Was the triangular shaped swim course a factor?
No, I don’t believe so. I think the ITU is just trying to find ways to get away from the mayhem we usually find at the first buoy.
That said, the tide definitely was a factor. There was a strong current coming in from left to right for the men’s race.
What’s also interesting when it comes to the swim is how the bib numbers affect the positioning of athletes at the start line, and that becomes a big factor.
A new strategy from Jo Brownlee?
I think what we saw is a Jonathan Brownlee able to do what only Alistair had been able to do in the past.
We were witnesses to a Jonathan Brownlee in top form, imposing his will on the bike and following it up with a strong run. Very few triathletes have been able to do this in the past, to put this type of race together.
He showed that he can execute in this scenario whether his brother is there or not.
For the athletes that have the chance to be with him on the bike, it’s in their best interest to work hard because the fewer there are in T2, the better it is. However, in Gold Coast, we saw that those who were with him do not have the same strength endurance as he does and they payed the price on the run. That can change quickly though.
I can’t say I’m very surprised by the way things played out. The opportunity is there for everyone who feels they can swim with the leaders. It always comes back to the same thing : a triathlon will be won on the run, but it can be lost on the swim and bike.
With Spain’s special selection criterias (world rankings or victor in Rio or Baku), the Spaniards are not racing as a team. Is that not a big disadvantage?
We’re dealing with a very strong Team Spain, but the goals of every athlete differ greatly and none have the same past. We’ll have to see how things play out in the next year. In the end though, Team Spain is pretty stacked, much in the same was as the American women’s team. When the stakes get higher, we’ll see who managed the situation the best. For the time being, there’s still plenty of time.
Is the hierarchy set in stone?
I’ve never doubted the athletes ability to continually make the sport evolve.
I’d say that there are no surprises. This is the logical continuation of past seasons. The best swimmers don’t want the weaker swimmers to have the share of the glory.
I think the sport will continue to grow, cause I have the feeling that things will get even tighter near the front at the start of the races.
Some others athletes including the French are strong swimmers and have the ability to swim at the front of the pack. The reward could be huge because on the one hand they’ll have the opportunity to start the run ahead of guys like Mola and Murray and on the other hand, recent history shows that the usual winners of years past are not unbeatable. What we’re seeing from the « leaders » athletes is inspiring really because they don’t hesitate to put all of their eggs in one basket, going for the win.. risking sometimes everything for the top step of the podium.
That said, the weaker swimmers shouldn’t necessarily be counted out.
In the end, it’s a constant physical and psychological battle. Each have different interests. The one thing that’s for sure is that in order to win, the work has to be put in in training, on an everyday basis. The only controllable aspect of this sport is one’s own form, preparation and ability to get the most out of all situations.
We can expect to see even more intensity on the swim and bike as in years past.
Should an athlete take 1 step backwards to take 2 steps forwards?
I’ve spoken at length about this in the past. The reality is that the race calendar doesn’t give the athletes much to play with when it comes to reaching ‘peak form’.
Performance is not only about physical training. You have to be able to manage the schedule, racing events and events while building your physical form.
We are OLYMPIC triathletes. The ultimate goal will always be this one day race, but to be prepared for it, you have to know the tricks of the trade and you must train and prepare in function of this.
I’m not saying you have to race every event, but it becomes harder to score olympic points when you’re aiming to perform only a few time per year. Everyone has their own strategy wether it be in WTS or WC.
Management of expectations can be a problem for a lot of athletes, but at the end of the day, if you’re goal is to perform at the Olympic Games, with all the pressure that comes with it, you have to be well rounded, both in and out of triathlon.
In the women’s field, much is being made of the American domination. Do you think it will last?
Yes. Gwen Jorgenssen is in a class of her own, but her teammates are keeping her honest. They’ve all been developed from a talent identification program that’s been around for a while. The potential is definitely there. Being successful in a given sport is all about the development (training + environment) of an athlete and their ability to learn. At the end of the day, we are all human, and there isn’t very much that differs us to our peers when it comes to our physical and physiological aptitudes. The Americans, like other nations for that matter, identify individuals with high potential at a very early age. They have the funding and human ressources to develop them. After that, it’s up to the athlete.