Yep. I listened to Chelsea and Rinny and thought they would be a fantastic IM team. But Jan and Vicky just sound…next level professionally. And Jack is figuring it out…
If she does she ought to wear a ski mask because she’s been stealing PTO money……
Another one who was next level when he did some consultant commentating was Ali Brownlee (Super League a few years ago). Which is quite in contrast to his interviews which are quite mellow (he doesn’t give much in them often). But like Jan he was next level when it comes to criticizing others LOL (or just tell it like it is).
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Sam Laidlow has announced he is out as well.
I think most of those who did Kona/Nice just want the season to be over.
Hats off to KM who seems to have boundless energy travelling the world and giving top class performances each time except maybe for Ibiza
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Yes. Have to say I don’t think it’s professional to delay pulling out till the day athletes have to arrive in Dubai for the Grand Final. What has changed in the last few days? He travelled anyway? I assess he has calculated that he will still finish top 10 and get a gold contract (Perhaps HE could be a great addition to the commentary team, with a series of cameos.
Koolhaas is top of the Waiting List: I hope he was tipped off and has been able to prepare physically and logistically. Stepniak is next.
Intriguingly Geens is #3 on that list. The PTO have previous here. Derron was right down the Waiting List for Las Vegas (NB after a #2 in Ibiza) and by delaying the announcement of Sodaro’s DNS there none of those above Derron could get there in time, though magically Derron could.
Odds on that Geens will be Number 23 come Sunday (just annoyed I didn’t imagine this ‘late withdrawal’ wheeze would be wheeled out again). At least with the World Tri / PTO collaboration we have some visibility of this.
Geens socials show him and family heading to Australia today for their big move. Maybe a stopover in Dubai could work.
Less likely then, but racing Dubai would mean a serious payday for Geens with a podium finish:
(all deltas, ie as opposed to not racing)
Race prize money = $12k
Series prize money = $30k
PTO Ranking EoY bonus = $40k
more than he’s gained in prize money so far this year by a multiple!
and likely a gold contract for next year (with a podium finish) = $30k (also delta, expect the gold contracts are worth more than the 11-16 contracts (if PTO follows the 2024 pattern)).
Koolhaas has finished for the season.
Lucy CB just announced that she’s doing commentary - should be good at that too. Sucks that she just couldn’t give the series a true go this year - but she’s healthy again. Interesting to see what she does for next year.
My, it will be busy in that booth. Kelly, Frodeno and Holland and
Sodaro
Laidlow
LCB
LCB’s comments at T2 in IMWC Nice during the bike were insightful (after she’d DNSd the day before).
She chose to race IM Nice in June to validate (and miss San Francisco) and get her start in the IMWC in September. She chose not to give the T100 “a true go this year”. Do choices ‘suck’?
Sucks for me as a fan.
As part of their season long narrative maybe the T100 wants to highlight how they took all the best athletes for the year and managed to sideline their plans one way or another!
Eh, I think a lot of those athletes fell victim to their own poor planning and tried to race too much.
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^^^^This.
So many races in each series, a long season, and a really strong temptation to overdo it.
I’m not sure how long T100 will be around, so they should enjoy the embarrassment of riches, but be smart enough to not destroy themselves.
Not t100 fault some athletes wanted a piece of every $$ out there. Many were lucky the number of series race was shortened. Hopefully there will be more sense shown by those next season.
A system is what a system produces. T100 set out for a season narrative and this is what we have. Is what it is.
There will probably be 10 PTO races next week. At least that is what they promised
So how many races will contracted athletes be asked to do? If it remains 5 + grand finals , it reasonable
Anything more will be tough for those who want to do IMWC and Roth and probably have to qualify or validate!
I wish there was a real incentive & punishment scheme for the T100, rather than participation based. I know there’s a mix atm, but I wish it was skewed more towards the variable outcomes.
Since when do we punish athletes unable to race?
The calendar is simply too big now and a lot of athletes are spent or injured. Athletes need to look after themselves physically and mentally.