Pro field preview for Ironman 2008
October 11th, 2008 by Conrad Stoltz
For what its worth… I’m not an Ironman expert, but I personally know many of the top male contenders from the years of racing short course.
Andy Potts
I trained with Andy at the Olympic Training Center. He arrived fat and unfit - just starting his tri career 2 years after barely missing the US Olympic swimming team. Andy is a great guy, but he had no respect for reputations and limitations. He says he is just here to “see”. Its his 1st Ironman, he will race from the front, and together with a number of very strong cyclists (Larsen, Sinballe, Stadler) they could blow those drafting runners out the water. Andy has a strong head, but he is a big guy, this place is hot and it has reduced great short course champions to rubble. (Simon Lessing, Macca)
Steve Larsen
Steve is a good friend, we raced many times at XTERRA and we live in the same town - Bend, OR. Steve is mentally the toughest competitor I know. He has retired a few years ago, has 5 kids, his own commercial real estate business AND trains for Ironman. This year he is the leanest I have ever seen him, and yes, he did convert to Suttonism this year. Brett Suttons’ training will work well for Steve. 30km track sessions (running) and lots of swimming will make Steve a formidable contender. He could be off the bike 1st.
Ben Sanson
Ben Sanson from France WILL win the swim. Iraced him in the south of France many many times. At the hight of my swimming form i couldnt get closer than 2 minutes to him. (1500m) He was the French record holder for the 1500m short course (25m pool) before converting to tri. We called him “lead foot” the first few years, but he quickly learnt to run. He is an amazingly interesting guy. Speaks Hungarian and American English fluently.
Simon Lessing
I bumped into Simon Lessing at Lava Java and he says he “retired 3 days ago“. So thats 4 days ago now. He currently coaches/helps CEOs to finish IM. Simon always gets to the big money first.
Craig Alexander
photo by Rich Seow
Crowie will swim with the leaders, bike with the runners. He will never work or go near the front and then he’ll hit the run hard. He is a little guy well adapted to heat, and he is definitely on my “winners list”.
Chris McCormack
photo by Rich Cruse
Last years winner. I know Macca well. He is a tough bastard. After learning many a hard lesson her, he finally won last year. One of those hard lessons was” take the sponges out of your shirt for the finish line photo”. He is very charismatic and great at mind games. I thinnk htis year the big group of stong cylists may force the “sit back and wait for the run” group to make some hard decisions.
Normann Stadler
photo by Rich Cruse
This guy is probably the biggest chop you will come across in the sport. He is a good athlete, but he is cocky, arrogant, will throw his bike and swear in bad english when he gets a puncute, and he is also known to say the wrong thing just about every time he opens his mouth. Like the time on live prime time german TV when asked how he felt about being nominated one of germany’s top 10 athletes of the year he said something like, its ok, just too bad I was beaten by a cripple. Referring to a handicapped athlete who was ranked above him in the “top performers of the year”. I’ll keep my ears open and bring you the newest qoute…
One Response to “Pro field preview for Ironman 2008”
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October 11th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Now there’s a South African expression I haven’t heard for years (”the biggest chop”)! Good to see you’re still racing well… Port Elizabeth in the mid nineties seems a long time ago!