Has Drafting Been Disrupted? World Triathlon Says Yes

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Good morning everyone!

You'll notice something new for today's edition, our very first advertisement. We're taking it slowly, but we're also excited - with more resources, we can devote more time to making The Tempo the best way to follow Ironman and triathlon news.

If you're interested in reaching an engaged and thoughtful triathlon and Ironman audience, then be sure to check out this form.

In today's edition,

• A draft-disrupting technology makes its world debut 📡

• Samantha Kingsford wants to double down on her competition 👯

• The mind-blowing sports science that powers World Champions Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt 🤯

• And should women fuel differently than men?

Thank you for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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TOP STORY

World Triathlon Heralds Inaugural Test of Draft-Busting Technology

What is it: World Triathlon has announced that this weekend's Tauranga Half, in New Zealand, will feature the very-first competition trial of the drafting detection and deterrent technology, RaceRanger.

• RaceRanger uses sensors to accurately measure the distance between cyclists.

• Green, yellow, and red lights signify whether a trailing cyclist is following at the allowed distance.

• RaceRanger will eventually transmit real-time data to onsite officials, who can then assess whether a penalty will be given.

Why it matters: For as long as triathletes have been competing, there have been issues with drafting, and people complaining about drafting. RaceRanger presents a solution to one of the most controversial and difficult-to-solve problems in the sport.

• If this technology can be widely adopted (looking at you Ironman), then it would bring a new level of fairness and help distinguish true champions from the fakers. 

• Over the next months, the technology will continue to be tested at other New Zealand-based events, with the goal of using the technology at a major global event later this year.

Tempo's take: This is a huge announcement from World Triathlon, and its a testament to their continued push for innovation in the sport that they would take a chance on a startup like RaceRanger.

This technology was not an overnight initiative by any means. We have been watching their development for years, and it's awesome to see the hard work come to fruition. It will be interesting to hear feedback from the athletes who race with it this weekend, and through the coming months.

Other applications of RaceRanger tech could include:

• Real-time transmission of physiological data like heart rate and power, to fans and coaches.

• Accurate race-day tracking so you know exactly where your favorite athlete is on the course.

What do you think? Will the RaceRanger technology disrupt drafting? Or will drafters still be able to sleep at night? Reply to this email with your thoughts.

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BIG NEWS

Singapore to Host First Edition of PTO Asian Open

What is it: After a successful 2022 season, the Professional Triathletes Organization has announced the expansion of its PTO tour - The Asian Open - to be held in Singapore on August 19th and 20th, 2023.

• Age-group and professional athletes will race through the streets of Singapore over it's signature 100km race distance (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run).

• The race will be held in the iconic Marina Bay Financial District, which some readers may recognize from the fantastic film adaptation of, "Crazy Rich Asians."

Why it matters: After the announcement of a major financial boost from Warner Bros Discovery, the PTO is now slowly releasing its full 2023 race schedule.

• By hosting the event in Singapore, the race is relatively easy to travel to from most Asia-Pacific nations and could see a significant and diverse age group presence.

• Like F1's Singapore Grand Prix, will the Asian Open be triathlon's first night race? 

NEWS

🧭 New event, old world: Challenge Family has announced its first-ever central Asian event, Challenge Samarkand. The middle-distance triathlon will be held September 16th-17th in Uzbekistan's second-largest city. [Challenge Family]

👏 Tri for mental health: The 14th annual Kick Cabin Fever Indoor Triathlon to support suicide prevention will be held Saturday, February 4th at 9:00 AM at the Turner Community Center in Chautauqua, New York. All proceeds from the event will go to suicide prevention efforts in Chautauqua County. [chqgov.com]

🤠 Waco a-go: After two ambitious years of hosting an Ironman and a 70.3 on the same weekend, Waco, Texas will host a single event in 2023. Ironman 70.3 Waco will take place on October 15th, 2023. Editor's note: I raced this event last year and I really enjoyed Waco and the friendly community. [Waco Tribune Herald]

❄️ Snow support: West Michigan's Cannonsburg Ski Area will play host to the region's first Winter Triathlon. The 5km run, 10km fat bike, and 2-mile cross-country ski will take place on February 19th. Proceeds from the event will support the Cannonsburg Ski Patrol which recently lost a major funding partner. [FOX 17]

ATHLETE UPDATE

Samantha Kingsford's Double Act

Samantha Kingsford has been a mainstay on XTERRA triathlon podiums worldwide. Now she's hoping to be double trouble for her competition as she takes on long-course racing. We spoke with the New Zealand pro before this weekend's hotly contested Tauranga Half.

Thanks for catching up with us Samantha, how are you feeling heading into this race? 

I feel like I’m heading into the unknown. Rebecca Clarke, Amelia Watkinson, and Hannah Wells are all well-experienced long-course athletes, and this is their bread and butter. So to go into a race knowing I have to race these girls makes me nervous, but also excited to be able to see where I’m at against athletes who are well within the top 50 in the PTO rankings. I guess you can say I'll either sink or swim!

What's your race plan? Without giving too much away 😂

I’m sure Rebecca Clarke will light the swim up, and Amelia has shown she is riding incredibly well.

How I fit in all of that I'm not entirely sure, so no real plan. Just give it everything I’ve got and make calls during the race. In XTERRA you have to be fluid with your plans as a lot can change very quickly, so hopefully take that mindset.

Check out the rest of our interview with Samantha and learn,

• How she adapted her XTERRA training to be ready for this weekend.

• The training she's doing for race-day confidence.

• How she's attacking the 2023 race calendar.

Read the full interview here.

FAVOURITES

🏃‍♀️ Fueling for women: Women are from Venus, and men are from a planet that hopefully does a better job on the to-do list next weekend... But seriously, women have historically been under-researched with respect to sport and exercise (and lots of other places). This article highlights metabolic differences in fuel storage and utilization between men and women and suggests what this means for female athletes. [mysportscience.com]

🔬 Mind-blowing science: No one has ever won an Ironman World Championship and then an Olympic medal...Yet. The team at Santara Tech is doing everything in its power to help Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden achieve this previously unthinkable goal. This video opens the doors to just how far they are pushing the boundaries of sports science. [Santara Tech]

⭐ Dream big: 57-year-old and mother of four, Lisa Smith Cimino, recently completed her 10th Ironman, and realized a massive goal in the process. She has now completed an Ironman event on every continent. What started as a crazy challenge on the couch has turned into medals and a lifetime of memories. But which far-flung location got her a start in Kona? [KMTV]

COMMUNITY QUESTION

Have a burning question about triathlon or Ironman? Want to share a racing tip? Let us know and it could be featured in the newsletter.

Are you racing this weekend? Or any epic training sessions? We'd love to hear about them! Send us your photos or a race recap, and we will feature them in next Tuesday's edition!

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• Always stay present: An interview with triathlete Martín Ulloa.

• For triathlete Stefan Daniel, patience is key.

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