Wildflower Predictions!

Triathlon Forum
1

Here is ze male pro list:

Male
22 Andersson Bj”rn Sweden 25 M
10 Beke Rutger Belgium 26 M
12 Bell Luke San Diego 25 M
30 Bolton Ryan Scottsdale 31 M
87 Burgan Erik Carlsbad 29 M
88 Butts Terry Lafayette 34 M
24 Clark Matthew Scottsdale 24 M
86 Classen Kerry Bend 31 M
42 Colting Jonas Sweden 30 M
48 Contreras Billy Oro Valley 30 M
26 Cupitt Michael Australia 22 M
50 Danahy Kevin Cardiff 28 M
91 Dixon Matthew Manhattan Beach 30 M
52 Dresler Dennis Carlsbad 34 M
54 Elliot Lewis Scottsdale 23 M
56 Evans Tom Canada 35 M
38 Guthrie Casey Australia 20 M
60 Harley Ben Australia 22 M
62 Koenig John Phoenix 34 M
63 Krause Greg Denver 26 M
36 Lavelle Brian Cupertino 29 M
34 Lees Marc Scottsdale 31 M
97 Lieto Chris Danville 32 M
18 Lieto Chris Moraga 31 M
20 Lieto Matt Danville 25 M
64 Lorenzen Brent Irvine 32 M
90 Lourens Deon Encinitas 38 M
65 Luchinske Tim Lafayette 32 M
66 Maher Maurice Canada 31 M
67 Manor Dennis Reno 28 M
96 Martin Andy Bend 29 M
6 McCormack Chris Australia 31 M
32 McCutcheon Murray Canada 29 M
68 McKenzie Luke Scottsdale 22 M
70 Middaugh Josiah Vail 25 M
71 Moffatt Chris Boulder 25 M
89 Murphy James Los Angeles 35 M
72 Neill Mike Canada 32 M
95 Plata Victor San Luis Obispo 31 M
16 Reid Peter Canada 34 M
74 Reid David Santa Cruz 27 M
75 Remaly Greg San Luis Obispo 23 M
77 Rodic Nenad Reno 33 M
93 Sanders Joe San Jose 36 M
78 Saraceno Matthew San Luis Obispo 30 M
79 Scanderbeg Dan “Dano” La Jolla 26 M
80 Seeley Matt Polson 33 M
92 Sheeper Tim Menlo Park 40 M
82 Thompson David St. Paul 26 M
** 99 Tinley Scott Del Mar 45 M**
4 Walton Craig Australia 28 M
2 Widoff Cameron Boulder 34 M
84 Young Scott Reno 37 M
85 Ziesler Sebe Los Gatos 28 M

I think it’s gonna be a fight for the top between the following:

Bjorn, Luke Bell (if anything he’s my pick), Walton and McCormack.

Peter Reid is never strong at this time of the season, so I don’t think he’ll be too much of a factor. Beke, maybe, he’s a longshot.

Finally:

  1. Luke Bell

  2. McCormack

  3. Bjorn Andersson

  4. Craig Walton

  5. Jonas Colting

  6. Peter Reid

2

Super longshot: Andy Martin?

Just going off his second place finish to Deboom at WTH.

3

I’ve got to give props to Cam Widoff. He can put together some great Wildflower performances and I’ve got him gunning for at least top 5 if not top 3.

I think it’ll turn out like this: Luke Bell - he is an awesome up & comer McCormack Walton Widoff Bjorn - heard he was injured at WTH and still recovering - not sure if he in top form Chris Lieto Peter Reid Jonas Colting

4

It will be interesting to see how Victor Plata does.

Macca runs down Walton(again) for the win.

5

I’m still saying Luke Bell > Macca. That guy is just so fast.

I’m for Luke + Bjorn.

6

My list is

  1. Craig Walton

  2. Macca

  3. Luke Bell

  4. Peter Reid

These can change depending on the swim. If Walton leads out the swim, then he takes it. I liked reading Plata 100 day diary and all, but ITU bikers do not fair well outside of a draft. Therefore strong bikers like Macca and Walton can put time on any pursuers.

