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Where triathlon meets real talk. Hosted by two seasoned triathletes Lockie Jones and Lleyton Wall, this podcast takes a deep dive into the controversies, challenges, and triumphs of the triathlete world.
00;00;05;23 - 00;00;09;15
Speaker 1
She goes in front would help the younger.
00;00;09;18 - 00;00;11;05
Speaker 2
Beyonce have courage.
00;00;11;08 - 00;00;14;16
Speaker 1
Unbelievable. There's nothing but.
00;00;14;19 - 00;00;15;20
Speaker 2
Racer, man.
00;00;15;26 - 00;00;19;27
Speaker 1
World championship title.
00;00;20;00 - 00;00;40;18
Speaker 1
Boy oh boy, what a weekend we just had. I still have goosey bumps on my skin from watching all those races. And yes, Layton and I were waking up at 3 a.m. every morning was earlier. It was two of the finals was. Yeah. 1:32 a.m. but we were up and we're sleep deprived at the moment, but we're here.
00;00;40;20 - 00;01;01;12
Speaker 1
We are here for the recap of the Pontevedra World Champs. Once again, this is the unfunded podcast. I'm Lachlan Jones, your host. He was my good friend Layton Wall. And yes, it's great to be back. It is good sleep deprived, but I think it was well worth it. Well worth it. I mean, there was just shit going on left, right and center.
00;01;01;12 - 00;01;23;03
Speaker 1
You had amazing, you know, athletes like watching the finish line race, so that was a good time for us. But from Fanny's dominance in the juniors to the close sprint finishes in the junior and under up, not under 23, but, the junior men, the sprint finish in the elite men and then just some dominant performances from you know basically the French.
00;01;23;06 - 00;01;44;27
Speaker 1
Yeah. But yeah. What what a, what a world, what a world champs. It was a very good world champs. Pontevedra. They seemed to turn out pretty good. Yeah they did, and quite an iconic course. I mean they've raised a couple times now, so it's kind of cool to go back there and see. And I guess it produces those races that we've seen.
00;01;44;28 - 00;02;04;18
Speaker 1
Yeah I think those similar races to 2023. Yeah. Like very similar. And I mean we'll get into it, you know more and more in a bit. The breakdown of the actual individual races. But courses like that do, I think, show who the true champion is on. Like they're just you have to be strong across the board. You're not just you're not just a runner.
00;02;04;21 - 00;02;17;14
Speaker 1
Can't be just a swim black. You have to be strong across all three. Like they're the they're the best courses that we can have on the circuit. Yeah. Exactly. Right. But anyway, should we get up a little catch up? What do you do? I mean, it was only a week ago. It's not like we really did that much.
00;02;17;20 - 00;02;35;26
Speaker 1
Oh, yeah. You're still just kind of intro back into training. Yeah. Intro back to training. Because. So I got back from Tunisia and as I said, my belly wasn't very good and I had eight and pains and I was like sort of tummy. Yeah. Nobel's achy. That was the worst short achy coming. I was aching my back like fever aches.
00;02;35;27 - 00;02;55;24
Speaker 1
That's worse. I don't really go to the doctor, man. No true stereotype. Men don't go to the doctor. Which is bad. But I was like, nah, I need to go to the doctor. This isn't right. So I didn't know that happened. He, gave me some e-bikes to kill whatever the hell I had. Yeah. So, yeah, I feel better now.
00;02;55;25 - 00;03;18;23
Speaker 1
Okay. So that's good. Awesome. Yourself, I also heard you had a little. Oh, yeah. Actually went to violence. Soho on a random side mission. Bradbeer. I got this, like, I got this random text from Brad yesterday going, hey, you need to use this photo of lightning. It's you would like, I can't remember. What is it? It was I don't know, it's some club in.
00;03;18;23 - 00;03;35;28
Speaker 1
I've never been to Brisbane, Fortune Valley. So it's like you were getting pamphlets to, like, a titty bar or something. So we walked past. And if you've ever been to Fortune Valley in Brisbane, it is actually disgust. It's worse. It's worse than Cavalleria on the Gold Coast. Yeah, it was like Cavill Avenue on steroids. Yeah. I've never we have a lot of international people.
00;03;35;28 - 00;03;54;13
Speaker 1
They won't have a clue what. It's just like dirty. Every every city has to have a dirty like, like nightclub district. Yeah, yeah. That's it. So this is where this event was held. Brad Beer, friend of the show. He both does our physio. He was like, do you want to come to this concert? I've got VIP tickets.
00;03;54;16 - 00;04;16;15
Speaker 1
I was like, oh, Mrs.. I'm going to this concert. Let him know first. Yeah. And I called up Brown like, yeah, I'll come. So we went there and we got like these tickets to our violent Soho. If you know them, they're kind of more a Australian rock band. Yeah. But yeah, we were walking down like, what is it for the Chewed Valley.
00;04;16;16 - 00;04;37;03
Speaker 1
Yeah. And I was like, yeah, this I guess, club that was handing out these pamphlets for like, half price entry. And they walked up to us like, oh, do you want like this? Or. I was like, no, actually, wait a second. Grab you guys. I'll grab that for him. I think yeah, he just wanted the photo of you with it.
00;04;37;05 - 00;04;55;05
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was pretty rogue photo, but, Yeah, that's. Yeah, that was a little side quest. Side quest? Yeah. It's fun. Yeah. Good. I'm different. Yeah. Went backstage, saw them. Brad just randomly gets VIP tickets to that sort of stuff doesn't he. He's he's a physio for some musician. You know, he's got VIP tickets to Bloody Fisher.
00;04;55;06 - 00;05;14;01
Speaker 1
Yeah. Fisher DJ like that. Yeah. He always is in the core spot. He is. Yeah. So I guess that's what the job. Yeah. Perks of the job if you're a physio I guess sports physio. But yeah you know you find all of these musicians that you know that's cool. Yeah. Yeah. It was pretty cool. Yeah. Something different. Well I feel like that.
00;05;14;02 - 00;05;33;09
Speaker 1
Oh, it was your birthday. It was my birthday. Yeah. It was actually a really cool weekend. Like, that was probably the best weekend. I mean, I don't know, I like it was easy to find stuff to do that weekend because, I mean, we had obviously for I mean, a lot of people probably won't know this because, you know, the internationals, but, the AFL grand final was on.
00;05;33;09 - 00;05;48;09
Speaker 1
So it's like that was a must watch for me. I had to watch that. And even though I didn't really care about the two teams that were in the final, does sort of suck a little bit when you, you know, don't care about either. The team in the final, I had a team that I just wanted to lose and unfortunately they won.
00;05;48;12 - 00;06;07;03
Speaker 1
So but it was cool. Literally on my birthday Saturday, we had that morning the under 23 men and women. So I got up, watched down to 23 men and women, watched them race at. Yeah, God. Early 2 a.m. had a really good Saturday. Just lots of sort of wholesome time. And then AFL grand final win.
00;06;07;05 - 00;06;24;07
Speaker 1
Had a nice dinner. So it was a nice, wholesome birthday. Yeah, but then obviously there was so much racing. So it was like watching the junior boys Friday afternoon. I think it was Friday afternoon. Yep. Yeah. And then, well it actually would have been what was it, day night. It would have been Thursday night. That was Thursday night.
00;06;24;10 - 00;06;42;18
Speaker 1
Take that back. Friday Saturday Sunday racing. Yeah. So I mean all week there was something to watch which was really cool. Really cool. So I think that was just exciting. Obviously being, a really big AFL fan, being a really big triathlon fan and having the two big events for the year on my birthday weekend, it was kind of like us as Christmas.
00;06;42;19 - 00;07;00;10
Speaker 1
Yeah, this is awesome perch up. I was literally just and I was so content. I feel like so many people think you have to go out and do stuff for your birthday. No, I was so happy. Just like being at home. I mean, obviously I'm injured at the moment, so I couldn't go to a pub and watch it, but it's too scared of getting knocked or bumped in my shoulder, you know, crumbling again.
00;07;00;12 - 00;07;18;15
Speaker 1
But literally just sitting at home with about $150 worth of with the bets on on my sports. Better just screaming at the TV. None of them got up, so I'd have made no money. But that's just awesome. It's just so fun. I love it so much. So that's so Australian Bogan. Yeah, like 50 bucks a bit. Yeah.
