Chapter 2402 - 608: The Flying Scotsman

Chapter 2402: Chapter 608: The Flying Scotsman

Not every competitor accelerated together with Huang Kaiwen.

But the Brownlee brothers never admit defeat.

A few of them launched an attack towards the finish of the first segment.

"Right now, the leading group we see includes the most famous British athletes, the Brownlee brothers. Their parents are both doctors, and their father is also a long-distance runner, while their mother is a swimmer. The brothers were introduced to the triathlon under the influence of their parents."

"Yes, older brother Alastair has slightly better results. Younger brother Jonathan mentioned in interviews that he has gotten used to losing to his brother."

"It’s evident their swimming level is very high. Huang Kaiwen has some disadvantage in the water event. Also, he must wear a wetsuit today, which is quite uncomfortable for him. As seen in Huang Kaiwen’s soccer matches, he’s very particular about his gear, not fond of clothes that are too cumbersome, and often changes his jersey at halftime because he finds sweat-soaked clothes too heavy."

"Indeed, in triathlons, the water temperature below 14 degrees requires wearing a wetsuit, but at the Olympics, the standard is 26 degrees. So today, with a water temperature of 17 degrees, athletes must wear wetsuits while swimming for safety reasons."

The penultimate obstacle is already reached.

South African athlete Henry Skuman and Spain’s Javier Gomez skillfully slowed down simultaneously at the corner.

Their intention is to disrupt the rhythm of several competitors chasing them.

Damn!

Huang Kaiwen used this strategy before when running 800 meters.

Suppress the rhythm of other competitors, then accelerate later.

But the two seemed a bit naive.

Swimming is not the same as running.

There is a second route to choose from.

Alastair Brownlee and Huang Kaiwen didn’t opt for looping around, instead diving down a meter out.

The photographers on nearby boats quickly pointed their lenses underwater.

Triathlons rarely see such intense confrontations; both strategy and response are exceptional.

Phew—

Huang Kaiwen surfaced just 5 meters after diving.

Pacing in the water is faster than swimming and thus prohibited in swim competitions.

But for the direction in Jiuqu Lake, it’s unlike being in a venue. Huang Kaiwen couldn’t judge very well, feeling more comfortable on the surface rather than underwater.

"Wow, Kevin broke through the obstacle without breaking the rules."

"Alastair hasn’t emerged yet; it seems he’s planning to expand his advantage using under-water technique."

"Underwater swimming is restricted to no more than 15 meters, but there’s no such limit in triathlon events. However, can Alastair really orient himself underwater? Jiuqu Lake doesn’t have high visibility, and if he takes the wrong path, he’ll be disqualified immediately."

Alastair surfaced eventually.

He’s already quite a distance ahead.

The resistance in underwater swimming is significantly reduced.

This is the fundamental reason the FINA prohibits underwater swimming.

Another issue is its poor visual appeal; spectators can only see a shadow.

Huang Kaiwen knows he can’t outswim Alastair, so he chooses to maintain frequency and conserve energy, using the most effortless method and aiming to excel in the upcoming events.

"Alastair Brownlee is first ashore, 16 minutes 54 seconds, followed by his brother Jonathan Brownlee, and Huang Kaiwen currently ranks third."

"We notice athletes immediately remove their swim goggles and caps upon coming ashore, because the next event is cycling. Changing gear is counted in the total score, so gear changing is also a skill needing training. Triathlons test athletes’ capabilities comprehensively."

"Australian athlete Kyle Smith finished in 17 minutes 44 seconds. This marks the assembly of a large group. As they change gear ashore, the subsequent cycling segment will be highly competitive."

"The camera turns to Huang Kaiwen, who surfaced in 17 minutes 04 seconds, but the wetsuit seems problematic and couldn’t come off easily. It’s a typical mishap during a race, but Huang Kaiwen remained calm, eventually got it off. Huang Kaiwen puts on his glasses, protecting his eyes during high-speed riding; his aerodynamic helmet not only provides protection but also reduces resistance."

"Yes, we noticed a detail: Huang Kaiwen’s shoes are already fixed on the pedals, and there’s a crucial point—they are facing up. It’s a little trick; you receive a rubber band when gearing up, tying the holes at the back of the shoes on the bike frame keeps the shoes upright so you can immediately pedal and set off."

Huang Kaiwen casually grabs the bottle, drinks some energy drink while mounting the bike to replenish electrolytes.

Triathlon bikes differ greatly from road bikes, as they’re not restricted by Union Cycliste Internationale’s regulations, so triathlon bikes have a more exaggerated design and higher technological content.

Often when watching the Tour de France, you notice road bikes with drop handlebars, which enhance bike control, facilitating cyclists’ adaptation to various road conditions.

While triathlon bikes all have aero bars, allowing arms to rest on stable surfaces.

Huang Kaiwen’s casual water-sipping and start elicited cheers from the audience.

This demonstration of bike control was indeed impressive.

Like road cycling veteran Peter Sagan, who enjoys doing eye-catching stunts.

His races are quite entertaining.

Though Huang Kaiwen’s display wasn’t intentional this time.