I freaked out about this too for my first IMTX but the walk was fine. Just bring a headlamp. I didn’t have any issues walking over.
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Lange out of IM Texas; injury. Pity.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DImvctmBwH5/
Everytime i see a Texas Pro post on Social Media this week, I’m afraid to watch it. Too bad for Patrick. Hopefully he can heal quick if it’s truly just inflammation.
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I had him 20 minutes behind Blu anyway, perhaps that’s where he had himself too. Something was off in Oceanside for him, perhaps working through this “injury”…
I believe this is going to be a very low point score for everyone in the series, maybe even in the womens…
Everyone? Seems mathematically impossible unless an athlete not planning to race the series wins by a mile: who dat (male)?
Knibb might do well NB in only her second IM. What pace will she run the first half in? 3 hour marathon pace with room to step it up in the third quarter? But even if she manages a sub-3 marathon, I can see Matthews chasing all the way till the catch or the finish. Every second counts.
Sodaro has noone to ride with so will struggle, based on her riding in both 2023 and 2024: but maybe with a coaching change she’ll be transformed. Slower runner, on form, than Matthews.
Will be so interesting to see how Perterer goes in a competitive full distance. Clearly after Coz and then her Singapore #2 she’s firing on all cylinders.
not sure how you come to that conclusion
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Well everyone without an awesome dad bod of course. Like I said earlier, I expect Blu to demolish the field, he has pent up anger about his last outing. And I expect he would have made Oceanside a bad point race too, had not “outside” forces come into play.
Not as sure about the womens, but a distinct possibility
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With Lange out now I think blu has the best chance but in Ironman it’s near impossible to know what you get on the day overall. Who is a bit hurt, tired etc .
Both races will have a lot of top racers but I think although they are the top racers a lot of different levels of fitness right now so early in the season.
Could make for some huge blow ups
Of course, its why we have races. But to me if there is any clear cut favorite, it is Blu. Just like last weeks T100 race where I couldn’t believe the odds makers had Wilde sitting around 4th. TO me that seemed like a slam dunk barring weird stuff, and I made $500 bucks on that bet too!!! Not sure we can bet on Ironmans, if so that would be my big bet. But now that Patrick is out, odds will not be good for Blu, at least I dont think they would be…
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26 miles
IMWC Nice: slower
Matthews: Two 2:49s (Tulsa 2021 and Texas 2023) v Sodaro on 2:49:59 after a gentle bike (with McCauley) in IMNZ.
Having said that, I remember before IMWC 2023 (Kona) that when asked by Kelly what her tactic would be if on the bike with Ryf and Sodaro, Matthews answer was “drop Chelsea!”
IMWC Nice, Chelsea was injured 4 weeks before and months after. It was 50/50 if she would even start. Raced with a broken Patella. Kat got about 1 minute.
2024, 2023 Chelsea beat Kat every run (according to PTO)
Factor in who runs best in the heat.
Yup I agree on you , blu for sure the on paper favourite.
It will still be fun to watch it play out.
For Ironman races I don’t care who wins as long as there is a little drama in the last hour. Knibb being there might makes the ladies race drama free , blu has the ability too as well , depending on a lot of variables .
I don’t think the other women are as good a runner as Knibb as Knibb has yet to have to prove her run speed in middle and long course as she has yet to be under duress.
Blu I think wants to get away from Gustav so that might be the best drama of the day for the men’s race.
The fact that we’ve yet to see Taylor run a nice even marathon while Kat and Chelsea have will provide drama enough for me right up to the finish line even if Taylor comes into T2 with a significant lead.
YMMV
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I think it’s safe to say that if Taylor, Kat and Chelsea come out of T2, in that order, it can be interesting if the time gamp is within reason.
How much time does each need ?
My guess, Taylor needs 5m over Kat who needs 3min over Chelsea.
WAG of course.
Another prediction, an American male wearing a Rudy will podium 
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My feeling is the wind in Texas and the nature of the course will have Taylor 8+ minutes in the lead off the bike. But we’ll see.
Think Knibb needs well more than 5/8 minutes on those two. She might feel confident with 10, but not less. Critically, how fast does she pace the first quarter.
The deltas in Taupo, both bike and run, give a steer, with the factor of full distance experience worth adding.
Trek v Canyon v Pinarello.
Further back, there’s a faster runner (over a half) than all those three making her full distance debut: let’s see how she goes too.
???
As @marcag might say: “not sure how you come to that conclusion”
One of those 3 is wrong
I couldn’t resist. But I can’t say which has changed
Ok, here’s a hint : It’s not Kat or Taylor
Changed Again!
Treviso is such a long way away.
Both Matthews and Sodaro had success with BMC as team mates on BMCProTri bitd (2022).