Has it been decided what type of time-line the womens pro field will have in the start of this years Lake Placid? Last years results show that the top amatuer (Pierre Lavoie; 9:16:10) was about 8.5 minutes in front of Kate Major (top female pro; 9:24:42).
If the pro women start 15 minutes in front of the AG field, it would be the top female based on the 2004 results. That is…unless Tom Z. puts it all together and goes sub-9 as planned.
According to http://www.ironmanusa.com/schedule.html the race starts at 7am. No mention of the pro girls getting a head start. This surprises me, I’d have thought they’d have got 30 mins, so as to get through the first lap just before the AGers start. 15 mins would have them fighting through the MOPers pretty early.
As far as I’m aware, the top male AGer has always beaten the top pro girl in this race, though Major’s race last year was pretty close, while in '01 only Gabe Urban beat all the pro girls, and only by 45 secs.
I vote that it’ll be an AGer first.
I just read in the athletes’ guide yesterday that the pros will in fact get a 15 minute head start.
News Flash…there is no Pro race at IMLP
.
no male pro race.
but there is a femaie pro race
Oh, didnt know that…not that I was going to be in the lead of either…I hope a woman gets there first.
Oh, didnt know that…not that I was going to be in the lead of either…I hope a woman gets there first.
Record are you racing Placid this year? I will be there with Marisol just to watch!
Shhhh…don’t tell the female pros that news.
Wake up and smell the carbon ;-).
According to Graham Fraser (who was seen at LP over the July long weekend) the pro women will get a 35 minute head start. They should be able to clear 1 loop of the swim before all other competitors start.
I hope that’s not true because it is really lame. All this tinkering is ruining some of the appeal of Ironman racing, that is, one mass start for all, may the best man, or woman win. This “head start” trend sucks.
I don’t see how they could get such a headstart. They would be coming through for the second lap as everyone was entering the water for the start.
Max and I will again be doing our annual tour of the Lake Placid Ironman course on race day. Our goal is to be off the bike before the women’s winner comes through the finish line, but with a 35 min. lead, I do not think we will be able to make it this year. O’well, At least we will not have to watch the lead men pass us on our first loop of the bike course this year. It was nice jumping on Simon’s wheel for a few seconds last year, going up Mama Bear.
See you all in LP! Z
Tom,
Nice bottle of bubbly! You had Gatorade in the bottle, right!!
Hate to be a stickler, but wasn’t Chucky V DQ’d from IMH a few years ago for drinking a beer on the course?
Fleck
Key words - on the course.
Styrrell
You are correct, Chucky V did get a year’s ban from Kona for getting drunk on the course! I only drink Gatorade on the course until the finish line! Z
the pro’s just get to be in front of everyone else like at hawaii.
or so that’s how last year went.
Two things:
1- First Amateur last year was Pierre Lavoie and not Mike Neil
2- Pro women will start 35 mins before the main field (This is based on a conversation with Graham Fraser July 2nd near mirror Lake) - it might change.
3- Amateurs will probably be getting into the water from the side of the road and not from the beach to leave space available near the deck for pro women to complete their first loop. (This is also based on a conversation with Graham Fraser July 2nd) - it might change.
4- We will know for sure during the saturday athletes meeting…be there!
Alex
According to “cimit”, the pro woman get a 35 minute lead.
Actually you’re right, Mike Neil is a pro triathlete. If it’s the same Mike Neil I know.
I think it’s cool that the pro women get a head start or the pro men for that matter. They deserve the extra space and as an age grouper doing the race, (I’m not, but hypothetically), I’d like to see some of the pro race. I liked it better when the short course world’s races (AG and elite) were on the same weekend in the same location. It’s a great race to watch up close.
