TRI China

This year the world will be watching triathlon not from an Ironman coverage, come this November but from an Olympic venue in just a few days. The women's competition can be seen Sunday night on NBC while the men will have to wait a couple of days to get their turn. To understand the nuances of this race here's my preview and predictions...

Olympic distance racing... This is very different than what you think about triathlon. Most people think Ironman; a grueling event spanning enormous distances. In the Olympic distance the rules are different and the travel much shorter... here's the lowdown. In an Olympic race the swim is 1500 meters (shy of the 3800 or 2.4 miles of Ironman) the bike is 40 kilometers (not 180K or 112 miles) and the run is a scant 10K (or 6.2 miles - far short of a marathon). Also, to be noted: All other racing in triathlon you can not draft or ride in pack on the bike; ala, Tour de France! In Oly distance racing you can!

So with all of this, you're probably thinking, "Wow, Olympic distance racing is a lot easier. Dan must really be a stud!" Well, not so fast bucko!

In Ironman you really are racing against yourself and it's limits. Clearly the Olympic distance race is suited for racing against your competition. In Olympic racing there is much more strategy and team dynamics. It forces you to be good at all three disciplines. If you don't exit the water with the lead group... you can kiss your chance of winning goodbye. However, in the Ironman you can be a mediocre swimmer and catch everyone on the bike if you've got the legs. Yet in an Olympic race you can sit in the pack as an average cyclist and tear the legs off everyone else with a blistering run because you got to take it easy (that's never me by the way)!

I would love to see the American hopefuls win. But I think the Aussies will dominate. The Olympic distance is their specialty. But keep your eye on Jarrod Shoemaker and Sarah Haskins as my picks for top US man and woman to snap the tape. My prediction for overall will be Emma Snowsill of Australia on the ladies side while dominant Javier Gomez of Spain to take the gold for the men. Who knows, four years ago there were big upsets in Athens and who's to say it can't be done by the Americans in China?

Go Team USA!

Comments

[Nick]

Hi Dan,
I think you should have differentiated between draft-legal, ITU/World Cup style Olympic distance racing and the more common (certainly in the US) non draft-legal Olympic distance racing. Most races at this distance are non-drafting, time trial style events, like Ironman, just shorter in distance.

[mereimage]

Nick agreed... at the age group level, which is the majority of the field, the race continues to be non-draft. My context was in view of what people would be watching but you make a good point.

thanks

[John Lynch]

Dan - Did you watch what happened in Vancouver at the World Championships this year or what happened in the heat of Des Moines 2007 at the ITU World Cup?

Don't count USA out. If Sarah Haskins & Laura Bennett get away on the bike, anything can happen. The US women not only have the best swimmers, Sarah Haskins is hands down the best biker of the bunch. If she gets a gap, it will be anybody's race.

Either way, it is going to be exciting to watch. Let's go USA!!!!

J.Lynch
Dad, Sponsor, Athlete & Business Owner
http://www.ShowMeCables.com

[dan perkins]

John, Yes... if Laura comes off the bike up front my nod goes her way and if Sarah powers up like she did in Vancouver I'd love to see a chute run down as exciting... of course with Sarah winning!