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T100 Turns a Big Corner in San Francisco
T100 on the up, can we trust top nutrition products? And how to find your next best running shoe!
Matthew Sharpe
June 11, 2024
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend I was able to race at IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder. And I’ll be honest, after a month on the road I wasn’t exactly feeling like I was firing on all cylinders heading into this one.
But I was able to really surprise myself and ended up 6th overall in a competitive pro field. I owe a lot of my success in the sport to my ability to make it to the start line ready to compete, and this one was another example.
At the end of the day, if you have the opportunity to line up and compete you give yourself a chance to be successful - whatever that looks like to you.
What wasn’t a surprise? How sore my legs have been post-race!
In today’s edition:
📈 The T100 Triathlon World Tour turns a big corner in San Francisco.
👟 How to find your next best daily running shoe.
🤨 And can we really trust top nutrition products?
Thanks for being here,
-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor
Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free.
ONE BIG THING
T100 Turns the Corner After Successful Stop in San Francisco
T100 Triathlon
What is it: On Saturday, the T100 Triathlon World Tour enjoyed its third race of the season in San Francisco.
The event was held in conjunction with the iconic Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, which sees athletes jump from a ferry into the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay before completing the remainder of the race in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Watch: The T100 women’s field leaps into chilly, shark-inhabited waters.
Women’s race: The much-hyped showdown between Taylor Knibb (USA) and Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) was put to bed by the American as she stormed to the front of the race out of the swim and never looked back.
On the bike, Knibb put almost five minutes into her next competitor and was on track for a dominating victory.
Only Kat Matthews (GBR), who a week earlier was disqualified from IRONMAN Hamburg, was able to keep Knibb somewhat on her radar.
in the end, Knibb was able to cruise the run as she won by over four minutes. Matthews was able to claw back some seconds as she finished with the second-fastest run split of the day.
🥇 Taylor Knibb (USA)
🥈 Kat Matthews (GBR)
🥉 Laura Phillip (GER)
Men’s race: The men’s race was closer out of the water with most of the field together after the current-shortened 2km swim.
Onto the bike, a few splinter groups assembled. But as the 80km ride went on a large group of nine athletes formed which included heavy favorites Sam Long (USA), and Magnus Ditlev (DEN).
Marten Van Riel (BEL), so far undefeated at middle-distance races, was also amongst the lead bunch.
Kyle Smith (NZ) took off early on the run. But he was eventually reeled in by Van Riel, and current IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, Rico Bogen (GER).
Smith, Van Riel, and Bogen would battle it out and end up in the finishing straight together. What unfolded was one of the most incredible sprint finishes in years.
Watch: Incredible three-way sprint finish for victory.
Incredibly, Van Riel took the win in a photo finish and continued his multi-year middle-distance win streak.
🥇 Marten Van Riel (BEL)
🥈 Kyle Smith (NZ)
🥉 Rico Bogen (GER)
Tempo’s take: The unpredictable ocean currents were supposed to add intrigue to the race, but the hilly bike course provided the drama. Knibb was able to completely distance herself on the ascents, while the men’s race stayed closer together as the more powerful riders were slowed by the climbs.
After coverage woes in Miami and a stale event in Singapore, this weekend’s event in San Francisco seemed like a turning point for the T100 series. The unknowns of the swim and the hills on the bike certainly helped. But the level of competition is also improving from race to race, and if it continues like this then the second half of the year will be absolutely electric.
The T100/Escape From Alcatraz collab also showed how the startup series should position its races moving forward. By aligning with large, well-known, and expertly organized events, the T100 series can piggyback off the established race infrastructure and focus on what it needs to - delivering world-class coverage of the best pro triathletes in the world.
They do not have the resources, financial or otherwise to be putting on age group races, especially in the U.S. IRONMAN is too big to try and beat them at their own game.
But like any good startup, T100 can still pivot to a more successful and sustainable business model. They just need to find more American-based races to partner with before Supertri gets to them first!
