70.3 Worlds Preview Part 2: The Men

If you didn't catch my post on the top pro women racing Vegas, click here to read it. So here's part two of my Vegas preview based off the work I compiled when writing the Vegas preview for LAVA Magazine. Like with the women, the actual LAVA preview features 12 men, and I'm only talking about eight here. You'll have to pick up the magazine for the rest...

The 8 Men

Craig Alexander

Notable:

He's the defending champ and a badass mofo. What more is there to say? So, then, let's just move on... jk. Actually, let's back up because last year says a lot for what we should expect this year. In 2011: Won Ironman CDA. Won Vegas. Won Kona. At Vegas, he went 3:54:48 with a 1:11:50 run, nearly 2 minutes faster than anyone else. I don't expect anything different this year. So far he has that IM win...two left to go!

2012:

1^st Ironman Melbourne (Asia-Pacific Championships) -- 7:57:44

9th Racine 70.3 (11th OA)

1^st Eagleman 70.3 -- 3:44:57, run 1:15:07

Greg Bennett

Notable:

He's in it to win it!!! I'm glad to see Greg dominating at a new race distance (and not surprised really). He mentioned in our interview that he can "get bored" with 70.3 racing, but I somehow doubt that's completely true. I think he'll definitely land on the podium in Vegas. Just look at his results of the year. "Old" man domination!

2012:

1^st Rev3 Knoxville Olympic -- 1:47:02

2^nd Honu 70.3, almost running down Lance Armstrong with a 1:18:21. (oh, remember those days with Lance was still in it)

2^nd Eagleman 70.3 -- 3:47:14, a few minutes off Crowie's time

1^st Vineman 70.3

1^st Muncie 

3^rd Chicago Tri 1:50:09

Jesse Thomas

Notable:

Jesse Thomas is still running fast, and now biking and swimming faster too. He has a couple W's in his season thus far, and is posting fastest splits. Vegas is a big deal for him this year -- last year he got ill after competing in Philippenes 70.3, which he said affected his race in Vegas where he finished 17th.

2012:

6^th 70.3 South America Champs

3^rd Rev3 Costa Rica -- fastest run

3^rd Oceanside 70.3 -- 3:55:22, fastest run

1^st Wildflower, defending his 2011 title going 3:58:59

4^th Rev3 Quassy 

2^nd Rev3 Portland -- 4:01:01 behind Cunningham, fastest bike 

1^st Rev3 Maine

Michael Raelert

Notable:

He's back! Personally, I think Michael could consistently be the world's best (or one of the), but quite frankly he just seems a little too thin and I'm convinced that's played into his injuries. But for now, it's a moot issue I guess. So after winning 70.3 Worlds in '09 and '10, and a disappointing '11 (no Vegas, no Kona, no K-Swiss million dollar challenge), you can bet he's ready to unleash at Vegas then Kona. He did make a late-season comeback in 2011 with a win at Austin 70.3 and second at Miami 70.3. And this year, despite a small race schedule, he's on fire...

2012:

1^st Mallorca 70.3 -- 3:57:08, more than 13 min faster than 2nd

1^st Switzerland 70.3 -- 3:44:13, more than 7min faster than 2nd (see a theme here??)

2^nd IM Regensburg 8:18:53

Richie Cunningham

Notable:

In 2011 he missed Vegas (injury in August -- fractured pelvis in a race), but recall in 2010 was 5th at Clearwater. Richie is a consistent, solid racer. Look how much he races and how well he does!!! He's one of the older guys, too, which this day in age is clearly an advantage as we're seeing. There's really not much else to say! 

2012:

2^nd  70.3 Asia Pacific Champs (Dec 2011)

3^rd 70.3 South America Champs, just behind studs Docherty and Armstrong 

6^th Rev3 Costa Rica Olympic

2^nd Oceanside 70.3

2^nd NOLA 70.3 

8^th Rev3 Knoxville Olympic

1^st Rev3 Quassy Half

4^th Eagleman 70.3 

1^st Rev3 Portland Half

1^st Rev3 Wisconsin

4^th Rev3 Maine

Tim O’Donnell

Notable:

He’ll be going for the trifecta of HyVee, Vegas and Kona (as will GB). Tim told me he's taken a more conservative approach to racing this year to focus on the big ones that matter, and that in past years he's been "cooked" by now. He's also recently engaged to Rinny, so there's no doubt that they have their heads down and are working hard/smart this year. He didn't do Vegas last year, but in 2010 he was third at Clearwater. Tim's been dominating since his first break through season in 2009, which included earning the ITU Long Distance World Champion title.

2012:

1^st San Juan 70.3 -- 3:51:32

3^rd St. Anthony’s 5150

1^st Texas 70.3 US Pro Champs 3:47:40

3^rd Boise 

2^nd IM CDA 8:41:36

2^nd Lake Stevens 4:01:49, lost in the run which is rare

Andy Potts

Notable:

He has four wins this year, including a huge W at IM Lake Placid where he lead from the beginning and never looked back. Then again, that's pretty standard for Andy in many of his races over the years. He has some unfinished finished business at Vegas -- last year he finished 11^th in what he considers “a terrible race” due to personal reasons (he was still 11th), which he told me in our interview. Potts won 70.3 Worlds at Clearwater in 2007. 

2012:

1^st Oceanside --3:54:03, his fourth time winning this race

1^st St Croix 70.3

2^nd CapTex Triathlon Race to the Toyota Cup

1^st Escape from Alcatraz, 5x time champ

2^nd Philadelphia triathlon race to the Toyota cup june 24

2^nd Minneapolis triathlon race to the Toyota cup july 14, 1^st kemper

1^st IM Lake Placid 8:25:07, held lead from the beginning

Matty Reed

Notable:

Choosing a No. 8 on my list was hard. But I have to say, I'm a big Matty Reed fan so he wins. Personally, I was expecting him to have a little bit better of a season than he's had so far this year, but I still think he's had some great showings and is racing a lot like he loves, which is good for his mind I'm sure. He had it tough in 2011 when he took on too much work with his yogurt shop in addition to Kona training, and didn't get to race a lot, including a no-show at Vegas. But he's good at 70.3 Worlds -- in 2010 he was ninth in Clearwater and in '09 was third. 

2012:

6^th Oceanside 

10th Rev3 Knoxville 

2^rd Boise -- but this was pretty much a tie for 1^st, (they should have both been awarded with first. Hm, just like the women's triathlon race in London).

5^th Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon, Olympic

6^th Rev3 Quassy 

7^th Boulder 70.3