00;07;18;17 - 00;07;33;11
Speaker 1
Couple beers on the couch just watching the footy. I was so good. That was. That's Christmas to me. So much fun I agree. Yeah I enjoyed that as well. Yeah. Because I then watch the rugby league semifinal which was a cracker on the Sunday Arvo. Yeah I yeah that was it was just a great week in a sport.
00;07;33;13 - 00;07;54;06
Speaker 1
Yeah for us. So usually another good weekend as well to be on the weekend coming up. Yes we do. So we've got basically the how many, how many, how many World Series have they been this year. Oh well I don't know how many there's been but there's five left or no there's about seven left. No world series. Oh, world Series I feel like we've got I know Abu Dhabi's coming up, but that's not inclusive.
00;07;54;09 - 00;08;10;28
Speaker 1
Six. But I think this weekend in Rome, we've added another addition to the World Series number seven for the year. Yeah. So if there's I, I think there's maybe I think there's maybe 8 or 9 that we've already had. But whatever, whatever it is, this is one add one. Because Rome World Cup this weekend is a bloody World Series.
00;08;11;03 - 00;08;37;15
Speaker 1
You basically got everybody except Maddie Hauser. Everybody except Cassandra Grant. Yeah. Like it was just. It's insane. We'll get into it later on in the pod, but, let's get down to it. What everyone's actually really wanting to hear. Okay, the recap of and because so much happened, like we said, so much happened. We've obviously got our so just how we're going to sort of structure this, we've got some key talking points that we've both kind of, taken away from it.
00;08;37;15 - 00;08;54;17
Speaker 1
We're going to discuss it. I don't know Leighton's he doesn't know mine. So we'll hopefully disagree. Hopefully we'll hopefully we'll disagree and we'll get our honest opinion on some of the controversial things that happened and some of our takeaways over the weekend, but let's quickly go through it. Should we go through the winners or the top three?
00;08;54;19 - 00;09;18;12
Speaker 1
We'll go through the top three. Let's go through the top three props. They do. It's it's top to work championships, top three, the world championships. I'll do the women, you do the men. So the women first off junior women. Just one of the standout races of the weekend I think. Funny Salai. Just just an absolute weapon. Just she's a she's a cut above the rest at the moment, especially at that junior level.
00;09;18;13 - 00;09;32;20
Speaker 1
And she has another year as a junior and she's choosing not to do it. She just wanted to tick off. Yeah. She just needed to tick that off. I think she has three podiums already. Like that was her third podium at the junior level. She just wanted to get the win. She's got it ticked off Banksia later on with the big girls now.
00;09;32;20 - 00;09;52;22
Speaker 1
Yeah. So Fanny's line first credible. Anouk Donner the Swiss and then Kimmy Casanova. Yeah. This Swiss as well. So Swiss being super dominant in the juniors. And that was also the same in the junior men. Tybalt Riviera. I actually raised him the other day in Switzerland at Uni World Champs, and he did really well. He came sixth.
00;09;52;23 - 00;10;13;27
Speaker 1
Did you bet you. Yeah he did. He was in my pack. But then he ran up to six and there was a little break of about eight. So probably should have known that he was in some very solid form. And I think he came second at the elite, Swiss Champs. Yeah. Well, like the week before that, before, worlds.
00;10;14;00 - 00;10;35;07
Speaker 1
Dennis Ferreira from Portugal and Yellow Kindl from Austria. Yeah. So we obviously know his brother, what's his brother's Condell. So just some big and, Yeah, he's, also junior next year as well, so he could go out and take the title. But what if that was the first one of the weekend, which was just an incredible sprint finish?
00;10;35;07 - 00;10;52;25
Speaker 1
You had Caleb Wagner I think there was those three, those four boys all the way up until about a K to go. Wagner fell off and then yeah, they kind of fell off with about 500 to go and the sprint finish between Riviera and Ferreira, like both of those two boys all the way to the line again, which is awesome.
00;10;52;27 - 00;11;12;22
Speaker 1
Under 23 women, we had just another French dominance. I owner Iona had had him. Yep. That last name is tricky, but Iona, she was another one. She was a previous junior world champion. Yes. For these girls. Yeah. Both these girls were. So I think everybody kind of knew that these two French women were going to be.
00;11;12;24 - 00;11;28;26
Speaker 1
Yeah, they were the top of our kind of list. Again, just another funny slide. Just a cut above the rest here. And then you had Sydney Clement, the Canadian. You didn't say. Leah who? Art. Oh, sorry. Leah who? Art. Sorry. The other French. French athlete who I was saying out of the two, she was second. Sydney Clement in third.
00;11;28;29 - 00;11;47;01
Speaker 1
Yeah. So another great women's field. Naomi Rough did a really good job. The American. Just quick shout out to Naomi Ruff from the USA in fourth. You know, I know I give the Americans a bit of a hard time, a lot of time. But she is one athlete that seems to be, performing quite well there.
00;11;47;04 - 00;12;11;11
Speaker 1
And then in the 23 men's, he was our pick again from France. Like this French dominance. Niels Terrier. Then Michael GA, who he also had pinned Zealand. Hubert. He was a bit of a dark he I've raised over before and he's he's not bad like, he's I've kind of I've known all of him before. I think this is probably a bit of a breakout for him.
00;12;11;11 - 00;12;28;26
Speaker 1
I would say. Didn't realize he could run like that. No. And then we had the Spanish. Yeah. What was his name is he's on Edo. Yep. And then we had Solomon in fifth as well. So they they were the probably five guys that Josh Jasper Ward field as well. The German. He was there for quite a while.
00;12;28;27 - 00;12;46;24
Speaker 1
Yeah. Yeah. How do I think that top six. They were a great great top six for their for majority of the time. Yeah. And just another I mean you had Niels sort of in that last lap. Just go see a lad like 20s away. That was an incredible last lap. But, you know, for most of that run, it was down to the wire.
00;12;46;27 - 00;13;06;27
Speaker 1
It was really cool. Cat and mouse kind of game. So yeah, the elite women. Just an absolute masterclass. Again, we might touch on this a bit more later on, but Cassandra Grant delivers a perfect season, like we said. And, Belinda Granger actually stole our comment, which she gave us props for. But, the only person that can beat Cassandra on the day is Cassandra.
00;13;07;02 - 00;13;25;22
Speaker 1
Yeah, I I'm I'm adamant at this point that if Cassandra is at her best. I'm sorry. You're not beating her. Yeah, you're only beating her if Cassandra stuff mentally or mentally off or has a little niggle or something makes a tactical tactical error on the day, they are the only times you're ever going to beat Cassandra. Because when she's on, delivers a race.
00;13;25;24 - 00;13;51;09
Speaker 1
Sorry. She's. Yeah, she's just too good. An incredible, incredible race by George Taylor Brown. Really? I'm quite surprised that she ran that quick. I obviously feel bad to say I'm quite surprised, but. Incredible race. Always one of the most compatible athletes. I think every time. Swims hard, rides hard, runs hard. Yeah. Super strong. And then Kate was another one that I really was annoyed that I didn't like give more props to because.
00;13;51;11 - 00;13;53;25
Speaker 2
Yeah, but she had a rocky start to Rocky year.
00;13;53;26 - 00;14;10;05
Speaker 1
Rocky year. She was third in 2023, but obviously she was a lot more, she was invested in the short course scene. Yeah, she kind of she kind of left and she's dabbling. Seems to be dabbling a little bit more. But, just another breakout. Not breakout. Well, probably breakout race for her comeback. Yeah. Into the short course.
00;14;10;07 - 00;14;27;25
Speaker 1
Only her second, podium at a World Series ever. Yes. Well, believe so. That's what she said. So she said, I want to come back to Pontevedra. That can't be true. Maybe. Second, a great final, maybe in a grand final. Yeah, I feel like that can't be true. Surely. But yeah. No, that that was a that was a great, great breakaway.
