Unless I’m blind, no one has posted anything on Simon’s win this weekend. A freaking sub 2:10 bike backed up by a 1:13 run. . .3:52! The man is on fire!
While the step up to Ironman is always larger than it appears, at double a 1/2 Ironman distance, it DOES appear that the current crop of IM kings should be watching over their shoulder!
And whenever Bjorn figures out how to run after such blistering bike times. . .A 2:02 bike? That left a mark. . .not so much on the podium. . .not so much on the run. . .DEFINITELY on the bike. . .
Sorry, I just think we may be seeing Slowman’s “new set of genes” in one of these guys. . .It sure as hell will be fun watching.
What can I say, it’s Lessing, greatest triathlete of all time, period. With him doing IMH, helped/coached by Dave Scott, the race is on… for second place
Exactly. I could doubt him if he was to approach this on his own, but with the help of Dave Scott I think he can do it. He’s not cocky, he doesn’t shoot is mouth, he’s just The Best. The Man meets The Best… I love the smell… it smells of… victory
Now on this topic who spotted Simon’s bike position? I do recall Slowman posting comments on Simon using Cervelo and that he will use both the Soloist and P3 (the later for IM racing).
NOW THEN… he did this race on the Soloist (not P3) AND ran a 1:13 of the bike!! Mmmmmmmm
Do you think Simon Lessing can win Hawaii on his first shot ? Damn right. At the 1995 ITU World Long distance Championships in Nice, the Podium was as follows:
Gold: Simon Lessing
Silver: Luc Van Lierde
Bronze: Peter Reid
While the Silver and Bronze medalists account for 5 Hawaii Ironman voctories and the fastest Ironman time ever (LVL, Roth 1997), the gold medalist is yet to make his Ironman debut. He is tall (Welch is the only shorty to win Hawaii), has a huge engine, can bike strong, run like a demon and is coached by Dave Scott. And finally for more background, at the age of 22 or so, Lessing went toe to toe with Mark Allen at Nice back in the early 90’s when Allen was arguably at the top of his game.
Its really a shame that we had to wait until this year to see Lessing whip some butt at the full Ironman distance.
I don’t find Lessing’s win surprising at all. Simon won the World Lond Distance Championship in 1995 (1996?) at really young age. Is it really that surprising that one of the most consistently best all-around triathletes stormed to victory last weekend and leaving some of the best in the sport in his wake. Hawaii is definitely a much tougher challenge, particularly because of the heat and winds. If Simon does well at Ironman USA (Lk. Placid)–especially if he wins IRMN USA–expect to see Lessing become one of the favourites for the win in Hawaii this fall! Simon’s nearly equal ability in all three disciplines make him one of the best athletes at any distance given proper consistent and well coached training–with the “Man” on his side providing a healthy advice and training tips, look out Deboom, Reid, and Brown–and if Macca races well–Macca too.
So here is a different theory - by wining at Disney Simon qualified for Kona - so why not follow the theory of guys like Reed and Deboom and race less during the season - to peak for Kona…if I was Simon and he did qualify at Disney I would not be doing LP - Macca is the classic example of over racing and failing at Kona - Lori Bowden is another with her reduced racing last season greatly assisting in winning Kona…
I don’t think there were any IM Hawaii qualifying spots for pros at the Florida half–age groupers only. I could be wrong on this but I think that’s why he’s racing LP.
Looking at this past weekends Memphis in May results I’d say the future(at least for an American) may lie in the hands(actually legs) of Greg Remaly. He just took it to Deboom pretty good and according to a race report from last fall by Victor Plata he’s the real deal. At only 23 I’d be inclined to agree.
