Everyone has a different definition of what LC and MD are
So maybe I should have used the term most of the established Ironman folks have given the T100 a pass
thats middle distance as per the offical definition of the world governing body in their rulebook
Monty - most of the best “long distance folks” have opted out of T100. I’ll list a “few ironman athletes” for you:
Blummenfelt
Ditlev
Lange
RvB
Laidlow
Sanders
Iden
Philipp
Haug
Matthews
Sodaro
Are these "ironman athletes that are not so good at anything shorter than a full ironman"? Nearly all (except Lange) are multiple 70.3WC and 100km race winners and podia.
Would their racing T100 “give no benefit to the fans”? BS
Every named athlete was offered a 2025 T100 contract (I believe): they each chose the option which was most beneficial to themself, on balance.
I am not a forum moderator but please can we not have the “what does long distance mean” or “what does long course mean” discussion here for the umpteenth time…
I will heroically refrain from stating my position on these critical matters to set an example 
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Middle Distance - anything longer than a 40k but shorter than and Ironman.
Long Course - Ironman and longer.
This is what we call settled law, one would have thought.
Visser dropped out and DNF’d half way through the IMSA run, in #6 iirc. Assume saving herself for Singapore.
Sanchez and MvR (both #2) went very well and have plenty of time (not) to recover for fun in the hot humidity of Singapore and and the clear blue water.
Except that’s not at all correct. The LD Worlds have historically taken place over the old Nice distance (4k swim, 120k bike, 30k run) for example.
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They also don’t even include 70.3 in the chart.
Also, not sure what races are “Middle.”
Middle is everything between standard and long lol
anyway the key thing is t100 can try to brainwash people that t 100 is long distance but it’s not .
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Also odd to not call “standard” the olympic distance.
Well, “long course” worlds is now just T100 grand final. So it’s a middle distance race.
Which in itself is shit as its a closed entry system, there are athletes who could feature well who won’t be given the opportunity to race.
The T100 GF is not the ‘long course worlds’: the T100 winner may not be the winner of the GF.
The start list for the two IRONMAN ‘world championships’ are closed entry on that basis: athletes have to qualify by previous success (in an IM or 70.3 respectively). Given the T100 format has a limited number in each race, including the GF, how would you arrange things differently?
Any athlete “who could feature well” either has a contract or was offered a contract to race the T100 Tour. Plenty of wildcards will be offered so any “athlete who could feature well” will get a chance. And if they seize it, they’ll get another wildcard. Every athlete with a contract will get a start in the GF as will others who have scored well enough in the regular season races.
Please identify any “athlete who could feature well” that you think will not be given the opportunity to race. Beaugrand? Kingma?
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That’s just not true as you don’t know who would feature well ahead of time. It’s a small quibble but accurate; although not super likely to have a major impact.
One can imagine an upstart showing up and qualifying for Kona and then running away with the race before they become a named quantity to be considered by T100.
Whether that’s likely or frequent is a different question but it’s a fair downside of the T100 that it doesn’t allow the possibility for organic upsets the way Ironman does.
Would you call Jannik Schaufler (PTO ranked #69 - not for lack of trying; and World Tri ranked #260) a “named quantity”? PTO #264 ranked Minttu Hukka? #101 ranked Kate Gillespie-Jones?
Kingma absolutely. GTB possibly.
Beaugrand is sticking to SC for now but might be drawn to a T100 race according to her recent interview.
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Me: “Please identify any “athlete who could feature well” that you think will not be given the opportunity to race. Beaugrand? Kingma?”
Kingma was down to race Oceanside, but has withdrawn (no reason shared). I expected her to race well. Thus proven in draft illegal (podium), she would have received a T100 wildcard opportunity in June for sure. Still on the agenda: but it just depends what she wants to do, and whether fit.
GTB was surely offered a T100 contract as a hot shot this year and she’d have been a great addition to the tour.
If Beaugrand asks for an invite the PTO would have her on a T100 start like a shot.
Each of these athletes has the opportunity to race T100 and if successful (effectively) qualify for the T100 GF.
I am not in favour of giving SC athletes wildcards (unless Olympic medallists) until they have shown they can ride a TT bike and run off it. Coldwell did well in London last year: but bear in mind she was a top 10 in SC and known strong biker. Spivey is working at it. We’ll see how Waugh gets on in days few.
Kingma had an injury stopping her from running
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What did Beaugrand say? I am a bit surprised she didn’t go for it this year. Very excited for the adventures of the short distance triathletes in the T100.