00;14;27;25 - 00;14;57;29
Speaker 1
And again, like, I don't know if we will touch on this later, but just the death. We spoke about it before. The depth in the women right now is incredible. Like you've got obviously those top three women Cassandra, Georgia and Kate, then fourth, Beth Potter, fifth Laura Lindemann, sixth Kirsten, Casper, eighth. Ninth Lisa. Tangent Neubert, who was 70.3 medalist last year, Taylor Spivey, 11th in Lombardy back in 14th.
00;14;58;02 - 00;15;19;01
Speaker 1
Jean Le Hare, 19th, like the reigning world champ. Yeah. 2020. And then 22nd, Tilda manson, who was third. Yeah. Going into this, like just the depth of the women is incredible right now. I, I think probably more than the men. Yeah. Yeah. It it it I think it strings deeper. Anyone can be on that podium where the men it's.
00;15;19;03 - 00;15;40;29
Speaker 1
You kind of know the five that are going to be there. Yeah. Realistically for sure. Elite man, I'm sure you've all seen it. That last little sprint finish between Matt Hauser taking the win by 0.08 of a second. Yeah, that's like a swimming time. Yeah. It's not vast over the last three. And second who ended up the world champion obviously most consistent all year.
00;15;41;00 - 00;16;09;08
Speaker 1
And Alex Yee with an absolutely crazy run 2845 which is crazy like that is ridiculous. The way he was motoring after being back 40s catching within about seven K less six six and a half K yeah, insane. That was ridiculous. And it shows that his marathon training has worked and that he's getting back to triathlon. Yeah Hayden Wild also got to give him credit.
00;16;09;09 - 00;16;32;00
Speaker 1
Yeah he ended up fifth. That is a very good I think that's a very good comeback because for the fourth year yeah. When he raced in Wollongong. Yeah. Smoked he didn't look too good. He also looked a bit more checked out I think like having Alex Yee there. Almost like does something to Hayden because he can't like when you've got Alex G running from the Chase pack up into a third spot.
00;16;32;03 - 00;16;48;18
Speaker 1
There's no excuse for Hayden to not do it then. Yeah. If Hayden wants to be comparable to Alex Yee, which obviously he does like, you know they've been to toe for so many years. If Hayden if Hayden Wilde wants to be taken seriously as somebody who he has to be able to run up into these spots. Yeah. Notably like yes he ran up into a fifth spot.
00;16;48;18 - 00;17;11;25
Speaker 1
Incredible. Still ran a slower time than, still ran a slower time than Maddie Hauser, Baskerville, Asa obviously Alex Yee and Ricardo Batista. Yeah. But I mean, they were in the sniff of the actual podium. Yeah, 100%. And and that's obviously like, that's obviously a massive factor. And I think if it was the other way around, like if he was in that, it would have been a completely different story.
00;17;11;26 - 00;17;33;01
Speaker 1
He's got something to chase there. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's four weeks on a trot. It's gonna take a little. You can't it's going to take a toll. Like he's raced two 70.3. Yeah. Essentially back to back and then backs up Super League and then yeah yeah yeah. So that's an intense last month I mean I know that the prize packet isn't you know much for coming fifth at a World Series.
00;17;33;01 - 00;17;51;08
Speaker 1
But you know that's 200 plus now. Yeah not bad. I mean God there were some people that did. Oh yeah. They corrected us but didn't they. I don't think they did. For anybody that doesn't know, we put a real up last week about did Hayden Wilde make the most money in a three week period ever in the sport of triathlon?
00;17;51;11 - 00;18;13;17
Speaker 1
God, there were some people that went at us for that. Yeah, I know, because, I mean, there were races back in the day that offered 200,000 for a win. Exactly. But then did they race in the next two weeks? I don't think so. It's it's so, so it's equal, especially in this common era like the. Yeah. Just era for the last ten years, going to 2016, there was no races paying that much there.
00;18;13;23 - 00;18;33;10
Speaker 1
Obviously a lot of like that. What was the one that Danny Reef. But again, that was over a ten month period. I understand that. Like, yes, the bonus was for that third win. Like, yes, I understand that million dollar bonus was for that. However, she wouldn't have got it if she didn't win that first race in February.
00;18;33;12 - 00;18;50;17
Speaker 1
Yeah, the second race in July and the August and November. Yeah. Then the last one in November. Like I think people kind of. And they went at us for it like people. It was, it was like I saw one, it was wasn't that serious. Like guys it's not that day. I love how we go back at the haters on this though.
00;18;50;19 - 00;19;08;29
Speaker 1
Yeah. I just think you're like, find some emotional outlet. We always have to justify ourselves once we get like, I don't like, hey, I'm not good at like I'm not good at regulating that. So I've pisses me off. The best one that I saw was like, this is the worst take from a trial full on podcast. It was like, no, your history.
00;19;09;00 - 00;19;26;08
Speaker 1
Yeah. When I saw that this is the worst take, I literally went back to him immediately. I had my girlfriend sit next to me. She's like, just leave it, babe. I'm like this guy. I was like, well, correct me then. Like like what? What what is they give us your. Yeah. And then I, I couldn't help but go back to him because he like two days later didn't respond.
00;19;26;08 - 00;19;48;28
Speaker 1
And I just crickets like you've given me nothing here. Yeah. And anyway I'll send you some stuff from trough and that'll that'll show you. That's the worst. Taking control on history. Yeah, yeah. Some pretty bad take from. I'll grab Greg Harper. Yeah, yeah. Name. Just shamed right there. Yeah. Anyway, pretty sure I saw a pretty sure I saw a Norwegian on the podium three weeks ago.
00;19;48;29 - 00;19;58;25
Speaker 1
Yeah, that's all right. And also, I also live with my mum, so fuck off.
00;19;58;28 - 00;20;21;02
Speaker 1
So come at me with. Come at me now. Yeah. Alrighty. So that is, that's all the winners. That's all the podium getters. Massive, massive weekends. And like, some stars in the making, there's going to be some of those names obviously that we've seen are. Yeah. They're they're scary. The future's looking. The future is looking bright for short course triathlon.
00;20;21;04 - 00;20;45;28
Speaker 1
All right let's go into our three talking points three takeaways. We'll go one h okay. Let's not try spend a whole lot of time on each topic. We'll try to be quick, but I think the biggest blow up or controversy from Pontevedra and you've seen it on your Instagram is the Matt Houser Vasco Villosa Sprint. My god, I've seen so many people have been out for Matt houses had, especially the Portuguese fans.
00;20;46;02 - 00;21;03;23
Speaker 1
They're mad. Sorry. How's it man? They want your head on a stick. Yes, it's back to Oz quickly. Yeah, because we'll take that race win. Yeah, honestly like I've, I it was one of those ones and obviously I was watching it at 3 a.m. in the morning and I was watching like, oh my God, this is an epic sprint.
00;21;03;23 - 00;21;28;05
Speaker 1
You knew it was going to be an epic sprint. Watching him run down. And when I saw the move, I thought, oh, I didn't I didn't immediately think that was a terrible move from Houser. I immediately thought, people are going to hate that. Yes. And they did. Yeah. So should there be a specific drifting slash holding your line rule within a sprint finish?
00;21;28;05 - 00;21;53;05
Speaker 1
So let's say the last 100m out, you've chosen your line. You can't. Or the finishing shoot as soon as the blue carpet starts you can't deviate from your line. The worst thing about this sprint finish was that there was a centerpiece of of tape that split up. The blue carpet mat was on one side, Vasco was definitely on the other and they both ended up on one side.
00;21;53;05 - 00;22;18;29
Speaker 1
They both ended up on the left. Hard on the left as well. Yeah. Look like you cannot argue with the footage. How's I drifted and moved into him. Yes you can like plain and simple. He did it, he admitted. He did it like I think I, I, I think it has been taken so, so far and I and like some of the comments are absolutely ridiculous and I know that we're going to be called bias Aussies.
00;22;18;29 - 00;22;41;03
Speaker 1
We're just defending him because we're an Aussie. Look, I'll give my honest opinion on anybody. One I really hate the comment that Matt Hauser is a disrespectful athlete and he's been doing it all year. Yeah. Not true. Like just not true. Look at all the sprint finishes that he's had in Hamburg London. He's put time into Vasco and he's run away from Vasco fairly in a sprint.
