European Games Triathlon. All about the Bike.

The course had a bit of everything with multiple changes of surface and direction, including a lap of a running track and intricate entry and exit lines on roundabouts along with some sweeping bends. It suited those with good acceleration and recovery profiles along with expected sustained power and handling.

Women's Race. Erin McConnell.

In the women's race Erin McConnell was in a front pack early, riding well and staying away from the back where she could. With timing at 2.7km and 5km every lap we can look at where the pressure went on in the various groups. The section from 27.7km to 30km and the following split to 32.7 saw the fastest sectional times of the day. Unfortunately McConnell was at the back of the lineout coming through the stadium about 3 seconds off the end just as the group was about to go from an average of 4 minutes 36 seconds to a 4.21 for the opening 2.7km of the next lap. It was at 26km that Miller, the real difference maker on the day, Solveth, Merle and Steinhauser took a small lead just through constant pressure. At that moment McConnell was 7th in line behind them with a further 12 behind her. However by 29km she was on the back and with the pace high there were likely no opportunities to slide further forward. After 32km the pace steadied but by ten it was too late and McConnell was 2 minutes down starting the run. 

Men's Race. Luke Mccarron, James Edgar.

Luke Mccarron had statistically his best ever swim, exiting the water in his first standard distance international race 1.14 down on the leader. While in many races that would not be close enough to get in the mix later on, there were a number of athletes around him who did make it to the front, with Yanis Seguin of France coming 4th, having exited T1 on the same second as Mccarron. The sectional times show Seguin going 4.10 and 2.50 over the first 5km, while Mccarron and others around him including Mario Mola were over 4.20 and 3 minutes. The next 2 splits show where the Seguin group is holding the pace of the front while the Mccarron group has no power left. A 4.04/2.47 versus 4.35/3.07 left Mccarron group at 2.31 from the front while Seguin was holding a 1.09 gap.  There will have been experience gained every minute and looking forward to his next race in Long Beach after the relay.

Once a gap opens at this level its not likely to be closed and James Edgar had a few too many top end surges to close out of corners and lost the 2nd group early and then the next at about 20k, both of which got back to the front of a large group coming in to start the run. Missing the front group by 2 seconds coming out of transition Edgar was just ahead of a group including Stornes, Varga and Pevtzov and by the 2.7km check was on the back of a small group 10 seconds off the back end of the front group, 30 seconds clear of chasers. By the next check at 5km he is 7 seconds off the back of the Stornes group and had probably gone too far into the red to recover in time to stay on the following group.  His solo 10k would indicate he is in really good condition but just not getting every out on the day with something missing on the bike. 

There are, as always, plenty of take-aways for athletes and coaching teams, both those competing and those at home watching. Full race replays are available here https://europeangames.tv/videos?Sport=sport%3ATriathlon

Coaching.

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