Here’s a new editorial about Normann Stadler’s win in Kona this year. I’d be interested in your thoughts:
I liked it. I was surprised that there was no mention of Faris’ win last year, though…didn’t he pretty much do the same thing?
Spot
Well, there was mention of it by implication…
I talked about Stadler’s flat and what may have happened had he not flatted.
Faris’ win was a great performance and I was glad to see him win. It was a worthy victory and he is a worthy athlete in my opinion. I didn’t want to take any thunder from Faris’s win by directly implying that it was granted by Stadler’s misfortune in 2005. I figured I’d let the reader draw their conclusions…
Thank you for reading.
That’s a good piece, Tom. Nicely encapsulating the essence of the race that we all watched so avidly back in October. To go off at a slight tangent but still on topic; when can we expect to see your review of the Kalibur on your website?
The Kalibur reveiw is ready to go up at 11:00 A.M. our time (GMT + 5?) tomorrow. I almost got the darn thing up this morning but ran out of time…
Good to hear from you!
I really liked it, very well written. Youre introduction is perfect.
GMT -6 at the moment, Tom. I look forward to reading your findings. How are you guys coping with the weather change from Thailand? I did have a smile to myself when I saw your photos from the hospital, just imagining you capturing the stitching. Good scoop, Tom.
Roger that…that’s completely understandable. I think next year’s 3-way battle between Faris, Macca, and Normann will be pretty good…
Spot
Thanks for a well written article with a lot of insight into Norman Stadler and his Kona race.
I mentioned on ST after Kona that I was surprised at how most, if not everyone, was not giving Normann proper respect for what he accomplished. I agree with all of that. Thanks for sharing that. Steve
Macca and Stadler- but mostly Macca- has set up one of the most incindiary (sp) battles in Ironman history. I hope they both shop up to the line healthy so Macca can get a reality check.
There were two additional paragraphs in the original adit of the editorial about the Macca/Stadler drama but I pulled them this morning since I thought they took the focus away from Stadler’s wonderful performance. I wanted to showcase what Stadler did, not sensationalize the conflict Macca largely created with his rhetoric after the race in the media.
That is another story altogether…
Not sure why everyone feels the need to take something away from Peter Reid and especially Tim DeBoom. They both won the race, as many times or more than Stadler and have much more impressive overall race resumes.
If the run was second and the bike was last would Normann try to lead the marathon? No, he’d run in a pack limiting his losses at the discipline in which he is weaker and then attack when he is stronger. Why is Normann’s way so much more noble as everyone likes to claim it is?
I like Normann a lot, but I’ll bet he doesn’t win Hawaii again. The swim conditions limited his losses there and he swam well for himself. You could see at the end of his run he was paying for his ride, had the conditions been more typical I think he would have paid more and not been able to hang on.
Like I said, my issue is with people claiming this is a so much better way to win. Hammer the bike and then survive the run…
In a reply to your last comment, Normann “created the conflict with his rhetoric” and then Macca responded.
I seriously doubt Macca gets a “reality check” next year, at least not from Normann.
“If the run was second and the bike was last would Normann try to lead the marathon? No, he’d run in a pack limiting his losses at the discipline in which he is weaker and then attack when he is stronger.”
Yes Sir, My Good Man, but her is the thing- The run is not second and the bike last.
Be that as it may I do acknowledge what you say about Stadler’s modus operandi, and suggest that there could be cannons levelled at Macca’s race philosophy as well.
I, Sir, am mostly a bike rider. As my only tool is a hammer then I see the world as a nail.
And, I might add My Good Fellow, should Stadler face Macca again I wager he will indeed emerge the better man.
Im ready for the Stadler, Faris, Macca race next year…Should be three people in their prime!!!
You’re right, and that’s always the reply “The run is not second and the bike last.”
I just don’t get why if you’re a good cyclist then you are courageous for surviving amongst the better runners, but if you are a good runner you are a wimpy wheel sucker for surviving amongst the better cyclists.
You are a cyclist, I am a runner…hence, our different outlooks.
Now, My Good Fellow, what are we going to wager? Assuming they both come to the line healthy, I got Macca, you Normann, what’s our wager? I am 100% serious, you said you’d wager, so let’s make it fun!!!
Hello Tom,
Thanks!
I liked the article … well written.
Cheers,
Neal
I have a question and a comment.
Question:
Can anyone tell me what Normanns bike splits were before he flatted in 05? Was he on a similar pace? If i remember correctly the conditions were better than they were the year before.
Comment:
I am a huge fan of Normann and i have heard more than one person who raced on that day agree with Normann and Faris on the Macca issue but im not sure why the winner of the race allowed a petty argument be the only blemish on an otherwise sterling performance. Hearing Macca talk in the past weeks makes me believe Normanns claims even more because there is no better indicator of the truth than when the accused feels the need to deny it in every way possible rather than saying “thats so stupid its not worth talking about”.
Macca - reality check — Please…It took Norman to PR in all three just to hold him off. Without Macca chasing him down it would not have been the epic battle. Not trying to take anything away from Sadler’s fantastic win but you are way off base regarding Macca and to some degree Faris and even Peter Reid. You are off about the after race comments as well but that is to be expected given the bias you present towards Stadler in your editorial.
Surely you would agree that Macca, not Stadler, is one of the most accomplished all-around triathletes the world has seen since the likes of Greg Welch and Mark Allen?
Macca will win next year and I would wager that most former retire champions, such as Mark Allen, will pick him and not Norman.