**RANT **–>I do not like Widoff’s attitude. I saw him at last years Wildflower pushing Age Groupers women and me out of the way. He was obnoxious and too aggressive. It is not the Age Groupers fault he ALWAYS gets a drafting penalty.

Jimmy S.

7

is lessing not racing then? If he is, I put him 2nd, and bump everyone down one.

  1. mccormack - can’t go wrong with a multiple winner

  2. walton - assuming st a’s didn’t take too much out of him

  3. beke - first big race of the year - should be fresh

  4. widoff - another multiple winner

  5. luke bell - has had good early season form

  6. chris lieto - hasn’t raced this year (???) should be fresh

  7. peter reid - duh

  8. greg remaly - if he is healthy - dark horse

  9. andersson

  10. tim luchinske

8
  1. beke - first big race of the year - should be fresh

He raced 1/2 IM Cali, finishing 3rd.
.

9

plata has the 2nd olympic qualifier the weekend after this, so i am surprised he is even competing, and i highly doubt he will be going hard
.

10

in that case, bump in down to 6th. not that i am taking this too seriously…

11

"6) chris lieto - hasn’t raced this year (???) should be fresh "

He also raced at IMCA… and was looking a little chubby.

I’m thinking Walton will win. He tore up St A last week, must be doing a ton of speed work. Always bet on a Oly athlete vs a IM athlete in a half IM.

  1. Walton

  2. Bell

  3. Macca

12

"6) chris lieto - hasn’t raced this year (???) should be fresh "

He also raced at IMCA… and was looking a little chubby.

I believe that was his brother, Matt Lieto. He also races pro.

13

then take off lieto from my list…and on 2nd thought, why should i not have walton first? 1) he has been on fire for over a year now 2) he won convincingly the past couple races this year, showing great speed 3) he’s been training for ironman brazil, so he shouldn’t have a problem with endurance.

14

Victor is going to only take the swim out hard. The bike will be just a training ride. Not sure he’ll do the run. He goes every year to spectate. Here’s what he said last night.

I think it will be a lot of fun. Wildflower always charges my batteries and reminds me why I love the sport.<<

Chris Lieto raced the sprint race I did a couple of weeks ago and looked pretty good. Rumor has it that Bjorn is REALLY fit.

Should be a great race!
clm

15

I think it’s fairly obvious as to who I will be rooting for! :wink:

16

I haven’t followed the sport long enough to have an opinion, but I heard from Ryan Bolton’s coach (Joe Friel) that they are going for Kona this year, so while I don’t think this is a A race for Ryan, You should probably keep an eye on him this year. Joe thinks if nothing else Ryan can break the Kona run record.

17

Wow! I’m shocked nobody has mentioned the potential pairing of Walton and Bjorn on the swim and bike. Sharing company will put those two so far out front at T2 they will be in a different time zone.

That is just too good of opportunity for both of them, not to take advantage of. 1-2. The runners can fight over 3rd. JMHO.

18

walton is the best in the sport in the swim and the bike, at least in olympic distance, and no one has proven that they can stick with him in the swim and then onto the bike. if bjorn wants to TRY to stay with walton or catch him early in the bike, he will have to go out of his zone, something i don’t think he wants to do. i don’t see this strategy playing out. walton will definitely have a lead heading onto the bike, the questions is if he will be caught the rest of the way. imho, he won’t be caught on the bike, and only maybe on the run.

19

Walton is a better swimmer, Bjorn is a better biker. I believe Walton is going to lead the field by around 30 seconds, while Bjorn is only going to be 10 seconds off (ie leading the field by 20 seconds). They’ll ride together and then duel for the 2nd or 3rd spot while Luke Bell cruises for victory.

20

I think you’ll be surprised how much time Bjorn and Waldo spend in the same vicinity at Wildflower. Just my opinion, but I think you underestimate Bjorns swim/bike. Didn’t he get 3rd there last year behind DeBoom and Larsen?