Now put up the Townsville splits @Triathletetoth
In what world does Burton beat Lopez, who remember also won IM Vitoria ahead of ‘participating’ Laidlow.
Here’s IRONMAN’s ‘Startlist’ article:
Start List: Men's Pro Field - 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship - Kona | IRONMAN Pro Series
I am not sure what to think of lopez as Burton rode solo off the front and still ran 2:44 vs others with a lead. Lopez lost 3 min to kallin in the first 52 km of that race. matt was the faster rider for the whole ride and way faster in the first 30 km to catch the front.
I mean how much do you have to win by to win? were if you are 13 min off the bike you have to dig and risk.
Solo up front and a 2:44 run with second never bridging within 600 m is different effort then group ride the a 2:37 run on different course were so many ran super fast.
I just don’t think he can hold the front power on the bike. He will need to prove me can.
Oh but I don’t think they will be able to split much the race is 2024 now not 2004. Way too many front pack swimmers that keep the front group bigger.
I could see a 18 -22 guy swim pack with Lange, magnus in the back of it.
It’s why guys 5 min back today will be racing like they were 10 min back in 2004, bikes and packs are so much faster to make up 5 min is so much harder.
Just watched this VLOG from Benito - hillarious and a typical Spanish disaster, pretty much all the way through (which I love)
Con dos cojonos, Antonio!!
Answering to the thread in general
Arthur Horseau is out per his IG.
Once on the island he realized he was not physically nor mentally up to it.
Last year was the first year he managed not to get many DNF but he seemed to have fallen back again.
he did a few aero testing sessions. Very slippery dude.
Greatest vlog this year so far. It’s just a pity it’s not in English for a wider audience
Babbit came out strong today:
Sanders
Iden
Blummenfelt
Laidlow
Blu
Ditlev
Blu
Sanders
Foley
This would be close to my dream result
Maybe
Sanders
Blu
Iden
Chance it happens in my opinion
.00001%
No, the dream result is 1. Sanders 2. Iden 3. Blummenfelt. KB Blu doesn’t care if he finishes second or third. To Gustav, coming ahead of Kristian seems impossible so he would be over the moon if he did.
My actual picks:
My picks:
1 Blu
2 Laidlow
3 Ditlev
4 Lange
5 Sanders
8 Iden
I could see any of the top 3 switching, depending on dynamics. Sanders seems to be feeling well but hard to see him making up those 5 mins on the swim and rejoining the group. If he time trials his way, top 5 is likely his ceiling.
Just saw Magnus in the latest LS VLOG 11, mentioning 180 gr carbs / hour and “hoping for a very windy day” - gonna be savage!
I hope it is hot as shit, the wind starts the days before, puts some hills in the swim and sandblasts them on the bike. A huge day against an angry Mother Nature would be awesome to watch. (not much fun for the age groupers though)
Forecast seems to be light clouds / light wind…
Running pack deep into the marathon. RVB will drop off first followed by Gustav. KB and SL will sprint to the line and KB will win. Lionel and Lange in the second wave having run out of real estate. Yes, this will be an iconic year. Second only to 89’.
I will be rooting for Sanders but I think he still comes in behind a lesser prepared Iden. My dream scenario would be 1. Iden 2. Sanders 3. Blu but I think it will come down to Blu and Laidlow
This is the most likely scenario, assuming no mechanicals or anything crazy happening. I think there are a lot of guys that could take the 4th and 5th spot and would love to see Trevor Foley and Rudy von Berg up there in the mix. If Lange has a great bike he could make the top 5 but realistically I see him between 6th and 10th.
Yes perhaps in the end BLU Laidlow and Ditlev but when will the break come? thats why i see a sprint finish.
