is high, so there is sometimes one slot for too many very competitive athletes. Highly unfair.
All these issues together with the fact that I just have enough money to race in my own country leads to the fact that I am personally not interested at all in going to kona. Although I might have a shot at qualifying.
and they what 6 weeks vacation first day on the job.
Wrong on two accounts. Not 6 weeks. Not first day on the job.
Also, in addition to giving more slots to Germany and Europe you would need more drug testing and course certification.
In Germany there are random drug tests for age groupers. Everyone who joins the race can be tested. Even that 16:59 hour W40-45 age grouper. I might not be aware of other races where this happens, but I think it is unique in world of triathlon. Do age groupers in North America have a risk of getting tested?
With course certification you mean that some age groupers take short cuts? Everyone race the same course, so it always fair. If someone believes to be competitive in Europe, simply come over and race and see if you are way faster here then anywhere else.
The only course that is mysteriously fast is Roth. But that is not qualifying for Kona anymore. The times in the other fast Euro IM races translate well over all courses, but under normall conditions Roth is always a little bit faster then expected. But be aware that it is an extremely fast course.
Tell me about it. I finished IM Austria in 2008 at 10:46 (50-54) and was 30th in the age group. I was the first American though! 
But I’ll be ready for them at IM Switzerland in 2010.
I’m looking at having to do sub 10:05 in IM France with all those hills to get anywhere close to a Kona slot in M45-49!..that’s 13 minutes faster than I have ever gone, on an “easier course” (Placid)!!! But realistically, I just want to race in Nice and hang out on the Cote d’Azur with my family and then perhaps catch a tour stage before heading home and hopefully have the opportunity to bang out a few climbs in the Alps along the way.