So long as they don’t claim the offical win. Most people never get to be at the pointy end, some only have one or two opportunities to dedicate the time necessary to have half a shot. If your one chance is taken away by a pro who has nothing else to do other than train then yeah that’s unreasonable…
If it is an open race and the race directors allow it them it is fair game. Ironman, for example have rules about Pro’s racing both categories in the same season.
I’m not having a cry because some Pro men and women race and win Ultraman. They are just better athletes,some of who, work and look after families just like age groupers.
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I don’t remember all the details but the issue wasn’t the fact TG won the race, it was the perception of how he handled himself after the race. There was definitely some boasting on social media about it that rubbed people the wrong way.
Ultraman is hardly a professional sport…it’s like saying ‘I don’t complain about a pro cheese roller winning’. That aside how many events have you come second in that you have lost to a ring in pro?
Back in 2019, the Kona ag winner had raced in the pro category in a 70.3 earlier in the year. He was later dq’d from Kona.
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If you don’t like people beating you, get faster. It’s as simple as that.
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Oh,so now you are qualifying which races you can complain about. Ultraman’s are open triathlons just like your local sprint races,you are just shifting the goalposts to rule out any triathlon that doesn’t fit your narrative,
And yes,I did think I was winning one race until I saw Brad Beven’s bike already in T2 with him nowhere to be seen. Been in the top 5 of plemty of races where Pro’s beat us mere mortals. Never heard anyone complain.
Which is why I stated that Ironman has their own rules and that is all good.
Don’t forget.there is a subset of people who think retired Pro’s should not be allowed to compete in age group races. Apparently they are just supposed to leave the sport.
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No, you are comparing a very amateur sport to that of Ironman where the pros are actually pros…
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I think that’s kinda the issue, and it’s why I’ve always sorta given the advice, if your going to do that, then act in a respectful/reasonable manner. Go handle your business, then get the hell out of the way and let the actual AG athletes get their due respect in these specific “X category” only events. Taking the tape like it’s the olympics or boasting on your socials that you’ve accomplished some great feat is sorta. a face palm,in these very specific category only races of which your not in that category.
But of course others including the athletes my feel differently, and that’s all good.
So you think that ALL Pro’s are created equal? Okay how about your local sprint tri or Park Run…No Pro’s allowed because somebody is going to get offended 'cause they got a reality check.
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No, which is exactly why comparing Ultraman as an example is silly…
It’s a wanker act. Im sure Nadal or Djokervich would hardly be chest pumping after giving some random local country club tennis guys a whipping at a Toowoomba tennis game…but hey, they sure gave Jeff from the local servo a real realty check…
Like I said, sure take part but leave the official wins/placing for the category the participants intended. Unless your ego is still that fragile
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That’s right. I don’t care if it’s a local open Olympic, but in an AG Ironman the pro’s shouldn’t be part of the results.
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They are and that’s wrong, all good, race AG and crush it. I’ve been beaten plenty of times by retired pros.
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I would suggest that it is the egos of the wannabe fast age groupers that are bruised as they do far more chest thumping than any Pro I have ever known. You can see the same type of sentiment slowly building in the BikePacking community as the records of the old school BikePacking heroes are getting destroyed by ex Pro cyclists. It is one reason that a lot of BikePacking purists aren’t fans of Lachy Morton.
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Some federations also have their own rules specific to pros competing in AG races. For example this is the rule from USAT
Athletes registered as elites/pros CAN compete in events with less than $5,000 prize purses but they are
competing in events according to the Age Group rules of USAT, not pro/elite rules. They cannot accept age group awards or be included in those results; they cannot be listed in the overall finish position or receive any prizes offered for overall placing.
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Yep, as long as the Pro’s are following the rules of that race then it is all good. Personally, I’d feel a little weird standing on the top of the podium getting accolades for winning a race that I didn’t actually win…but I get it.
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Bike packing? Lol sounds like uber eats delivery guys getting upset at the new bloke doing more deliveries on a fast moped.
Either way it’s a wanker move to beat people not in your category and screams insecurity and self esteem issues.
That perfectly described Thomas.
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i do take offense to this as I do this because I love biking, not easy money because I lack skills for other lines of work