Dragging this across (from the 2024 thread)
“what SC athletes will be racing T100 next year?”
GTB
Derron
Duffy
Spivey
Knibb
maybe Loevseth
are the current SC WPROs I expect to be racing T100 next year. Who else?
I think just dragging (on contract) a top 20 SC athlete straight into T100 is a lottery: they need to prove themselves (and demo they deserve wildcards)
I assume Blummenfelt will get offered and take a ‘hot shot’ contract. I’d give one to Iden too. Luis is sure to get one and of the Olympic FRA team maybe Bergère too (he is TQ so we’ll see him there). They can’t give one to all 3; or can they?
Wilde a ‘hot shot’ for sure. Think there’s too much competition for contracts to offer Yee one. And surely Beaugrand, Potter and Tertsch will stay SC. Lindemann?
Geens and Van Riel are shoe ins (one gold, one as a 11-16 on ranking).
If Brownlee senior doesn’t make top 10, he’ll get an ‘on ranking’ one too (#14). Can’t see Brownlee junior being included. He needs to go and earn his spurs in MD races. He was all in for Paris and after non-selection not unreasonably has concentrated on other stuff (wedding).
“mid pack ITU finishes [are] dominating T100”
Is Knibb mid-pack ITU? Is Gentle? Is Derron? Is Duffy? I think not.
Think it harsh to call Van Riel mid-pack ITU btw (#4 in Tokyo and #2 in WTCS 2021 Final). Same for Geens: #3 2022 Grand Final (beating Yee) and consistent top 6 in multiple SC events every season.
You say “brutally honest”: I’d say erroneous: Van Riel and Geens have been top tier, just not this year.
You’re welcome.