Which runner has the best shot at the Olympic triathlon? Webb, Hall, or LV?

Sean Jefferson though!! 93rd world rank. Sub-4 miler at Indiana.

whirledpeas wrote:

string beans can't swim or bike at elite triathlon levels. you need a tad more power than these 130 lb guys have.

It's draft legal no? Should be okay unless you are coming out of the water way behind.

That or the runners need to get together and get some some serious climbs thrown into the courses at the Olympics.

Webb...

its about his swim and momentum... his swim is fastest of the two already. and when he hits these full olympic distance races next couple weeks, he can focus on a game plan and pacing.. he has been racing these smaltzy sprint and sprint relay races. he needs to get real and get in the game now. and he is ready. he has the ability to be fast now at a full oly... these next couple races will be very telling but if he can keep his head in it and his momentum moving forward he will start raking in itu points real fast.. if these results are good, USAT should fast track him into some WTS races next spring. Yokohama would be a great race for him. a drag race swim that comes together on the bike. all flat/fast. crazy fast 10k.. I could see him in Japan in May, working his way through a lot of guys off the bike to run to a top ten...

LV...

he just got 4th at LA which is phenomenal considering he is not known for laying out wattage output on the bike and LA is a non draft race... but my fear is, he cannot swim after his bike injury the way he needs (for WTS level racing) and that is blocking his progress overall. if swim is not there, its game over... goes for any oly tri hopeful. we did not see LV touch draft legal racing this year.. its very telling that the swim is gone... and not returning..

It is weird that people are talking up Webb's chances of reaching the Olympics when he has yet to compete in a SINGLE event for which you guys are picking him!

This is about to change on Sunday when he will be competing in a World Cup race in Alanya Turkey. So we will be able to see how good he really is. But it is a tough race: non of the top running guys are there (their seasons are over) but there are loads of good swimmers and bikers (some great French talents particularly). So this is a baptism of fire for Webb and I'd be amazed if he makes the top 40. But would be impressed if he does. Also, I'm not sure everyone realises how fast and competitive ITU racing is and there is no guarantee that Webb will be able to run if he's been ripped around even the flattest course by the Brownlee brothers and Gomez for 40K. But packs coming together are now the exception rather than the rule, so unless he can swim with the front pack, he has little chance of doing much.

As for LV, he was a fantastic runner before the accident but was not a good swimmer or biker. Now he is worse and so is his run. So there is no reason to even consider him. And yes, he did touch draft legal racing this year - he performed miserably in South Africa and Chicago, exiting the swim in almost last place on both occasions. He had no business being in those races.

One other thing - being a 130 pound beanpole is not a hinderance - look at Alistair Brownlee. He is not missed the top swim pack in his career, is usually top 5, is pretty much the strongest biker in the sport and the fastest proven runner. And a beanpole!

alistair brownlee is not 130lb, and i would not qualify him as a beanpole, but i agree with some of your other ideas about webb and LV.

although to be fair for webb, the question is is he going to make the olympic games, not is he going to be competitive with brownlee and gomez.

Webb can not run with the big dogs, even if he was able to come off the bike with them. While his running is no longer world or national class on the track, it isn't even close to what Mola, Gomez, Brownlees, Murray etc can run off the bike. Webb's best angle to run with those guys is to get better on the bike My college roommate, who is a national class cyclist, and who has been the best in the world in Duathlon should be his main advisor. If Webb could ride like the 45 year old, he may have a chance. Then again, he still has to find away to match the speed of a dozen guys who have never sniffed a 4 min mile.

Good luck to all of our US guys.

LOUIS VUITTON doesn't do triathlons you idiots!!!!

this. how can a guy tearing up the track in 1:43/3:47 stick it out for 90mins plus...i don't see the carryover from a physical or mental standpoint (in terms of him being able to compete with THE BEST, not just be a decent tri guy).

waxerizer wrote:

It is weird that people are talking up Webb's chances of reaching the Olympics when he has yet to compete in a SINGLE event for which you guys are picking him!