If the survey was held again now I would definitely vote for single day event alternating between Kona and Nice. I haven’t done Kona but still value its history. I did Nice this year and it was amazing. Having qualified on a dead flat course, the bike was brutal for me but represented the exact sort of challenge I would hope for in a WC.
Kona has completely different challenges and alternating now seems like such a great approach which would mean most participants will get the more convenient and affordable option for them at least once every two years.
However, the decision has been made and it is back to Kona every year. I hope to get a chance to do Kona one day but in the meantime and I extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to compete in Nice.
Not sure why folks like to race straight after Kona? Body needs a good rest. It’s about longevity in the sports, mind and body needs a hiatus after such a massive race and build up
This includes those bravely trooping off to Spain for T-100. It’s all about speed speed speed there
[quote=“gunna, post:382, topic:1292560”] But if IM is supposed to be a test of who is the best across the 3 disciplines then calling out a bike course for being too hard in a WC is a bit silly. [Quote]
Ummm, I hate to say this again but the IM distances are not a fair test of who’s best in the 3 disciplines. I’ll give you one guess as to which of the three is too short.
Just remembered, when I was riding into town there was a guy running with his bike from about 12k out of town. When I was running I again saw him running down the esplanade with his bike towards T2. Any word on this ledgend??
One thing i though of after the race is, the top top guys seems to have basically only one thing in life: Training.
The Norwegians live a monk like lifestyle with 5-6 weeks training camps that are just training->recovery-training in practically hotel settings with no other obligations.
How are you to compete against that, having a child/family, not living in ideal training location (heat/humidity/altitude), not having a federation/big team behind you.
I dunno. Gustav does have a girlfriend. He ain’t a monk! There are a lot of childless men near or at the top of long course triathlon who were not able to keep up on Sunday. Conversely - Frodeno had a family, kids, lots of obligations, as did a number of others (Alistair - less the kids).
And Norway is not a good place to be based in, I imagine, for triathlon training (especially Bergen, one of the rainiest places in the northern hemisphere). I also can’t see that “big team”. The guys came to Nice without an entourage, except some family members or significant others. They don’t even have a coach. I highly doubt that Laidlow, van Berg or Lange get less support or experience more adversity.
In AG though this makes a massive difference. People with a demanding office job vs people funemployed or PTs/coaches, plus of course family and kids vs no family. Time is a very finite resource.
I always wondered about the pros and their comments regarding finding time to train around kids. If they worked a full time job they’d be out the house 9-11 hours every day, so 45-55 hours a week. Surely if triathlon is a full time job they can easily find their 24-30hrs a week, or whatever the cool kids are doing these days and still have extra time for family, recovery, sleep etc.
It’s a mental excuse to say why you aren’t winning and I am not trolling I was there for 4 years although I did work an actual full time job with kids and wife that worked full time ect . It takes the pressure off the bad days, saying because of this then this, if so I would be better.
To be 100% honest once you have kids you more mentally realize how much time you are putting into this and that it might not be worth the investment, for what you are about to miss out on with your family . Depending on your mind and situation.
Totally agree. They all make it sound that it’s different or harder for them! They worked fewer hours generally and more flexibility than anyone that has to work in an office environment
I am going to add in that this venue is spectacular. Do not need a rental car. Can go anywhere from 2 to 5 star hotel if you want or Airbnb all within 1k from finish. The food is amazing and wine cheap😂. Coffee culture is top shelf. Bike culture even better (no F150s or Dodge RAMs to be seen😉). The swim is spectacular and more buoyant than Kona IMO. Swimming to the sunrise there can not be beat. It was spectacular
Ironman did an incredible job this week. And especially the investment in safety motos on descents. I saw 6 crashes, all with ambulances. What i also noticed was the number of moto teams up and down scouting, and the strategic locations ambulances were parked on the ready. Obviously France know what they are doing re bike racing.
Also, My wife commented on the quality of production race day at finish and in the run chute area first 2k/last 2k of each loop. Shes been doing this sherpa thing with me for 25 years and said this was the best.
Yes, There were definitely some scary descending sections into villages. It was really easy to find a rider that was either a local, had course knowledge, or used to race bikes/combination thereof. Tag and follow. But multiple riders just rode away they were so good at it. It was beautiful to watch them but I tailed back in fear. Caught many on the final 10k into town which turned back on itself for last 5k into a horrific headwind
For context. Nice is 2x elevation of Penticton and I did IMC bike course last year in 5:30. Nice was 6:25. And I really cracked the 2nd long climb before the long downhill. Its a bloody hard ride. And my wheel choice was a major mistake of HED 80/disc. There were a few opportunities i near crashed from sidewinds. My initial thought looking back is a stock S5 with their reserve wheels and clipons. While most the guys that dropped me on climbs or descending i caught on flats being aero, the confidence to climb and descend would be way better for me. Will never know now unless 70.3 uses similiar roads. And, factor in the big 20k climb took me 1:15, the 11k climb took me around 40mins, and the descending took me 45mins thats 2hrs:40mins I was on the bullhorns. No wonder my hands were killing me Monday!
Last, I agree with Pat Lemieux’s PTN take for Kona. I know i will get slammed here, but make the run 3 loops along Allii/Palani. It will be electric! I get the mystic of Energy Lab, but its about 4-5k of the race. Theres 16k of that run in complete isolation with no ability to spectate. And it looks like shit on TV vs the packed house in Nice.
Anyways. That my review. I absolutely loved it. Even the jellyfish sting🤦♂️ A great way to celebrate my silver anniversary of Ironman racing. Crazy to even type that
