Anderson killed everone on the bike…
Leaving T2 for the marathon, the top male positions were:
#01: Bjorn Andersson
#02: Cameron Brown, 0:17:51
#03: Kieran Doe, 0:24:54
#04: Chris McDonald, 0:29:23
#05: Clas Bjorling, 0:29:32
#06: Gordo Byrn, 0:29:55
#07: Pete Jacobs, 0:30:00
#08: Greg Fraine, 0:31:38
#09: Stephen Farrell, 0:32:31
#10: Ken Glah, 0:32:52
I admire Andersson’s hard push on the bike. But where was the thinking in going that hard. He could have went maybe 5 minutes slower to run at least 10 minutes faster. How can you have an 18 minute lead going into the marathon and finish 3rd? He should know his body well enough to know what pace he can maintain, and what is too hard.
Have you thought about the possibility that it can be more profitable for him to do that? He could ride within himself and run a bit better and would end up third anyway… with the exception that nobody would be talking about him and his sponsors would have close to zero return. So this way of racing might prove to be smarter now that he knows he can’t win the race yet.
How can you have an 18 minute lead going into the marathon and finish 3rd? He should know his body well enough to know what pace he can maintain, and what is too hard.
That’s a bit harsh isn’t it? I guess you can have an 18 minute lead and come third in this circumstance to Clas by running slower than a 3:12 marathon. Something that a lot more accomplished and experienced IM athletes have done many times. Maybe he doesn’t have much more than a 3:16 marathon in him off any kind of bike ride just yet? Maybe he just felt a bit off on the run?
From everything we’ve heard about Bjorn it indicates that a 4:33 bike isn’t necessarily going too hard?
I say AWESOME JOB and my hat goes off to Bjorn for 3rd in such a tough field. I think this should have given his confidence a huge boost and his run should only get faster, as will probably his bike leg as well which is a scary thought…
excellent point.
My hat goes off to Cameron,Bjorn,Gordo, Tom D, and all the other competitors in IMNZ
.
There just is no pleasing you, is it? Before the race it was maybe 6th if I didn’t have an “ego trip” on the bike like last year. :0)
But you’re right I should be ashamed of myself. What was I thinking?
Hi Bjorn- What are your race plans for the rest of the year? I had the privilege to see you racing towards me at the Utah 1/2 last year, and your draft wake is something I won’t ever forget. Ever since then I’ve been a big fan and am glad to see you had a great race racing the style you wanted to race. I don’t know what some of these folks are complaining about, but 3rd place in your first IM finish is damn impressive! Congrats!
Bjorn,
18 minutes ahead of the field going into t2, with a third place finish. I dont know what you are thinking. But Im thinking “you the man”. You said you would do your best. I say GREAT RACE… Very Impressive 
While I am not an official, or unofficial, representative of Bjorn’s, nor do I know him or for that matter his racing schedule in 2004 and beyond, or where to find him at this very moment or even the next, or what seat angle he was riding at in 2004 vs. 2003, or his potential as a marathoner once he “has more miles on his legs”, or the slightest inkling into his 2004 IMNZ race strategy and why he “didn’t pull back” on the bike, and he will certainly disavow any knowledge of who I am or his non-relationship with me, he did want me to ask you to send him a picture of your breasts with a picture of him riding his bike in between.
Same goes for Clas, though, same goes for him above expect a few of the points which I will not labor here.
My groupie sensibilities have been so violated.
Hey Bjorn, maybe you should’ve checked out Fireluv’s tips page before you raced;-)
Ouch! I was wondering if anyone would go there.
When either of them WIN an IM…I would be more than willing to provide such a picture. Or more. How’s that for motivation?
Bjorn/Clas, you can both thank me later.
The " 
" didn’t soften the blow?
Baron/Clas, you can both thank me later.
You were supposed to ask for the photo WITHOUT mentioning me. And btw I don’t know if Clas has a split personality but Clas and Baron are the same person.
When either of them WIN an IM…I would be more than willing to provide such a picture. Or more. How’s that for motivation?
I’ve already started training again
Hey Bjorn, maybe you should’ve checked out Fireluv’s tips page before you raced;-)
http://www.fireluv.com/triathlon/racetips.htm
And now you’re telling me! If only I had known before the race
Screw that ! Set your plan, play to your advantages and stick with it. Holding back on the bike never guarantees the best run to achieve the same deficit. As it was 18mins is damn impressive and was a real gamble for the rest of the field to let him have that much. I agree with everyone else that with more race experience I seriously doubt the field will let him get away with that too often ! Roll on Hawaii '04 !!!
Bjorn has a breif race report posted over at Cervelo: