China's First World Cup Podiums: Can They Win Outside China? | Unfunded S2 EP27 (EP62)

This episode is sponsored by Official Beer Co.
Produced by Podfire.

Lockie and Lleyton are back after a week off for Lleyton's uni exams, though he still has six months of placement to go. Lleyton raced the Pottsville Aqua Bike, which turned into a 90 K TT in the rain with no swim, and the boys talk about getting on top of the Australian summer heat early. Lockie is out of the sling just under six weeks after shoulder surgery, back in the pool and about to start running again, and tells the story of a long day at IRONMAN in Port Mac with their athletes, which left him sure he isn't an Ironman racer.

In short course, the boys recap two rainy World Cups in Asia. In a cold, wet Beijing, Max Studer won the men's race ahead of Xirui Zhang, China's first ever World Cup podium, and Alberto González García, while a Chinese win in the women's race came ahead of Márta Kropkó, racing in goggles, and Kate Waugh. In Tongyeong, Alberto González García turned the tables on Max Studer, with Keller Norland third, and Lin and Hong put two Chinese women on the podium with France's Mathilde Cartier. The boys ask why these athletes rarely race outside China, and why they want to see them in Abu Dhabi and the World Series before LA 2028.

Then it's Noosa Triathlon week. Is a Noosa win bigger than an Australian title, and which legends own its history? Lleyton puts Lockie through a blind ranking of five Noosa winners, from Ash Gentle and Craig Walton to Emma Snowsill, Loretta Harrop and Chris McCormack. The boys talk about how non-drafting TT racing changes the race, and finish with their Noosa podium predictions, with Lockie backing last year's men's top three of Matt Hauser, John Reid and Luke Willian.