Afrigather Just a few days in the past, one other article appeared explaining the backup plans for the triathlon and the marathon swim occasions on the Paris Olympics if the water high quality within the Seine is unsafe.
AP News reported what we already know. If the water high quality deteriorates, there might be a number of days delay if the scheduled days are unsafe. If the water high quality stays unsafe after that, the triathlon will turn into a duathlon. However the marathon swimming occasions will stay marathon swimming occasions and will likely be held on the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, which may even host the rowing and canoeing occasions.
Why no Plan B for triathlon?
This begs the query. Why hasn’t there been a Plan B put in place to maintain the triathlon a triathlon? The marathon swimmers aren’t being advised to do a run as a substitute! They aren’t being advised they should do the swim in a pool.
However the triathletes are being advised there’s a possible they should do a very totally different sport! Sure, working and biking are a part of a triathlon. However a duathlon is a basically totally different sport.
Echoing this was a conversation I had with Olav Aleksander Bu, the coach of Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt. In an interview I did with him for Street to Paris, I requested in the event that they have been getting ready for the eventuality of the triathlon changing into a duathlon. He stated, completely not! They have been getting ready for the triathlon, that the duathlon prep could be fully totally different.
I’m positive the Worldwide Olympic Committee is stuffed with extraordinarily sensible people. However someplace within the planning course of a hyperlink broke down. Maybe these in control of mitigating the water high quality overpromised and underdelivered to the IOC. Perhaps they saved reassuring the Committee that the water high quality could be superb, so no plan B for the triathlon was even thought-about exterior of morphing it into a very totally different sport.
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This shouldn’t be a shock
This subject didn’t simply sneak up on anybody although. The Blended Relays and the Para Check Occasion have been become duathlons final summer time. At that time, a 12 months out from the Video games, from my naïve perspective, it appears an alternate choice ought to have been crafted. I get that possible the scenic backdrop of the center of Paris was an enormous consider not wanting to maneuver the race venue, however nonetheless!
Quite than simply complaining, let me supply an answer. I checked on how far the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium is from the Pont Alexandre III Bridge the place the transition space is positioned. On what look like very viable roads, it’s 32.8km. Ponder that!
A missed alternative
The biking leg within the triathlon is 40km. This might have been our Tour de France second. The final stage of most Excursions begins exterior of Paris, then concludes with some laps on the Champs-Élysées. The triathlon course might have mimicked that very same dynamic. The bike might have completed with a lap or two on the famed boulevard, then concluded on the Pont Alexandre III Bridge overlooking the Seine with the Eiffel Tower within the background. Epic!
However that doesn’t appear to be within the playing cards.
I hope I’m simply venting over nothing. The AP Information article I’m referring to did say that the water high quality has been adequate to swim in 5 out of the final seven days. Hopefully and loads of sunny days, we are going to bear witness to what is going to possible be essentially the most iconic triathlon (not a duathlon) to ever happen, all within the coronary heart of Paris.
See you on the Seine!