00;22;41;03 - 00;23;05;09
Speaker 1
Like don't give me that bullshit that he's been doing it. It's like it's you're just not it's not true. And you're painting a, you're painting an image of an athlete and trying to ruin a career that someone who has never been in a disrespectful ruining his win on the weekend. Yeah, yeah. And like, look, do I think that he was in the right there 5050.
00;23;05;11 - 00;23;24;17
Speaker 1
I don't think he did anything terrible. I don't think he did anything terrible. But he clearly moved from one side to the other and moved into Vasco. But it didn't impede it. Vasco didn't trip up. We've seen Vasco this year already against during Königs trip up a fall over and lose a sprint. See, I don't know if I see.
00;23;24;18 - 00;23;45;20
Speaker 1
I think he tripped over there. I think he stumbled, but it was also a battle to that corner, which was a bit argy bargy. I'm talking about this weekend. Yeah, I, I'm, I think he did. There was a sort of split second stumble does that. I think the biggest thing is should there be a rule there should there be a I think there should be a rule there.
00;23;45;20 - 00;24;00;14
Speaker 1
I think based off what we saw, I and what's so annoying is that I think Houser would have beaten him anyway. I think if Houser held his line, I think he's beating him anyway, like he's done it so many times this year. He's big, strong. I just think if he held his line, I think he would have got there first.
00;24;00;17 - 00;24;28;25
Speaker 1
For me, it was just like, I don't think it's bad, but I didn't think it was actually like Ren, essentially more if you're drifting. Yeah, I just, I just I won. I didn't think it was necessary. I don't, don't think it's anywhere near as bad as what everyone's saying. I don't think as unsportsmanlike like they're saying. No, but I think I do believe Vasco might say, say, the World Series was on the line, and whoever one won the title, you bet.
00;24;29;02 - 00;24;50;22
Speaker 1
Vasco is putting in dispute. Vasco is putting in a dispute. And I think they have a case. And and I think that's probably where there needs to be a rule. Yeah, especially it was very clear cut with that middle piece of tape. If that wasn't there, you probably wouldn't have noticed as much. I don't think you would have because a blue carpet like you just camera angles, different things like that.
00;24;50;25 - 00;25;16;29
Speaker 1
But also, again, anybody that has never been in this situation and a lot of people that are commenting have never been in that situation before when you were absolutely redlining, going toe to toe, I'm sorry, but there are just there are just things that happen that you cannot like. He couldn't control that. Like, I, I genuinely think there was no thought in his brain where Matt Howson run Vasco going to run Vasco into the wall.
00;25;17;01 - 00;25;40;10
Speaker 1
Not one thought went like like that went through mad houses, brain like. It was just like he said, get that dog in you and just get to the point. Get to that thing first. Yeah. Yes, it looks bad. And yes, I'm like 5050 on like whether or not I don't think he should be queued whatsoever. I don't think there's a penalty there whatsoever because also it didn't change the end result of the series.
00;25;40;10 - 00;25;58;20
Speaker 1
But yeah I think they do. I think there has to be a hole in the line slash drifting rule. Rule? How far out is it? The blue carpet. Is it a is there now a new line like a, once you come around a bend of some sort and you guys both come into a straight into the fence, shoot.
00;25;58;21 - 00;26;24;25
Speaker 1
You hold that. Do you think they should put, like, a dismount mount line where it's like a hold your line line? That's a bit much. I think that's a bit much because that is then very clear cut. So then because, you know, it's discretionary realistically right now about like run conduct. It's up to the judges perspective. I think it's I think I think it should just be up to the judges perspective in the end.
00;26;24;25 - 00;26;40;06
Speaker 1
I think like that's probably going a bit too overboard of like do I do a line? Because then you might find an athlete quickly darting in just before the line, and that might get a little bit more dangerous. So if you just have a general rule of like once it opens up to the finish, shoot. Yeah. You have to hold your line.
00;26;40;07 - 00;27;04;28
Speaker 1
Yeah. I mean, look like I'm not against a bit of, like, argy bargy. Like it kind of makes it exciting. Like it does make it exciting, but potentially just overdone a little bit. Yeah. Overdone a little bit. But again, Matt Hauser is absolutely not like a disrespectful athlete that should be ashamed of himself and should be stripped of a world title and should be, you know, banned and just stick, just chill out.
00;27;04;29 - 00;27;21;15
Speaker 1
No, chill out. But trust me, if there's one of that's one of three nations that you do not want to upset because they're fans will come for you. Yeah. Think of it's savages. Portugal, Brazil and Spain. Yeah. Don't fuck with their athletes because their fans will kill you. Yeah. All righty. My take. My next one is France.
00;27;21;17 - 00;27;43;15
Speaker 1
The greatest triathlon nation in history, I believe so I believe the depth, the dominance over the last. It's tough because I'm probably going to say over the last ten years. And I know there are some points to I would call that the modern era. The error that we're in right now is the last ten years. And where I where I know that my point becomes invalid is Olympics.
00;27;43;22 - 00;28;22;06
Speaker 1
Yes, in history, Olympics, Great Britain, Great Britain, they're unmatched. But they've also had the Brownlee's. But then I'm thinking in terms of Brown's death depth along the years. Man. If you look at juniors under 23 elite cross the board, I I'm going to say yeah let's say in the last ten years. Oh I don't know. Like I genuinely believe because you even look at like before that I seriously think the depth in the French, French nation, I, I genuinely makes them the greatest nation in trial on history.
00;28;22;06 - 00;28;45;12
Speaker 1
Well, they got four medals at this world Championships. Yeah, they had Niels on 23 men, two first and second in 23 women. Then they also had Cassandra win. And then like they took on the Briton far behind that. No even. But I just think like then the Brits you have essentially on the podium of the. But that's actual work.
00;28;45;14 - 00;29;12;06
Speaker 1
Three world champions. Yeah this year. Yeah. No other nation has the three. And then you also look at like Wollongong last year they had the junior men. They had the junior women under 23 women. Yeah. And then you know and then you still got Cassandra Grant. And obviously the men like, well they're still top five men. You still got a wait until Birger comes back, you know, wait until Niels is racing in the elite men.
00;29;12;10 - 00;29;35;25
Speaker 1
Tom, Richard, like Tom, is very impressive. And a little ChatGPT run does show that France, over the last ten years, have the most world titles. They have four men titles and two women. I mean, you look back to, like the the, Vincent Louis. Like. I mean, when you say Vincent Louis era, it's not like it was that long ago.
00;29;35;26 - 00;30;00;07
Speaker 1
You know, Vincent Louis was sort of dominant from that 2016 up until about 2022. 2021, maybe, Vincent Louis and Yuliya Dorian Koenig's paler core. Those four were just like, outstanding. Honestly, with those four, could have been anyone like that was a dominant era. So I, I, I don't know, I don't know, I just think you got them and then you got your Lombardi periodic Cassandra Grant here.
00;30;00;09 - 00;30;23;07
Speaker 1
Like, there's just so much. And then look at the pipeline of athletes that were coming off the depth. I think the depth through the juniors and 23 is unmatched, probably unmatched. Now, I think it goes to show their French GP system. Yeah. Is it's amazing because they have French athletes with zero like Continental Cup starts go off and win Conti cups.
00;30;23;08 - 00;30;42;10
Speaker 1
Yeah they can't they can hardly get a start at the Conti Cup. Yeah. But the ones that do it's a bit like the British. The ones that do get starts. Yeah they're in for contention. You kind of know that if you're racing any sort of German, French or Brit in a Conti Cup, they're good, they're good. You can't get him out.
00;30;42;10 - 00;31;02;19
Speaker 1
They might have zero points on the world ranking. They're good because they've come out of such a tough system system that they've had to really, really fight to get that spot there. Yeah. So that's just my opinion. I genuinely believe that in terms of the actual nation itself across the elite under 23, in junior, I think the great I think the French of the greatest nation in triathlon history.
00;31;02;22 - 00;31;32;15
Speaker 1
There we are. Hot take next big one is Matt Hauser, the world's best. Without being the world champion. I think there's literally two ways of looking at this. And I think there's obviously we have your one day race. You've got your series champion. Yes. Series champion. No he's not, not this year. He's not. No. This year. And obviously that's like that's like a that's a dumb statement because clearly if he was he'd be the world champion.
