Has Age Group Racing Jumped Up A Level? | The GTN Show Ep. 356

Summary

The GTN show this week delves into the impressive results from AG group racing at Iron Man Hamburg, where age groupers achieved record-breaking times, suggesting a significant rise in competitive level. Drama unfolded in the women's race with athlete Cat Matthews disqualified for overtaking in a no-overtake zone. The show also covers Jonas Dman's ongoing 120-day Iron Man challenge, tech updates from the Norwegians, and new developments in sports apparel and wheel technology. Additionally, it discusses Iron Man Pro Series standings, the British selectors' challenge in choosing Olympic team members, and previews upcoming races including the t00 in San Francisco.

Takeaways

• 🚴 AG Group Racing has potentially advanced a level, with recent impressive results indicating higher competitiveness.
• 🎢 The Ironman Hamburg women's race was full of drama, with Kat Matthews being disqualified for overtaking in a no-overtake zone.
• ⚙️ Kat Matthews experienced a mechanical issue during the race, yet managed to catch up before her disqualification.
• 🚴‍♂️ Jonas Deichmann is on day 27 of his 120 Ironmans in 120 days challenge, maintaining high spirits.
• 🚴‍♀️ The top age groupers in Ironman Hamburg posted extremely fast times, raising questions about whether age group racing standards have significantly increased.
• 🎥 Ironman has partnered with DAZN, a free streaming platform, to broadcast races globally (except in the USA, Canada, and China).
• 🏅 The Norwegian triathlon team continues rigorous preparations for the Olympics, with extensive testing and altitude training.
• 🚵 The Unbound Gravel event showcased a growing focus on aerodynamics in gravel racing, similar to trends seen in triathlon.
• 💸 German wheel specialist Lightweight has released a new high-end wheelset priced at £8,799, aimed at top-tier riders.
• 🏊‍♂️ Fusion, a clothing brand, claims to be the first to have an in-house wind tunnel for daily testing and fabric development.

Q & A

What was one of the main topics discussed in this week's GTN show?

The main topic discussed was whether AG group racing has gone up a level, particularly in light of the weekend's results.

What incident led to Kat Matthews' disqualification at Iron Man Hamburg?

Kat Matthews was disqualified for overtaking in a no-overtake zone due to a misunderstanding with the race Ranger's red light signal.

What mechanical issue did Kat Matthews face during the Iron Man Hamburg race?

Kat Matthews had a problem with her hydration mount, which snapped off, causing her to fumble on the side to fix it and carry the broken mount and bottle with her.

How did Sar Sphinx's race at Iron Man Hamburg get affected?

Sar Sphinx had a crash due to braking too late at a tight 180-degree turn, leading to a puncture shortly after.

Who is Jonas Dman and what challenge is he currently undertaking?

Jonas Dman is on day 27 of attempting to complete 120 Iron Mans in 120 days.

What notable performance did an age-group athlete achieve at Iron Man Hamburg?

An age-group athlete, L. Vicker, set a new Iron Man amateur world record, being the fastest time ever by an amateur.

What is the new partnership Iron Man has announced and what does it involve?

Iron Man has partnered with 'The Zone', a free streaming platform for sports, to present all Iron Man Pro Series races for the next two years, excluding the USA, Canada, and China.

What innovative training method are the Norwegians using to prepare for the Olympic Games?

The Norwegians are using core sensors and body rocket technology to monitor and enhance their training, as shown in their new video documenting their preparations at high altitude.

What significant race happened in the gravel world recently?

The Unbound Gravel event took place, where athletes used innovative aerodynamic equipment like aero bars and jerseys with bladder pockets for hydration.

What new technological advancement has Fusion announced for their clothing development?

Fusion has claimed to be the first clothing brand to build and finance an in-house wind tunnel for daily testing and fabric development to enhance their clothing products.