ITU World Triathlon Championship Series 2025 General Chat

For sure this is it, dude could have won the gold medal on his day. Not too many can say that…He is a threat to win every race he is in, even if the underdog… Only a few can beat the best on the run, like Blu in the last games.

That’s a pretty good one too! I’ll concur, I think it’s wild to me because McElroy was top 2 American in rankings for both Olympics he missed.

I still remember the legendary start of his career. When he was still running at NAU he “began” his itu career (under Paulo), and even before he finished his track career he was already “all in” on his tri career. He made ncaa 10km track championships. The morning of the race he did 6k swim set, 12 hours later finished top 7 to earn all-american status. He is basically the poster child for “what grinds my gears about ITU” individual/MTR “shared athletes” roster policy.

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Wow 9 German women on the start list. I wonder if it’s the most athletes ever from a single country in a WTCS race.

I believe Rider is switching to LC

@synthesis I assume it’s a mitigation for the risk of bashing arms/wrists/hands - but note applicability - last line (scroll down).
Do field sports players wear watches on the field of play?
Rugby players?

World Triathlon Competition Rules
18 January 2025
p49/215
4.11 (Swim)
f.) Illegal Equipment:
(i) Athletes must not use or wear:
<>
● Any jewellery. deemed to be a hazard to themselves or other athletes.
(Athletes may be requested to remove any such items.)

● Watches. This non allowance applies to Elite, U23 and Junior races in Standard and shorter distances.

I think even more so, some of those big steel watches on the side of the face of another competitor can be pretty rough.

Actually seeing a lot of filed sports players starting to use watches… soccer being one

You asked why the rule had been changed: I suggested the reason. Do you think there is a risk and if so agree that prohibiting watches eliminates the hazard?
But note applicability (elite/U23/junior).

Can you wear a watch during a soccer game?

"You are not allowed to wear a watch during a soccer game. This means you are not allowed to wear a sports watch either.

“You can injure other players as well as yourself by wearing a watch. For example, when the frame of the watch gets into someone else’s face, it can lead to injuries. It can also happen that a finger of an opponent or fellow player gets stuck behind the strap of the watch. As with a bracelet, this can lead to a bruised or broken finger or, in the case of the person wearing the watch, a bruised wrist.”

that is a particular league. there are many leagues out there. That finger claim is a pretty silly rare occurance. More fingers end up in eyes, thus players should be required to wear eye wear!

This is not for a particular league; it’s general advice/direction.
Agree: I’d just leave it as: “You can injure other players as well as yourself by wearing a watch. For example, when the frame of the watch gets into someone else’s face, it can lead to injuries."
Do you agree?
I reiterate: You asked why the rule had been changed: I suggested the reason. Do you think there is a risk and if so agree that prohibiting watches eliminates the hazard?

lavender room is for soccer

Thanks for providing the reason, i disagree and think its over the top for rate occurrence

When did Vasco ever run with Yee and Wilde?

If only those who can run with Yee and Wilde were allowed to be selected by their federation to take part in the Olympics, there would only be Yee and Wilde at the Olympics.

This said, Vasco on his day I think is one of the only other ones who may be able to (with Pearson).

Believe in a couple SL races where he out ran them. When did Blu outrun either of them outside the olympic games??

You get to a certain level of running and on a given day you can prevail. There are only a handful of guys like this, but he is certainly one of them. Of course those two are the class and the most consistent, like Gomez and Ali were back in the day. But as we saw in that 08 games when a not so known Frondeno came out of no where, he beat all the star runners, you just never know…

Maybe. Unfortunately it’s possible someone was injured and the rule change was a legal thing.

Blu that Olympic year was one of the only athletes I remember running with Yee and Wilde, I don’t remember any run from Vilaca around then or since to suggest he has the ability to outrun the very best.

Generally appears to me he gets outrun by Bergere, Connix and Le Corre also, who are almost always 10 secs plus behind Yee and Wilde when they all come off the bike together at the end of a race.

but in fairness he is only now starting to hit his peak years and he is around 5th or 6th in the world already. and while he might never outrun yee or wilde he is not yet maxed out. portugal has a pretty good chance to get a medal at LA 2028

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Id agree, certainly expect to see him on the podium more this year.

I gave you some races where he outran them head to head, but ok. And your definition of “run with” must be different than mine. I consider someone running with someone else for lets say 80 to 90% of a run. I guess you consider it on who actually wins?? In that case, Yee and Wilde did not run with Blu in the games he won and he was pretty much solo for the win??

When a lot of guys come off the bike in T2 and after 4k or 8k depending on the race distance there is a small group still together, those guys I consider running together. Yes there were two of them that usually took the honors, but occasionally one of those others sneaks in and either gets a podium or even rarely a win. Like I said its a small handful, but I consider Vasco one of that group…