00;31;32;15 - 00;31;56;19
Speaker 1
But we have the Olympics. That's the biggest one day race. Yeah I don't think we need to have two one day races by making it Olympics and world champs. I think consistency I, I, I think we need to respect the series and respect that consistency within a whole year. That is what makes an athlete the best in the world if you look at it.
00;31;56;20 - 00;32;24;01
Speaker 1
However, yeah, I know Matt has beat Vasco every time he's finished the race this year, so they matched up three times this year. How's I beat Vasco three times. So they've they've actually raced four times this year. Sorry. How's the DNS in Algeria. Yeah. So therefore he didn't finish. But that is on you for racing. Yeah. However in the races he's finished his beat him three hours three.
00;32;24;02 - 00;32;46;18
Speaker 1
I mean that was a comment that I saw on one of the World Triathlon. Pages. It was Vasco was the world champion, but he still hasn't beaten Matt Houser this year. Yeah. Isn't Asterix on Vasco world championship? Not at all. I don't think so. I don't I don't believe so at all. Vasco raced Vasco race five times this year and his worst result was second, which is crazy.
00;32;46;20 - 00;33;14;12
Speaker 1
Like not even only came second to Matt. Yeah. And so like Vasco had Vasco had I believe if we're talking consistency over the year, Vasco still had and I know I'm some shit for this, but I believe Vasco had a better season than what Matt did last year, and Matt Hauser and Matt Houser scored the perfect score. I well, because this hasn't when you look at the race that Houser dropped the ball in.
00;33;14;14 - 00;33;36;04
Speaker 1
Yeah. Karlovy Vary sixth, eighth, eighth last year eighth. Houser dropped the ball in one this year 10th. Yeah. Every other race he's one. I completely get that. Every other race house is done. He's won. But it's the one. He dropped the ball once this year and once last year. Basco didn't drop the ball at all first and second all year.
00;33;36;06 - 00;33;58;04
Speaker 1
That's that's true across the five races. Yeah it's contentious. It is. It's a bit of a hot one because. Yeah. Who who who would you say then is the world's best, like, world's best racer if you're. We're racing next week in Rome if. Matt. How's the versus Vasco for the last one picking Matt Hauser. Yeah. So I believe.
00;33;58;05 - 00;34;17;05
Speaker 1
Yeah. Well that that is, that is like the topic of conversation. Is Matt Hauser the best one day, if you were to say on this day, everybody has to line up and whoever wins is the best in the world, it's Matt Hauser. Yeah. But if you say exactly what the series is, here's eight races. Who's the best? Who's the most consistent?
00;34;17;06 - 00;34;40;12
Speaker 1
Yeah. Who's the well, that's what that's what makes this world champion is the most consistent. His eight races go get the most points. Who's consistent from February all the way to September. It's Vasco Vasco and it is this year. So yeah I mean your thoughts, you just can't argue with five top twos. Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty bloody impressive.
00;34;40;15 - 00;35;06;01
Speaker 1
So impressive I mean and again like for Houser to go for wins one tenth. That's. Yeah. That's not that's in a DNS. Yes it does show. I think like you can take D and FS as are like they weren't in the race. But you have to do everything to mitigate those risks. And that's what Vasco did. Vasco made sure that he hasn't stuffed up anywhere, which is very impressive.
00;35;06;02 - 00;35;28;25
Speaker 1
Like nodded and f not a crash. Yeah. So credit to Vasco. And here's the deserving world champ this year 100%, I think. I strongly believe that, you know, despite the argument of he hasn't beaten Hauser doesn't matter the the at the end of the day the rules are set, the points, the everybody everybody knows at the start of the year what races are going to get you points.
00;35;28;28 - 00;35;50;27
Speaker 1
Yeah. And he's he's like literally has that's why he's the world champion. Race it the best. Yeah. So I understand the point and I understand the point people are going to make. However go win the go win the Olympics. Yeah yeah. Yep. That's our one day. That's our one day race. Yep. That's our one day race. Audie, my next one.
00;35;51;00 - 00;36;10;23
Speaker 1
And obviously it kind of probably seems like I'm as the we keep sort of saying a few things about them, but as the trough on our like to say, I am writing the D a little bit here, but Cassandra Grant, I believe she's a better version of Gwen Jorgensen at her peak. Yeah, I think Cassandra Grant versus Gwen Jorgensen.
00;36;10;23 - 00;36;32;20
Speaker 1
I think Sandra Grant is a better version of of Gwen Jorgensen. Well, I think so as well, because she's a complete athlete. The running of Cassandra Grant is just as good, I think just as good as Gwen Jorgensen. However, swim, the swim bike aspect especially, you would see Gwen wasn't a horrible swimmer. You know, we're not a horrible swimmer.
00;36;32;22 - 00;36;52;18
Speaker 1
Her writing was not great. Like she was really, really struggling in the bike. She would somehow sometimes made the front pack, sometimes in the chase back. But Cassandra Grant, she's top three, top four, fifth, maybe out of the water all the time. Riding up the front. Yeah, she's coming from start to finish like that shows a whole triathlete.
00;36;52;21 - 00;37;09;07
Speaker 1
She's a complete triathlete. And I think that was the thing where Gwen Jorgensen was like, two minutes faster than every girl on the run. That's where she won the races because she was so, so fast. I think Sandra Grant, I mean, we saw how many national titles she broke on the track this year, this year or the road race.
00;37;09;10 - 00;37;31;04
Speaker 1
She's broke three national titles and she's gone five from six from six races that she's done this year. Yeah, the four World Series races before the championship final. She's won the championship final in Super League. Yeah. And got three national titles to name. So like you think caliber runner. Yeah I, I could be wrong, I could be wrong.
00;37;31;04 - 00;37;54;00
Speaker 1
And people might argue with me there, but I genuinely I really do believe Cassandra Grant is a better version of Gwen Jorgensen, I think because probably before this, I would argue that Gwen Jorgensen is potentially the best female triathlete we've ever had, just based off that winning streak that she had. Well, she had an incredible winning streak where I think it was almost like two years or something where she went undefeated.
00;37;54;02 - 00;38;19;23
Speaker 1
Gwen Jorgensen was like an incredible, incredible athlete. I think when Jorgensen her best, Gwen Jorgensen versus Cassandra Grant, both of their best Sandra wins. Yeah I think it show goes show the change in racing over the last ten years. So and you've seen it probably more so in long course triathlon. I know you don't follow it as strictly, but you had the era of the Uber biker.
00;38;19;24 - 00;38;44;05
Speaker 1
Yeah, that was such a big era. And then like the crazy runners now it's you have to be able to do it all. I think they're both coming together in a really cool dynamic of its merging. We saw Hayden and Alex, the Uber runners versus Vasco and Hauser, the Uber swim bikers who can also run yes, merge together on the weekend and, you know, bring in a Henry Graf Alessio Croce Max staple when he's not getting a flat tire.
00;38;44;08 - 00;39;05;14
Speaker 1
Dylan McCulloch with a little bit more training under his belt, like far out. Yeah. Unreal. The whole the more complete triathlete versus the Uber specialist. Yeah. And again, like, Hayden and Alex aren't bad. No, no. But obviously great bike riders. But like yeah they're not bad at it but they're obviously their strength is in the run. Yes.
00;39;05;16 - 00;39;34;00
Speaker 1
Yeah it's going to be cool okay. Going on to just dominant performances. Fairly slight. The most dominant junior performance ever. She led from the start of the swim. She soloed on the bike and then she ran the quickest time as well. Yeah. Like she looked kind of out of place in that junior women's race. When we speak about like what we said before, is she the most special up and coming prodigy in the world?
00;39;34;04 - 00;39;55;16
Speaker 1
Oh, I mean, like, the only other person I can really think of is like an ally Brownlee, who was a prodigy from like, I think he went to Beijing Olympics at 18, but I don't think he's done this. Yeah, maybe not. Honestly, maybe not. Well, I think she'll probably be at the next Olympics at. Yeah to go cycles are different because yeah depends on like age when you're born.
