Wurf took the lead on the bike and held off some some solid runners. Tim Don who weighs almost “nothing” had a really awesome ride too on the hilly Cannes course and came into T2 not far from Wurf. Congrats to both of these guys:
Men
Cameron Wurf (AUS) 4:24:46 S 22:55 T1 1:32 B 3:00:22 T2 1:15 R 58:40
Tim Don (GBR) 4:26:45 S 21:40 T1 1:10 B 3:02:14 T2 1:23 R 1:00:16
Phillip Koutny (SUI) 4:28:49 S 22:37 T1 1:32 B 3:05:09 T2 1:29 R 58:00
Sam Laidlow (FRA) 4:31:26 S 20:34 T1 1:18 B 3:06:13 T2 1:05 R 1:02:14
It was a bike heavy course and Wurfs run was nothing special. A lot of guys were faster and the best runners weren’t even there. Still a very good effort but I still have my doubts if he can compete on regular distances against the worlds elite.
It was a bike heavy course and Wurfs run was nothing special. A lot of guys were faster and the best runners weren’t even there. Still a very good effort but I still have my doubts if he can compete on regular distances against the worlds elite.
I guess if you want to dismiss Tim Don at 7:40 for the full IM distance as non elite, then that’s your choice:
It was a bike heavy course and Wurfs run was nothing special. A lot of guys were faster and the best runners weren’t even there. Still a very good effort but I still have my doubts if he can compete on regular distances against the worlds elite.
I guess if you want to dismiss Tim Don at 7:40 for the full IM distance as non elite, then that’s your choice:
Bottom line he beat Don (and outran him, after, perhaps, Tim went too deep to the well on the bike).
Tim had the slowest run in the top 10, Wurf had the second slowest. Butterfield outran Wurf by 2.5 minutes. I would hold off before I proclaim that Wurf has figured the run out. Tim Don’s bike relative to Wurfs is far more impressive than Wurfs run IMO.
I really like Tim Don and his recovery from what looked like a career ending injury has been absolutely amazing. That being said, he has not quite shown that he is back to the “elite†form that he was in 2017 yet. If anything I think he looks great in this race. Wurf was 9th at Kona and Don was 35 minutes back in 36th place
As for Wurf. I personally don’t think he’s a solid podium threat for Kona yet. Bozzone (who I think was coming off an injury) ran him down at Western Australia from ~5 minutes back. That being said, he continues to improve and will play a factor in Kona for sure. It’ll be interesting if anyone can hang on with him on the bike to gap the main pack. And if slows down ‘lets’ people stay with him so he can work with them as well as save some more for the run. But lots of stuff between now an October so no reason to get ahead of ourselves and not enjoy the races until then
Was barely 73F. Wurfy’s best runs all happen in non-Kona like conditions. If wants to win at Kona he needs to race somewhere that is hot and humid with a good performance. Putting up good performances in great conditions is irrelevant.
Also, Don…came back from a life altering crash, a never gonna be the same type event. He’s 41.
Wurf is 35. Give me a freakin’ break with these titles.
Was barely 73F. Wurfy’s best runs all happen in non-Kona like conditions. If wants to win at Kona he needs to race somewhere that is hot and humid with a good performance. Putting up good performances in great conditions is irrelevant.
Also, Don…came back from a life altering crash, a never gonna be the same type event. He’s 41.
Wurf is 35. Give me a freakin’ break with these titles.
I never said anything about Kona. Don had a great bike (look how much faster Don was vs Tyler Butterfield) and Cam held Don off during the run. Both had a great day
I guess from my side, it was exciting to see both have a good day.
What was really interesting was that Don at 140 lbs when the bike course gets really hilly (watts per kilo course) he can basically bike with the Kona course record holder. When its a watt/CdA course like Kona, Don is less of a bike threat (he’s actually off the back in Kona). But there is a cost to drilling the bike and Tim looks like he had a sub par run even given his crash/recovery. He’s had better runs since the crash if I recall.
wurf will win kona. He is more driven than most kona pros
Wurf would need a crazy windy day like the Stadler style Kona 2004 day when even Peter Reid was barely 5 hours. Wurf literally needs 25 minutes at T2 on Lange. This can only happen on a crazy windy day when the lightweights get blown all over the place. Or Wurf’s run gets to 2:50 in Kona. If he can run 2:50 he can win on most days in Kona regardless of how little wind there is.
wurf will win kona. He is more driven than most kona pros
Wurf would need a crazy windy day like the Stadler style Kona 2004 day when even Peter Reid was barely 5 hours. Wurf literally needs 25 minutes at T2 on Lange. This can only happen on a crazy windy day when the lightweights get blown all over the place. Or Wurf’s run gets to 2:50 in Kona. If he can run 2:50 he can win on most days in Kona regardless of how little wind there is.
I’m going in on the Wurf bandwagon for Kona too. He’ll always be “in†the race with his swim and bike, but a few years to work in the run and I think he has his day. That’s assuming no burnout or injury, but Wurf seems to enjoy being the heel in the tri world, and I think he enjoys it. Hope he commits many future years.
I don’t have anything against bike heavy triathlons if that’s what you’re implying.
I’m just saying it’s not a surprise that this kind of format suits someone like Wurf. I just don’t think it’s indicative of him winning Kona or duking it out with the real runners out there.
Breaking news! Ex cyclist wins bike heavy triathlon.
As opposed to what, some 30 foot per mile snooze fest or draft fest?
Like bowling with the gutter guards in place.
Not being able to do 22mph on 200w isn’t fun? Poor baby.