"Ah fuhget you!"
No but seriously, both sides really aren't interested in proving anything to the other. Each side basically invites the other side to challenge them on their home field. And they both refuse each others' offer, because it would be silly to challenge someone in their home environment without training specifically for it, and it would be silly to train for a challenge that doesn't apply to your revenue-earning sport.
That was my point - trying to make it lighter. This convo feels heated like there are real stakes attached, like people's egos are flying all over, and none of it matters.
At the end of the day killian could clock a 5 minute mile, but his prior performances would still suggest he is the best mountain runner of all time - in fact, being slow on flatlands might just add to his lore for his fans. Road runners would say HA that's proof killian isn't that good. Fans of each sport don't change their minds. Similar idea if you flip it. Get an elite runner into the true mountain races where kilian thrives, where even good flatland runners have to power-hike, and the skills just aren't transferable.
I think this is very apparent to the athletes themselves. It's not worth their time to get their egos involved.