00;39;55;18 - 00;40;19;09
Speaker 1
But I think if she was she's only 18 now. If there was an Olympics this year she would probably be picked. I mean like to swim, like to have the fastest swim, the fastest run and to ride solo on the bike and only lose 30s. It's ultra impressive. She lost 30s to the fastest rider but still had so much time.
00;40;19;09 - 00;40;38;10
Speaker 1
I perceive that she came in by herself. Yeah, yeah, it it it's. I don't think we've seen any. And correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think we've ever seen a junior performance like that. Just wipe that absolute floor. I mean, people even spoke about how dominant Maddie Hauser was in the 2017 Rotterdam. Yeah, but led like he led out of the water.
00;40;38;11 - 00;40;56;01
Speaker 1
But he was still in a he was still in a pack of, you know, ten people to ride solo to run, run the fastest time. Yes. Like how has obviously had the fastest swim, fastest runtime in or maybe, maybe Ben Dijkstra might have run faster, but, in 2017. But one of the fastest runtimes, if not the fastest.
00;40;56;01 - 00;41;15;24
Speaker 1
But yes, you're right, he didn't ride off the front. No. Yeah. Potentially. Potentially I think it's there might be a junior a junior women's race we, we don't know about back in the day, but I, I think if you're a junior competitor Hannah Pollock the Aussie. Yeah. Great race. She did have a great race. First international race she's ever done.
00;41;16;01 - 00;41;33;15
Speaker 1
You know she's learning is crazy. Learning her craft. Still she's out there having you know trying to just learn how to be a good athlete when she's rocking up on the sideline for her first ever international race. And you've got, Red bull sponsored Fannie Sawai with a Red bull painted helmet on that Hayden Wild also has. Yeah.
00;41;33;21 - 00;41;56;21
Speaker 1
You think? Oh, shit. Yeah. That girl, that girl's scary. Yeah. Like I was like, I saw the Red bull sponsorship when she was racing. And my roommate, he's a kayaker. Doesn't know a whole lot about triathlon guys. She's sponsored by Red bull. Yeah, like she must be. They sponsor the elite of the elite. So for her to still be in the under 19 category is just incredible.
00;41;56;23 - 00;42;17;11
Speaker 1
Yeah. So good. And I feel like we've been hearing about Fanny for the last, like, eight years. Yeah, she's born in 2008. I think she might be the next prodigy. Like the triathlon prodigy. Yeah. And again, she's just a complete athlete. The fact that she ran away from Taylor nip. Yeah, in the World Cup, like. Yeah, that's a great take, I think.
00;42;17;11 - 00;42;38;22
Speaker 1
I think Fanny could be an a type of athlete, but I don't know if she has a run pedigree. I mean she's 18. She's so young. She's 17. 17. Well there you are. She's so young. 16. 17. It's 2008. She was born. Oh, yeah. Oh my God. Oh, yeah. No, that would be like. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. 18. Sorry.
00;42;38;22 - 00;43;01;09
Speaker 1
Yeah. You're right. So she's got time to develop a run. Like it's too early to know where her potential can go. Watch out. Imagine her doing that at World Series in about four years. Yeah. In off the front. Riding off the front. Crazy. All right, I've got one. And no disrespect to the boys up front. No disrespect to him.
00;43;01;09 - 00;43;30;19
Speaker 1
Maddie Hauser and Vasco Villasenor. You boys were first and second on the day. I genuinely believe that Alex Yee let them win. Now that you've said it, you can see it. You cannot tell me that someone with the light like someone can put. He had 42 seconds to catch up. He caught 42 seconds in seven kilometers. It's crazy.
00;43;30;25 - 00;43;59;16
Speaker 1
Less than six and a half. Seven K. He had one lap to go when he caught them. You cannot tell me that catching them in that shorter time, he couldn't run away and put 20 another 15 to 20s on that last lap. I understand that he motored to catch them. Yeah, but you cannot tell me that Alex Yee didn't couldn't have sat on for a K, got his breath back and then attacked C I think he should have just gone like just kept the momentum.
00;43;59;16 - 00;44;19;17
Speaker 1
And if he faded, he faded hard. No, but that's the thing. I think in a normal race, in a normal race, we've just blown past if say, if there was a if there was a way where Alex, because he was in no way in contention for the title. No way. Alex. She was so far down. I'm not actually sure where he ended up on the on the overall World Series, but he's only had one good race in Karlovy Vary.
00;44;19;24 - 00;44;36;25
Speaker 1
All the races were kind of shocking, and he's even admitted he's in a bit of a rut. He's out of the rut now. He's good. He's back. I think Alex Yee has so much respect for those boys up in front that will racing for the title all year. He got up to him and he let them win. And he let those two boys battle it out for that final race.
00;44;36;27 - 00;44;58;08
Speaker 1
And he just sat there and let him. I can see that happening because I feel as if he's won for like the legacies of the sport and what people want to see. He's friends with both of them. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. And they did deserve like the show to be on them. I did. They deserved the camera time running down that sprint finish and it was.
00;44;58;09 - 00;45;17;04
Speaker 1
And it ended up obviously like we said an epic sprint finish. Alex wouldn't have wanted to take that away from the past and going yeah, I've won by 15 seconds. He'll have his time. He'll come back next year. Yeah. He'll do that. Well, I think we'll see a big one this weekend in Rome. See what Alex is actually, this is this weekend.
00;45;17;04 - 00;45;38;12
Speaker 1
We'll see. Is Alex able to just blow pass them? I think he could. You can't. I'm sorry. But like, he had one whole three and a half k lap to go and he was with them. You cannot tell me that. He's just caught up 42 seconds. And then within the space of 3.5km, he wasn't able to run away from them after what he'd already done.
00;45;38;13 - 00;45;53;03
Speaker 1
Yeah. Because he just kind of sat in. He just he got there and just sat there and he went to the front for a little bit and then just kind of, yeah, maybe to push the pace, I don't know. But I, I, I don't think Alex G tried to win that. Yeah. I can see it happening. I can see it happen.
00;45;53;03 - 00;46;13;00
Speaker 1
He's such a nice guy. Yeah. Nobody else in the world would have done that. Yeah. You can't tell me Hayden Wilde is stopping to let the other way. He's taking it. Yeah, he's like 40 guys. Yeah, I mean, man must be rolling in it if he's happy to just let them go. Yeah, I mean, yeah, good on him.
00;46;13;03 - 00;46;35;29
Speaker 1
Hey. Sue came third. He's back I think Alex eight years back now. Like he was in that right. I was a bit questionable about him. Yeah, I think he's good. Yeah. I mean, maybe we say that as a bit of a discussion, like. I mean, this wasn't on the list, but are we going to see Alex. Yeah. And Hayden Wilde back in the picture next year because I, there was even a comment on can't remember if it was Hayden.
00;46;36;02 - 00;46;57;27
Speaker 1
Sorry if it was Hauser commenting on Hayden's post or vice versa. But Hayden said, you know, good job. Has, another super consistent year for ya. Bring on the 2027 WTC series. Yeah, well, I mean, I think he's back for the series. I think he is, because guess what. Same prize money he wants. He also race longer if he can race shorter.
00;46;57;28 - 00;47;11;23
Speaker 1
Yeah. Why? If I'm there for the money. Why would I not go for a short amount of time and get the same? That's true, that's true. That's going to shake things up a little bit with the prize purse, because that that has been such a talking point for the last few years is when are we going to match the short course with the long course?
00;47;11;23 - 00;47;31;22
Speaker 1
Because people are at the point where the, like so much more financially viable to go long and fair enough. Like why wouldn't you go race a Super League and like, like a Houser went and race the Super League 100 K compared to Calvary? Yeah, you might win a world title 25, but 75 less? Yeah. Is it worth it?
00;47;31;24 - 00;47;51;02
Speaker 1
Oh, I mean if that's a different argument, they're like money versus title. I believe it's worth it. Yeah, I, I would you're telling me that like trying for a world title over. You're telling me 75 grand over trying for a back to back world title. I'm going back to back like money. Money is great. But like, let's also be real houses.
00;47;51;02 - 00;48;27;18
Speaker 1
Not you know, he's not struggling. He's not got shallow pockets, right. Like like. Yeah. For me, prestige of being a back to back world champion weighs more than 75 grand. Yeah I would agree as well. I would totally agree. But we're not in that position. Where are you making a podcast? Yeah. Yeah. But no, that's. Yeah, I guess that's that's going to be exciting next year to sort of see those boys back in the mix and like we like we said like a Taylor nib coming back to the female side.