Has the T100 Triathlon World Tour caught your interest? |
FAVOURITES
🤬 Not as advertised: Lab tests recently confirmed a popular sports nutrition company misrepresented the carbs in their products. Does this mean we can trust nutrition labels? And how do other top products compare? [irunfar]
🚽 InSeinity: Will the billion-dollar infrastructure investments be enough to save the Seine, and this summer’s Olympic Triathlon? After another test event on the river was just cancelled, it seems a lot less likely. Although it could be worse, at least there aren’t any mutant sharks…yet! [Inside the Games]
👟 A shoe for you: A great daily running shoe should be comfortable, robust, and high performing. So where do you begin when you want to find your next best trainer? This video review is a great start! [The Run Testers]
REEL TIME
#3 is definitely the most important stage! 😆
YOU SAID
Tempo readers had A LOT to say about whether recent moves by IRONMAN’s new CEO are worthwhile.
Reader: I did Valencia 70.3. The T Shirt was rubbish (short and wide) The rucksack had no pockets (felt cheap) The swim had was cheap Rubber, not silicone The finish área was freezing and the food congealed. I've entered IM Austria but Athletes Guide is full of errors. I feel like IM charges a premiamos price but delivers a 'Ryan Air' budget service.
Reader: I love IM already so anything they do to make it even better has my tick of approval.
Reader: I'd like to see the ability to cancel Ironman events with a full refund (within a certain amount of time, like 30 days) due to medical reasons. The cost of the events is also so high and unaffordable for most people. I know a number of people who either want to do an Ironman but find it too expensive or have done one and are okay with not doing another, since they can do multiple 70.3s or shorter distance races for the same cost.
Reader: It doesn't seem compelling. What Ironman is beginning to do is what my local triathlons have been doing all along, for a much lower entry fee. The Ironman swag is not worth the price to pay.
Reader: I understand IM has to be profitable but the experience I'm looking for is a reasonably priced race that is safe and has quality hydration and nutrition. Keep your cold water plunges and post race food.
Reader: These changes are good but... Food, the post-race food at most races is awful, fix that. Swag, IMTX the backpack is odd and useless. How about a backpack that we can use for daily commuting with a laptop sleeve and a cooler section for lunches? Shirt is better but still not great. A better experience for spectators. Food and drinks to purchase in IM Village. Shuttles to different parts of the course for spectators to see their athlete on the bike and run not just the in/out and finish.
Reader: Welcome as the changes are in Spanish we have a say the goes more or less "any new broom swipes best". Good that the new CEO goes for a full event. Great if he goes full season. He'll learn a lot.
Reader: The race t-shirts feel special and something you want to show off. I'm not a fan of wooden medals. Personally, after the effort that goes into racing a full or half, I want a medal that will last forever and big enough that you need a wheelbarrow to take it home.
Reader: More changes are needed to provide a welcoming venue to all the families that support their IM triathlete through a long, grueling, stressful day. Most venues don't even have coffee or breakfast available for families. It's ridiculous.
WEEKEND RACES
IRONMAN 70.3 BOULDER
Men’s race: Trevor Foley (USA) used a monster performance on the bike to take the by over 3 minutes ahead of Matt Hanson (USA).
🥇 Trevor Foley (USA)
🥈 Matt Hanson (USA)
🥉 Sam Appleton (AUS)
With the strong second place, Hanson now leads the IRONMAN Pro Series rankings.
Women’s race: Sif Bendix Madsen (DEN) had her own impressive bike performance. But it wasn’t enough to stop the hard-charging Ellie Salthouse (AUS) as she took the win in Boulder.
Tempo subscriber Valerie Barthelemy (BEL) had an exceptional 70.3 debut to finish in third.
🥇 Ellie Salthouse (AUS)
🥈 Sif Bendix Madsen (DEN)
🥉 Valerie Barthelemy (BEL)
Other pro races 👇
QUICK NEWS
Incredible Edda: Edda Hannesdóttir has overcome incredible setbacks and injuries during her triathlon career. But through it all she persevered, and will be making history as Iceland’s first Olympic triathlete. [Olympics]
Michigan’s finest: Over 1,400 athletes competed in Michigan’s largest triathlon last Sunday at the Grand Rapids Triathlon. [Wood TV]
Junior champions: Junior members of SC Neubrandenburg were well represented at the Berlin Triathlon as many of the athletes achieved podium performances. [Nordkurier]
TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE
Train your best in the heat with these PHD-approved tips!
How this athlete manages startup life and triathlon!
IRONMAN Ireland was a nightmare - here’s one athletes harrowing account
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