Here’s one
Who gets more eyes ?
Who finishes ahead ?
Lionel or Johnny ?
Here’s one
Who gets more eyes ?
Who finishes ahead ?
Lionel or Johnny ?
Mark Matthews pretty much said on the last PT podcast that Kat would be doing T100 next year.
For sure there will be exceptions.
But a couple of people that have won WC said you have to focus on WC to win it.
Does she think otherwise and she can win it anyway ?
Soes she not think she can win it, so let’s collect the $ ?
We’ll see. I know no more than you. This is my guess.
It goes like this:
The PTO offer T100 contracts to athletes: they don’t “turn athletes down”.
These offers will include (sticking to men) the top 10 in the T100 rankings (less Brownlee major), various others (see suggestions in posts above but to include Geens, Noodt, Laidlow and Nieschlag) and four hot shots. I expect the latter to include both Norges (who have indicated ‘no’) Bergere, Wilde and Luis. I think Stornes (who is MD proven) has a chance if Blu/Iden say ‘no’.
Like @dfru I do not expect Brownlee minor (superb SC palmares notwithstanding) to be offered one. The little evidence we have is that he would not prosper at MD until he’s had time to develop: really not worth risking a full year contract on.
If you judge the PTO Ranking system “weird”, which athletes (outside the top 25) do you think are wrongly graded?
Consider that “hot shots” doesn’t meant what anyone thinks it means. It means throw a contract at a big name and hope they accept. Otherwise the retirees that they call “hot shots” would not have been offered them. So in reality, both Blummenfelt and Iden would be at the top of the list for Moritz and Co to sign.
I suggest the quality of the 2024 “hot shots” was 75% excellent and to call them “retirees” is inaccurate.
Bogen (70.3WC, did well)
Gomez (multiple SC WC, injuries, retirement)
Brownlee (2 x OlyChamp et alia, did well)
Van Riel (#4 in Tokyo, did well)
Duffy (OlyChamp, did well)
Spivey (OlyMTRSilver to be, showed 2025 promise)
Byram (achieved #6 in T100 2024!)
Watkinson (average, with injuries)
YMMV
Just to clarify the 3 lads I mentioned have earned their contracts fair and square, just using them as an example of not bringing much star power and probably won’t be regularly challenging for podium.
To my knowledge Jonny has done no more than 2 MD races a couple of years ago and was terrible, I wouldn’t be writing him off completely based on this though (im actually more concerned about his ‘enjoy the rest of his career’ comments.
I don’t know why Lionel got brought into the conversation (this is ST though!) but he’s another who brings star power and should get a contract if he wants one.
T100 are constantly making stories up about nothing on social media, whoever said Alistair never promoted T100 can’t be on Facebook, Insta or youtube where they was using Alistair loads to promote, your Nieslags and Noodts aren’t going to bring the clicks that Jonny will.
This is where the line becomes muddied, “the best triathletes in the world” unless they havent had the chance to build a big following yet, then we don’t want them. Would we really rather see potentisl has beens who bring the clicks rather than lesser names thay likely can beat them?
I think the answer is you need both, anyway the ‘has been’ came a very respectable 5th in his last race (he beat Luis who no one seems to have an issue with giving a contract to) and his has been older brother came 3rd!
Not actually meaning JB as the has been, more some of the older long course guys. Johnny hasnt showed his metal in longer stuff yet though, Louis has, as have other short course guys.
They should focus on the best racing - not just the best triathletes
Adding some shorter distance races during the season would be good as other athletes might perform better. Also a few shorter races might help slow down the attrition rate. One of the best races this year was the Olympic distance non drafting race in Challenge Beijing- Noosa tri is another good event. No need the fixed distances - each venue is different to begin with. Focus on good racing and courses and distances that deliver the best race dynamics (and coverage).
It will be an interesting change but I think so much effort and money have been poured into the T100 branding that it will be here to stay for a while before they will consider moving into another distance
I quite like the T100 branding and concept as it is a differentiator
T100 is good middle ground for short course and long course. There are conti cups, world cups and wtcs for anyone wanting to race shorter.
I like this idea. Change it up a bit. Every venue isn’t well suited for longer races, and honestly I’m not thrilled at watching 80km of cycling on a 10 lap course.
I also like the idea of the distances not being “standard”. Imagine if LCB could show up to a race where there’s still a 2km swim but only a 15km run for example. Or Sam Long showing up to a race where the swim is only 750m-1km but with an 80km bike course.
I think this would shake up the standings way more with more people in contention and would make any grand final far more interesting.
Different distances would definitely be a plus. I’d like it even better if the athletes didn’t know the race distance until the morning of the race, so if they thought it wouldn’t be a good course for them they couldn’t skip the race. I’m thinking something like races could be 1-2K swim 40-80K bike 15-30K run.
As long as always adds up to 100k think it is a great spicy idea IMHO
Now you’re turning it into superleague why not give stupid short chutes and shit… come on, when you start changing leg distances dramatically then the organisers can taylor it to suit a fave and rig the whole thing. Keep it honest, keep it balanced.
The distances should absolutely be switched up to suit the best course the T100 can get access to, but it shouldn’t be a surprise on race day. This sport already favors some athletes over others and this series in particular favors athletes who can perform in the heat. There’s nothing balanced about this sport or this series.
They were originally supposed to have full long course races after the first year of the tour…and then we got here.
They are too boring to watch. If anything, the races should be shorter.