Al Sultan, Widoff, Brown assemble for men's press conference
By Jay Prasuhn
Oct. 20 -- The male assemblage at this year's pre-race press conference Wednesday brought much of the same lines of answering as most conferences, discussing the weather, the respect of the other players and hopes-until Cameron Widoff came to the mic. When mediator Greg Welch introduced Widoff saying he'd been quite vocal about his chances this year, The Wildman's response was status quo. "You got that right."
"I guess you can call it bravado, but I chalk it up to experience," said last year's fifth-place finisher and top American. I just keep getting better every year. My training has been great, I feel great, I've done all the right thing. This is my 16th race in Kona and winning the race would be a lifelong dream. I'm looking forward to that Saturday."
The rest of the men-reigning world champion Faris Al Sultan of Germany as well as New Zealander Cameron Brown and Belgian Rutger Beke kept most of their plans, hopes and dreams pretty close to vest, focusing mostly on the race and its challenges. For most, the island heat has been a topic of conversation. The heat on the island seems to be slightly more stagnant, with less breezes in town, along Alii and along the run stretches of the Queen K to provide any semblance of cooling. As always, it come down to the run, but it could be even more pronounced.
"I went for a run along Alii Drive last night off the bike, and you come back absolutely soaked," Brown said. "I haven't seen any tradewinds this year yet. If it's going to be like that, the run is going to be very, very tough. Guys that take out the run too fast will suffer later on when they make it to the Energy Lab.
Al Sultan doesn't seem any worse for wear wearing the heavy yolk as defending champion, as he confirmed his season was equally unburdened by the title, recognizing that while he is prepared for the day, his competitors are equally primed toward Saturday. "Of course, Hawaii is the race that counts, but you don't win races that you aren't 100 percent prepared for, like South Africa, like I did, and coming fifth," he said. "Of course I feel the pressure, but I have won the race. I can do it. This is important, because everyone that has (won) knows he is able to."
When asked about his runner-up finish to Chris McCormack at the Roth Challenge, Al Sultan was nonplussed. "That just told me that on that day, he was faster than me-nothing more, nothing less. He is under way bigger pressure than I am because he is way more keyed on winning (the) race here than I am, and he hasn't done it so far. I'm pretty relaxed about that. Of course I want to win every race I enter, but it won't happen if you're not 100 percent. If course, everyone peaks at this race because it's so much more important than everything else."
As for how the race will unfold, the athletes are as at a loss as the prognosticators. "There's 10 guys who could win the race," Brown said. "I expect it will be no different. Faris, Normann are all swimming, biking and running well. Its gonna be a tough race."
Widoff: There's nothing imaginary. I just ask for a safe passage on this place. I think last Sunday was an example. This is my 16th race here, and I just keep getting better.
Widoff: I think I have more experience. I thnk that accts for quite a bit. Winning the race would be alifelong dream. I'm looking forward to that Saturday.
As for Beke, he was faced with zero questions about his false positive EPO test a couple years ago, a relief for a guy who is happy to focus exclusively on the race like the rest of his competitors.
"It's a big change," Beke said. "Last year I was really nervous at the press conference, nervous about what everybody was thinking, how they were looking at me. This year it's all in the past. I know the guys here at the table believe in me. I never think about that year anymore. I'm totally focused on the race."
His leadup to the race is one he's happy with, and his race plan is crystal clear. "I did three weeks in the French Pyrenees, then I went to Lanzarote, then I came here since the end of September," Beke said. "I'm doing the same thing I did the other years, but the only difference I feel stronger on the bike and run. I know I'll never come out of the water with Faris, so I'm trying to close the gap to the group of Cameron Brown. I hope to be in the first group before the turn to Hawi. That's my main goal for the first part of the race. I know Cameron is running strong, so I'd need to drop him on the bike. We'll see Saturday."