Rapp, Jackson to test bike prowess at Amgen ToC TT
When the Amgen Tour of California commences Stage 6, this Friday, for the 15-mile time trial in Solvang, a pair of triathletes will test their mettle against the course.
Some might say it's not fair to compare triathlete Jordan Rapp's time in the TT to that of a stage racer who's already got five—make that four, due to the weather-canceled Stage 1—stages already under his belt.
On the other hand, Rapp raced 142 miles on the bike day before yesterday, not in a peloton, and with a 3.1-mile swim prior to and a 14-mile run after, in 102 degree heat. So, maybe, all things equal, it's a fair fight.
Rapp will ride his Specialized Shiv outfitted with a SRAM Red group kit and Zipp wheels. Aside from his strong cycling skills, Rapp is also an engineer, a F.I.S.T. bike fit instructor specializing in tri and TT bike position, and a specialist in timed racing. So, does he possess technology or knowledge advantages because of the timed-race specificity of his sport?
Or do the bike racers, their mechanics, tools, and expertise in cycling alone represent an advantage in equipment and knowledge? Will Friday's event do anything to answer that question? Probably not, but, they're fun questions anyway.
Heather Jackson is a 70.3 specialist, so 15 miles worth of bike racing won't play to her strengths anymore than they'll play to Rapp's. But she's got specific bike talent, more often than not posting the fastest ride of the day whenever she competes—including at the most recent 70.3 Worlds in Clearwater.
Jackson's also got a secret weapon in beau Sean Watkins (Wattie), a veteran bike racer and trackie. And, Jackson herself jumps in bike races quite often.
She'll be racing her Speed Concept outfitted with SRAM, Bontrager aerobars and front wheel and, most recently seen on the rear of her bike, a HED prototype disc.
Jackson's got a special incentive to do well on Friday: a 10-place deep, $10,000 women's prize purse. She'll be racing against the best in the world in womens timed racing, including Garmin-Cervelo's reigning World TT champ Emma Pooley, and the girl who sat on the WC throne a year prior: America's Kristin Armstrong. Armstrong is also the reigning Olympic time trial champion.
Also in the field is Amber Neben, a great all-rounder and a time trial expert. She's always just a tick in front or behind Armstrong and Pooley.
Usually, single sports delivers us our best triathletes. Every now and then triathlon returns the favor (Lance Armstrong, Lukas Verzbicas). One such case is former age group triathlon standout Rhae Shaw, 10:02 in Kona in 2009 (3rd amateur), whose cycling strength convinced her to move to cycling only—this, in her mid 30s. Rhae is fresh off a 4th in the GC at Tour of the Gila, and will give the Solvang course a go.
Yours truly will be there as well, as I was last year for the AToC TT in downtown L.A. I was Chrissie Wellington's minute man. Alas, a manhole cover vanquished me before Chrissie could. Upon checking with the race organization, neither Chrissie nor that manhole cover will be at Solvang this year, so I decided to give it another try and see if I can complete the entire 15 miles this time.