00;48;27;20 - 00;48;52;13
Speaker 1
Yeah that would be interesting. Yeah. Surely Darren as well. Potentially. Yeah. So I did sort of have that like and I know again, I don't want it to sort of seem like I'm just, you know, taking a dump on the Americans all the time, but they don't have a single category. Like we've got the Olympics in LA two years time.
00;48;52;16 - 00;49;12;29
Speaker 1
The Americans don't have a single title hope team like, I don't think so. Team USA don't have a single title. Hope going into the 2028 Olympics. Know who like they they got no one. Maybe Taylor NIB and Taylor Spivey if they come back. Sorry, but Reese Venison at the moment just isn't cutting it. John Reid isn't cutting it.
00;49;13;00 - 00;49;31;01
Speaker 1
I'm not saying that they're bad athletes like they smoke me. Sure. Yeah. I'm not trying. I'm not like, yeah, they take it to heart. The Americans, they do. They don't like it when they don't like it. When you give it a bit of, I don't know, I it's purely, it's purely just I mean like again we said Naomi rough she like had a great race in the weekend but she's not no medal.
00;49;31;02 - 00;49;57;21
Speaker 1
She's not a medal chance like I mean yeah sure. We've only got like one I mean Luke Wilson just got eighth in the series. So like great athlete I don't I'm sorry I don't think Morgan Pierce the top echelon of the sport I don't think they don't have something very special. Yeah. And I don't they don't have that special person which is crazy for I mean we've sort of seen it in we've got Brisbane 32 coming up, the amount of time, money investment that is going into that.
00;49;57;22 - 00;50;21;14
Speaker 1
But I think they've had massive investment and that's what I'm saying. You can't tell me the Americans haven't had that. They have a privately funded podium project. Yeah I think that's what it's called. Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah I have a women's one semi starting up. I would have had that started up a couple years ago. But then again like yeah even the the women in USA triathlon they that's a college.
00;50;21;16 - 00;50;43;23
Speaker 1
College. Yeah. Base. No like well triathlon is in the college system. Yeah. Yeah that's what I mean. Yeah. So I mean surely you've got athletes to pick from there. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I hate to make this seem like we're just, you know, taking a dump on the Americans. But again, I just think I think it's I think I'm super, super surprised that we haven't seen a wreath, venison type athlete or a female.
00;50;43;26 - 00;51;06;23
Speaker 1
Like, again, like I said, Ruff's probably coming through, but we've only really started speaking about her sort of this year. They don't have anybody that has blowing away. Yeah. The world and making me think that no one's special in two years time there, you've got a medal contender. Yeah. The Americans can really get around. I don't think Kirsten Casper had a great race on the weekend, but she sort of hit and miss.
00;51;06;23 - 00;51;29;09
Speaker 1
She's been around for ages. Yeah. I don't know, Gwen's. Gwen. 23rd on the weekend. Hit and miss. Yeah. Not cutting it. No. Anyway. But then again, they are, second place mixed team relay in the previous Olympics, so. Yeah. Who knows? Honestly, think they're all in for that? For me, the only athlete that I'm like, yeah, you are 100% certain to be on the American team.
00;51;29;09 - 00;51;48;12
Speaker 1
And I believe they are 100% certain should be Seth Rider. Yes. He's the only one that I genuinely believe has earned a spot as a mixed team specialist, and also somebody that they're guaranteed to have in the front pack. Yeah. Yeah, I, I would agree and probably I think yeah, Spivey is always up there but she's always in the fourth.
00;51;48;15 - 00;52;17;08
Speaker 1
So it's it's unfortunate. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Alrighty. We move on to the next World Series of the year, which is World Series, which is actually a World Cup, a World Cup. However, if you were to see the start list of this bad boy, we literally have the 2026 World Triathlon Series champion Vasco Villosa toeing the line. What do you reckon about that racing the week after you just one your world championship man.
00;52;17;10 - 00;52;37;28
Speaker 1
Go and have a beer. Have ten of them. Like, are you kidding me? I don't know, Vasco is the top character that would go and have shows to many beers shows. The Aussie say, do you know what the scariest thing is? I actually had no idea of this. Miguel Hidalgo is born the same year as me. Oh, God.
00;52;38;01 - 00;52;55;27
Speaker 1
Vasco is only a year older. God, does that not make me feel well? I mean, Alex is only two years older. Yeah, but you know what I can do with two years? I can't do with my birthday. The word. Oh. What's Batista? That's Jabba star. I know he's young. He's a young boy now, I think 2001. But, yeah, that's sort of sucks.
00;52;55;27 - 00;53;13;24
Speaker 1
Saying that the other day. He's been fighting for world titles the last couple of years, and I'm here doing a podcast about it against that. So hopefully that changes. But yeah, we'll quickly run through the big hitters of the men's start list Rome World Cup, which again, is absolutely stinking. Vasco Velasco, Miguel Hidalgo, Alex Ye, that's your one, two, three.
00;53;13;26 - 00;53;41;21
Speaker 1
Like come on. Jabba T star Diego Moya Nicola Zana Roberto Sanchez had a pretty good race in the weekend. John Reid. Rhys. Venison. Maybe they can, you know, prove me wrong. Nathan Gray or kind of Bentley. Miguel Silva. Michael. GA. Manuel. Messias. Solomon. Yeah. Alessio Croce, Ani Solomon. Smart, Simon Westermann, Max Huber, Musburger, Jack Willis, Toby Powers, the Aussie.
00;53;41;24 - 00;54;02;13
Speaker 1
The. We got hobo Allen. Hobo obviously just had a great race on the weekend. And honestly, we just got the Jasper aut field top six in the under 23. The last of Luis Taylor Reed. Oh honestly it's actually insane actually. Just keeps going on and on and on and on and on. We got what have we got 67 people on the start list.
00;54;02;13 - 00;54;26;03
Speaker 1
So that is just an incredible, incredible race. There are a couple of numbers missing. Yeah, yeah. Gotcha. So, yeah. That's insane. That is really insane. And I remember I less they've changed the course on me. This is a bit of a, chaotic race last year. Lots of crashes. They went up. Maybe it was the year before.
00;54;26;05 - 00;54;41;23
Speaker 1
It was super, super slippy. And they went up this really steep hill, and there was lots of crashes on the course. But, I mean, racing in Rome. That's awesome. This is on the, World Series. Not the world. Not the World Series. What is it called? Challenger series? No, no, I'm.
00;54;41;23 - 00;54;44;08
Speaker 3
Pretty sure no T-50 Championship Tour.
00;54;44;09 - 00;55;03;26
Speaker 1
Is that what it's called? The World Tour? Man, I don't know. I mean, we that'll be next year's brief when we come back in and we're like, what is this new thing called? We probably should know because we did do a interview with the World Triathlon president on this. I'm pretty sure it is the world tour. The world tour, the 50 world tour.
00;55;03;29 - 00;55;21;23
Speaker 1
Yeah. So this is going to be in the T-50 World Tour next year. So an exciting look, maybe why some of these boys are doing it to get a look at the course next year. But let's just get into it because it's already been a long. Who are your picks? Who are my picks? I'm going. Alex, you for the win.
00;55;21;23 - 00;55;26;16
Speaker 1
Well, I mean, after what he did on the weekend, you can't really, I think, Alex, I.
00;55;26;17 - 00;55;28;00
Speaker 3
Believe it's a sprint distance.
00;55;28;02 - 00;55;41;00
Speaker 1
Yeah. So, Alex, for the win, I don't think he's deficits going to be that big. And I think he's going to outrun Vasco. Yeah. Vasco, why are you racing? Have a beer. Yeah. Relax, brother.
00;55;41;02 - 00;55;41;23
Speaker 3
And then if.
00;55;41;23 - 00;56;08;16
Speaker 1
Vasco is actually racing. Because I hope these on here. And I hope he does Vasco in second. And you know what? I'm going. Janelle Batista. Yeah. In third. I was just thinking that same thing. Those boys have such crazy rum pedigree. And he's raced well like this year. Like starting on the World Series. So I'm going to give him a third, give more of a relaxed field as well compared to a World Series.
