Wow! LCB and Kona on the Independent’s main sport page. LINK
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I’m away tomorrow but might be able to watch some of it from the purple hotel!
Still can’t make a call on my picks. I do think Kat will get on the podium but not top spot.
Got a feeling for LCB though
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Yeah same. I’m thinking LCB too.
I’m going out out tmw to a 40th bday party with Mrs GB. So will have to just keep a watching eye on it through the evening I guess. We’ll probs get home before midnight, so as long as I’m not too inebriated, I could watch the end! 
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There’s too many to pick. I’ve watched a lot of the interviews, podcasts and press conference stuff the past few days (got some more to get through later) and I’m still none the wiser.
I’ve got Laura, Lucy and Kat right up there but Taylor could lead onto the run. I’d like to see Marjorlaine do well as well as as Solveig. Oh, and I like India Lee as well.
I have no plans tomorrow evening and the fridge has a selection of Kona Brewing Company beers nicely chilled. My main struggle will be staying awake but I’m hoping a tight race at the front will keep me going.
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Those three are ahead of anyone else imo. Then its Knibb who might be close and a good few others that could have a very good day or pick up the pieces if any of the big 3 / 4 have a bad day.
I’d go for Kat third time lucky but I’m concerned about her having a bit of a melt down like last time on the bike, but maybe that was a one off.
LCB, Kat, Taylor, Laura.
A bit like Lange in Nice I think Laura might be a bit too far back (although she should bike and run up to third or fourth.)
I dont think Taylor has the bike advantage everyone seems to thing she has… Kat has matched her and others have in T100 this year. She will be closer to the front out of the swim sure… and I guess at some people shes going to figure out the IM run.
Its a difficult one to call.. cant wait
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Her Breakfast with Bob was interesting in that regard she explained how she was effectively dealing with some unprocessed PTSD having had that serious crash in 2023 in her pre kona camp then immediately travelling to Kona. When she came back in 2024 she was really stressed and worrying about being hit.
Sounds like she got the right help and is in a much better place this year.
I’m going for:
- LCB
- Laura
- Kat
With every chance Kat might suprise us. Think LCB is going to lay down something special.
Got to be a course record this year regardless of who wins.
Can’t wait for this one!
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Yeah, I watched that. Hope she has it sorted.
Re: the Kat v Laura battle…
I think Laura got Nice perfect. So strong on the climbing. Made Kat burn matches to stay with her and that was the difference that showed on the run. Think they have similar run pedigree.
Now, I know people will say what about Hamburg? Well you need to consider the whole long day imo… Laura sat on Kat pretty much all day, clever racing… remember Kat leading the swim and backstroking saying ‘come on, do some work’ when she couldnt drop them (Laura). Steph had pulled out with illness, and if she had been there I think the result would be a semi comfortable Kat win.
So thats why I put Kat ahead of Laura if she has banished the demons and nothing really random happens.
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I equal could go with what I originally posted or your order but Laura and Kat swapped.
My original order was Kat and Knibb ahead of Laura (for reasons I posted above)
Last year Nice suited LP, the hills, lower temps and humidity, and she exploited it, I think her swim will make it impossible to win in Kona with Lucy there… even a podium without the hills big climbs might be a struggle.
For me the biggest unknown is Taylor Knibb at IM distance her runs have been poor at such a level… in NZ if the 70.3 champs were 28km Kat would have won… imo.
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Looking forward to it.
I’ve switched allegiance to Kat, she really is a smart, engaging and interesting athlete. Sort of like Sebastian Kienle was back in the day, lights up the place in the way others don’t. Sorry LCB….
But as for predictions….such a tough one, but I have to go Laura. If all else fails in Kona pick the best runner out of the contenders.
It’s fairly benign conditions wise, and if Laura was in contention off the Nice bike, then a benign Kona should be doable too. That’s even if there is more of a swim gap due to Lucy ripping the field apart.
A second gun to tape course record effort from LCB would be an incredible thing to watch too.
- Laura
- LCB
- Kat
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I’m so far out of the loop these days that I hadn’t even realised this was on today!
In other breaking news, I have no idea who won any of the GTs this year, or even who is the TT and Road WC? 
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If Laura has a bad day (not wishing it), wouldn’t this be great
- Lucy
- Kat
- Holly
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Take a guess, you’d be right
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Hokay….
“I was a content creator long before I was a triathlete…”
“Now I’ve known the life of a showgirl, I’ll never know another…”
No ambiguity there then. My daughters ignore my efforts to get them inspired by the FPros but I’m sure there are many that are. Tying your story to the reform of a porn distributor is an interesting approach.
I do like LCB but she’s more the marketing department athlete, glamorous looks and an absolutely brilliant triathlete but usually comes across as media trained on the few times I’ve heard her.
Kat is more the athletes athlete, said before that I’m fairly sure I’ve seen her at time trials getting a decent session in.
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Before LCB moved over to Cube, I used to watch a lot of her stuff and LO was (and is somewhat still) a big fan.
A few years ago I wrote her via her team website and she asked for my address and sent LO a few signed pics, and a big poster and a key ring and wished her lots of luck in her racing.
Those pics are still on LO’s wall but something in me says that LCB or her team, just wouldn’t do that now. A lot of her stuff is clickbait now and heavily edited to give you the impression that if you keep watching, they will be some some nuggets of training like power numbers or something but then they don’t reveal it and you’ve been basically watching a massive ad for the latest ‘partner’.
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I know very little about the site/app other than wheat I think we all pretty much know. Someone commented saying “welcome to the club” and he looks like a motorbike rider who has a OF account as well. So maybe they’re trying to get away from that image.
I did agree with this comment on instagram on a photo of her wearing an OF hat though…
If you wear that hat out in public, and people don’t know who you are.
They’re going to be thinking something totally different.
OnlyFans is unfortunately labeled as a pornsite.
Maybe that will change. Good on her for trying to do that. Good luck.
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Does anyone know the start time (UK)?
I look it up in a bit, but wondered if anyone knew.
I’ll watch until about 9:30 - 10pm and then pause it so I can watch it in the morning and fast forward the ads. Unless its so gripping I cant turn it off.
17:25 start
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