I'm sure AlSal has a plan, but I do admit I wish Rupp was racing a bit more. He needs a bit of that trial and error that comes with racing with elite competition, and you just don't get that racing for the hometown crowd in Eugene, or in a time trial.
And it reminds me a bit of Webb's disastrous '08 season coming off his AR in '07...he ran one or two races the entire year leading up to the Oly Trials, had a pretty disastrous showing at the Pre Classic that year, and with little time to make adjustments, got hammered in the Oly. trials. He should've been racing more, I think, to better find his form with competing talent, toughen up instead of being seemingly treated like a china doll post AR, as if his fitness was going to remain where it was following that race.
It is concerning, therefore, that Rupp is being held back so much. You gotta use it or lose it, I figure. If you're fit, go and race! Because if you wait and wait and wait for that key race, you're rolling the dice. If that race goes badly, then what was all the waiting for?