To be fair, Blu is the current Ironman world champion and distance record holder (if that is actually meaningful given differing courses and conditions) as well as the current Olympic gold medalist. He’s not too bad given he’s still a novice at the distance 
Hard to argue against Jan being the goat at the moment but if any one currently racing can better it, it is Blu.
Okay, I’m giving scorecards for TTT form. Some of it is painful.
Matthews 4/10
Spirig 6/10
Blu 8/10
Skipper 9/10
——
Scored before Blus team nearly crashed 
“Skipper 280W 150bpm” 54kph
Seems a high HR for such a low wattage
I don’t know. I don’t trust Skipper is all that comfortable. He’s weaving a lot and constantly surging.
I’m loving watching the cyclists in full TTT mode in the front though.
Apparently he’s doing 280W, must be a lot more comfortable than i thought! HR matches his swinging and sweating though
I wonder what happens when the teams meet. Blu looks to have plenty in the tank. I would expect Joe to want a gap off the bike, but might settle down after the pass 
He looks like he’s working harder than Blu but he averaged 275W for 12 hours not too long ago so well within his capabilities I would think. Maybe the extra cognitive load of riding in a fast paceline rather than solo might raise the HR a few beats.
Lol, what about Mark Allen?
Fair point!
Those guys were amazing for their era, but as with mostly all sports, have nothing on the current crop. Probably an unpopular opinion on an American forum I’m sorry, but Jan reached the pinnacle at every discipline in a far more competitive period.
Anyway, back to the SSub7/8. Choo Choo!
Impressed by Kat and team so far. Out of the swim ahead and slowly pulling away on the bike…so far.
They definitely look good. Less gaps and appear smoother.
Bautista (sp?) Has been floating a bike length off the back the whole time. Odd.
I’m not watching this, so maybe getting it wrong - but there are aerodynamic advantages of having riders behind you, not only in front. So maybe its by design?
It was a whole bike length though. Just looked more like the kind of gap an uncomfortable rider leaves. There might be something else going on though, I think she just pulled off (during the ad break).
I was surprised to see the protected rider of all teams riding last wheel at some points as well. I think most are riding second last now around the circuit.
Skipper’s team have made up just under 4 minutes of the 5 or so minute deficit on the swim on Blu after 80km.
What were the Swim splits?
I take that back. Looks like both men are riding last wheel.
Blu 48m
Skipper 53m
Both women swum 54m with Kat slightly ahead
Hearing Skipper giving the Junkyard dog as the pass is made 
