“This looks uncomfortable!” “The first kilometers in the transition from cycling to running will be interesting.” “This must be a joke!” Reactions are pouring in on several cycling forums and in the rest of the triathlon world after Gustav Iden posted a picture of his new sitting position. For the 28-year-old is in the final preparations for the WC in Ironman, which will be held in Kona in Hawaii. And Iden has resorted to an extreme move: a sitting position that the triathlon world has almost never seen before. – There are many who think I’m trolling, then. That I only do it to put out my competitors. It’s kind of funny that people think I put so much into the mental game that I change my sitting position just to take a video on Instagram, says Iden to news on the thread from Flagstaff in the USA. At an altitude of over 2,000 metres, the final touches are made for Norway’s leading triathletes. Between all the training, of course, social media also have their place. This has led to a “resurrection” – also among the competitors. – I have received messages from some of my competitors asking about the position. “How much faster is it actually?”. I don’t want to answer actual numbers yet, says Iden and adds: – I’m happy to provoke a bit online, so I’ve somehow achieved what I’ve been looking for, he says. NORWEGIAN SUPERDUO: Kristian Blummenfelt (furthest away) and Gustav Iden during the training stay in Flagstaff, USA. Photo: Privat – Not comfortable at all Just to be clear: Iden’s sitting position is not a joke. He believes that you can save up to 15 minutes on an Ironman distance only with optimal aerodynamics. – That position looks quite strained, but I am in a way in tension. I use very little strength in my stomach, back and shoulders and so on. The only thing I have to do is just stay on the board, says Iden. DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: It may look like the image has been taken out of a Flåklypa film, but all the details of Gustav Iden’s sitting position are carefully analysed. Photo: Privat The “Superman position” that can lead to World Cup cheers can be compared to sitting on a chair and stretching your arms straight out, according to Iden. When you then have to do it for up to four hours, both one and the other body part will be battered, unless you have the core muscles of Iden. – This cannot be comfortable at all. Aerodynamics expert Luca Oggiano tells news. He drew some wild comparisons to Iden’s position: Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman. Two cyclists who had such extreme sitting positions that they were banned due to safety concerns. Iden also agrees with the Boardman comparison. Excited about the “gambling”, Oggiano has, among other things, collaborated with the cycling team Ineos Grenadiers, formerly Team Sky, to shave off every second for Chris Froome to win the Tour de France overall. – I’m a little curious to see how this will work. This is something that stands out, says Oggiano. Among other things, he took part in aerodynamic tests before Kristian Blummenfelt tried to become the first in the world to get under seven hours at an Ironman distance. He did it on 5 June 2022: A milestone in the sport of triathlon. – This is a radical position Although Oggiano says he is curious about how Iden will cope with sitting in the “superman position” for so many hours, the trainer comes to the Norwegian with amusing words. – All major changes in the cycling position will always require some adjustment before the body is fully accustomed to it. This is a radical position, so it requires a bit more getting used to. But it is there that Gustav feels that it is under control. That’s what Olav Aleksander Bu says, who coaches both Iden and former Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt. HUNT THE DETAILS: Olav Aleksander Bu is the trainer for Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt. Together, they seek to get from A to Z as quickly as possible, both on land and at sea. The picture is from the Alexander Dale Oen Arena in Bergen before the Olympics in Paris. Photo: Agnieszka Iwanska / news Bu told news that they have experimented with even more extreme positions, but that this position offers good improvements compared to the one Iden had previously. – Gustav is still being stepped up. This gives an opportunity to be a little more extreme or radical in some areas, such as aerodynamics, says Bu. For Iden would have been considered one of the big favorites before this year’s Ironman in Kona, but due to an Achilles problem, the Norwegian has struggled to put in the important training hours with his running shoes on. – I can only hope that it is the person who is the worst trained who wins Ironman Hawaii. That is the goal, says a joking Iden, who quickly also clarifies that his ambition for the prestigious WC Ironman is to finish in the top five. Published 12.10.2024, at 16.38
ttn-69
– Radical position – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
