Sub7 Sub8 Saturday Wrap

“It’s oh, so quiet, shh, shh,” Icelandic singer Björk once sang. But if you’re familiar with how the song goes, the whispers and soft coos of the stanzas crescendo into a paroxysm of sound and motion in the chorus – and that’s what this eve before the storm that is the Pho3nix Sub7 and Sub8 Project, Powered by Zwift feels like.

Nicola Spirig and Kat Matthews have been lying low all day, though you might have seen them repost their sponsors’ good luck posts on their social media. Emily Meakin and some members of Team Kat were spotted riding easy in the Zwift Room before racking up their bicycles in preparation for tomorrow’s efforts.

Lars Bottelier, the lead swimmer for Team Kristian, spoke with @formswim after completing the 3.8-kilometer swim wearing FORM Goggles and a Garmin watch. He said while scrolling through the Garmin Connect analysis of the session, “It’s very nice because we can also see our swim pace during the swim as well and a heart rate afterwards which gives us great insight for tomorrow.” He adds today’s mileage to his weekly 80 kilometres of training leading into racing the 25km marathon swim at the World Championships.

In @gozwiftriathlon’s Instagram Stories, Tim Don interviewed our two male champions for their last words before tomorrow’s big event.

He quizzed Joe Skipper on just how he has been adjusting to being a pinch-hitter and preparing at the last minute. Skipper said, “I got in on Tuesday and then we were on the track straight away pretty much practicing with the guys. I’ve done a bit of road racing before in the past on a road bike riding a pace line, but it was completely different being in [time trial] setup where the bikes are a lot twitchier, and then riding over 50 K’s an hour. So one of the main things was just practicing that, and then also for me drafting in the swim, like literally trying to get right on someone’s hip and under their armpit, trying to save as much time as possible in that way.”

Skipper will be swimming on Alistair Brownlee’s hip; the former Sub7 competitor arrived today to become his sole swim pacemaker. The two did a practice swim together straight away. Skipper said to Brownlee, “Mate it’s a shame you aren’t able to race and I know the team was set up for you, but the lads are up for it and can’t wait. We all hope to do you justice and I’ve got some big shoes to fill. It’s going to be great to have you do the swim pacing for me. Lets get out there on Sunday and smash it and see what we can do!”

Don intercepted Kristian Blummenfelt after a bit of swim training. “I’m feeling good. One full day now of just taking it easy. Easy swim, easy run and then just relaxing until the gun goes off,” said Blummenfelt, who has been reveling in being able to eat his favorite sandwich spread for breakfast. “Some white bread and Nutella and some carbs in throughout the day, [then] staying hydrated and fueling up for tomorrow.”

Speaking of last-minute, Blummenfelt has just lost one of his bike pacemakers Tom Hutchinson. He will be replaced by three-time British national track cycling champion Will Perrett, who rides for continental team Spellman Dublin Port. Though Hutchinson has been onsite all week, he has been ill and had not made a full recovery.

He said, “I’ll still be helping the team (off the bike) on Sunday as best I can, so it’s great to still be involved in this monumental task. Can’t wait to see it unfold.”

Meanwhile the commentary team welcomed its final few members onsite and went to work rehearsing for their roles in the 9.5-hour coverage tomorrow.

Bikes are racked, shoes and kit are in place, and the athletes are as ready as they will ever be.

See you tomorrow at 6:30am CEST for the start of our live coverage on sub7sub8.com/live featuring the livestream from our Youtube channel as well as the Zwift Deep Data Presented by Garmin applet featuring live race data tracked from each athlete.

Stream live from our Youtube channel and Facebook page. You can also tune in through TriathlonLIVE.tv.