00;56;08;17 - 00;56;32;20
Speaker 1
Yeah. So I think he'll have a good day. I it could actually go. Anyone like Conor Bentley. Yeah I had a great race in the weekend. Yeah. That was very impressive. My god. Yeah. All right. Now that we've gone, we've gone through all of them. Anyone any one of those guys could win. Yeah. I'm going to go purely just out of respect for him Vasco Villosa for the win.
00;56;32;22 - 00;56;52;27
Speaker 1
Yeah. Newly crowned world champion. Got to pick him. Newly crowned champion Vasco for the win Alex year for second. Them actually gonna go Roberto Sanchez up for third Miguel just kind of looked not great on the weekend. And I and I don't think that he's going to be able to come back into that fighting form straight away. And Roberto Sanchez looked like he was running really well.
00;56;52;27 - 00;57;17;01
Speaker 1
So I'm just I'm going to go Roberto based off that. And again, you've got some you've got another really big mix here of, you know, your Vasco Vallejo, Miguel Hidalgo Diego Moya is a great swimmer. Then either then you go down Connor Bentley, great swimmer Miguel Silva, great swimmer. Michael GA. Hojo is there. You got to say, I saw the Italian.
00;57;17;03 - 00;57;19;08
Speaker 1
So we're going to have.
00;57;19;10 - 00;57;21;19
Speaker 4
Is a Dylan. Is Dylan McCulloch there?
00;57;21;19 - 00;57;35;24
Speaker 1
No, no, I don't believe so. Taylor Reid, was there another great swimmer there? So you've got the swim bikers there. Are they going to be able to stay away? We'll see. But yeah yeah that's my three into the women also just as stacked. Yeah we have two man.
00;57;35;27 - 00;57;36;19
Speaker 4
And Diana.
00;57;36;20 - 00;57;37;14
Speaker 1
Is a cover.
00;57;37;15 - 00;57;41;00
Speaker 4
Jolene. Verme. Bianca Serena Laura Lindemann,
00;57;41;03 - 00;58;16;06
Speaker 1
Franca rust and Valentina reservoir. Those two have Kate wharf racing. Kirsten. Casper's also had a good one on the weekend. Fanny Salai newly, Yeah, it is limey rough live. Matthias. It's it's as well. Same as the men. Same as the men. I think a lot of people are probably. You know, it's also probably trying to utilize the, that they've obviously got after doing such a big block leading into the World Championships, and now they're probably just holding on using that, trying to get some World Series.
00;58;16;13 - 00;58;34;28
Speaker 1
Trying to get some Olympic points. Yeah. Exactly right. So give us your top three. I'm going to go to a to Manson. I think she's going to pick yourself up after the week. Probably going to come together. I mean, I'm looking at it and it's it's another one of the men's, you know, when you got those good top end swimmers, you know, your Taylor Spivey, Kate Tilly, Anima, live and tires.
00;58;35;00 - 00;58;52;24
Speaker 1
You know, they're going to want to break away, but could get away. I'm just thinking. No, just thinking. No. So I'm going to go tour to Manson. I think she's gonna, you know, show up after last week, Kate off, in second. And then I'm going to go. Caspar. Kirsten, Casper. She's going to hold on to that good form and, take, you know, the great race from the weekend.
00;58;52;27 - 00;59;14;09
Speaker 1
Okay. I think I'm before Laura Lindemann for my win. Okay. She did a pretty good race from the weekend, so can't argue with that. Then I'm going. I'll go tilde over five k. I think she's she's going to be up there in that pack. Yeah. And then you actually just can't go past our Diana is a cover. She's actually running very well at the moment.
00;59;14;09 - 00;59;33;06
Speaker 1
And we've, we've seen a, like when World Cups before. So I just think in this level field. No not yet. You don't reckon she came seventh. Yeah. But taped off. She was the same package. Kate. Okay. Now you've picked it. Now you got to see. Yeah, yeah, I've got a peak. But either way, it's going to be great.
00;59;33;06 - 00;59;52;02
Speaker 1
And we'll also follow the next day with a, another mixed team relay. So that's going to be really cool. Obviously a lot of athletes sort of fighting for that, fighting for that spot. I know in the Aussies we have three. We've got two pals, Jordan, Rick, Brad core. So we're going to have sort of those three men fighting for those, those two positions.
00;59;52;02 - 01;00;11;02
Speaker 1
And then you've got Aspen, Anderson and Tilly offered. Tilly offered. First time being back on the World Cup circuit. Yeah, a very impressive story. Yeah. Very impressive story from from I think before. Yeah. We have obviously coming back from that very severe crash and you know, making our way back onto the, onto the circuit, it kind of gives people hope I think like gives gives people like, I mean, even myself.
01;00;11;02 - 01;00;25;19
Speaker 1
And I know you you've like struggled with injury before, like knowing that there is a path back. And I think Tilly's only like maybe a year or two older than us. But, you know, there is a way and if you truly are passionate about the sport and you really love the sport enough and you can make it back to the start line.
01;00;25;19 - 01;00;40;29
Speaker 1
So hope she does well. A quick shout out Lauren Parker. Oh yeah. Her six world championship win. I wanted to like I was just trying to figure that out on the weekends. I wanted to do a post about it, but.
01;00;41;01 - 01;01;04;11
Speaker 1
The best power athlete we've ever seen. Yeah, I think so. I think it's the most para wins ever. It's the most world titles ever in this one. I'm unsure if any other Aussies one of her race or it was actually devastating. Teammate of ours, Sam Harding and Aaron Royal. If you haven't seen that one, he they are tripped over in the finish shoot and came fourth.
01;01;04;13 - 01;01;26;02
Speaker 1
Were they fighting for her? Yeah, they were there in third. Yeah. So no but yeah. Yeah. Bugger. Anyway see how hard both those guys work. And. Yeah it's tough to see that sometimes. Yeah. So that was a bit of a I guess para wrap up. Yeah. Cool. I think that's, that's been everything for this week. I mean oh God.
01;01;26;04 - 01;01;37;16
Speaker 1
So much to cover. I mean there's still a lot. I mean, we put a lot of it's on our Instagram. So if you want to go and look, we tried to do as much coverage as what we could over the weekend. And obviously working with some of the pro try and news guys as well, trying to help us get some.
01;01;37;18 - 01;01;52;25
Speaker 1
I think there's obviously a lot of chaotic stuff that we saw happen in the race, the bloody men's pontoon collapsing when they were trying to come out all like it was Walking Dead style, I know. Yeah, it was, wasn't it? Kind of big, scary, but yeah, crazy crazy week. And that's a world champs. And that's the sort of stuff we love.
01;01;52;26 - 01;02;13;10
Speaker 1
It literally is. I think we're coming into a very good era of triathlon, I think a very good era of triathlon. So, golden era. I don't think we're in the golden era. I think that was you know, we've definitely touched on that sort of 2012, 16, 16. That was great. Maybe 2019. But but you always look back and go, oh, the good old days.
01;02;13;11 - 01;02;30;07
Speaker 1
Exactly. You know, there's probably going to be there's probably there's junior boys that don't even remember that. No. But yeah, yeah. Either way, I think the sport's headed in the right direction. And we've got some great talent coming out and plenty of racing still come this year. Plenty. Plenty of cups. Still another World Series. Yeah, that'd be Derby.
01;02;30;07 - 01;02;47;09
Speaker 1
A bit of an asterisk next year, but. But still a good race it'll be then. Yeah. Oh, guys, thank you very much for listening. If you made it this far. Good job. Is a bit of a longer episode. And we really appreciate all the support, especially over the weekend and any new followers that we might have. After that, we obviously, you know, like to do it a bit differently.
01;02;47;10 - 01;03;03;13
Speaker 1
We like to try and give our honest opinion on everything. You know, we don't like to be soft. We'll, we'll, you know, tell how it is, shoot the shit if we need to. Oh, guys, thank you very much. This is the unfunded podcast, and we will give you a wrap up of the Rome World Series next weekend.
01;03;03;18 - 01;03;04;16
Speaker 1
Bye. Good job.