Road Cycling - Tour de France vs. Ironman triathlon

I was just wondering what most people thought. The TdF obviously is very long and tedious, many don't finish. Then again, many people don't finish Ironman triathlons.

Which do you think is a bigger accomplishment, winning the TdF, or winning Ironman Hawaii, and why?

The Ironman Hawaii is an incredible event, no question. It's a brutal one day event. TdF is 19 days of brutality. Just my opinion, but I'd take winning TdF over the Ironman.

while the ironman is the hardest one day event (and the triathaletes that do it and complete it are in my eyes the best atheletes)...i still think the tour is a more of a struggle. when you go to bed after an ironman race you know that its over....when you go to bed after a tour stage you still have to wake up to more.

yea, I think that the ironman would be more equvalent to a 350 mile race or something like that.

Toughest events list that was in Outdoor magazine I believe.
1. Race Across America 676.2 points
2. Vendee Globe Around-the-World Sailing Race 675.0 points
3. Iditarod Sled Dog Race 417.5 points
4. U.S. Army’s Best Ranger Competition 402.5 points
5. Raid Gauloises Wilderness Competition 399.0 points
6. La Traversee Internationale (25-mile swim) 301.4 points
7. Badwater 146-Mile Cross Country Run 113.4 points
8. Hawaii Ironman Triathlon 67.2 points

I would say any European tour is hard than any triathlon. The number of ironman events is growing. I not sure about this, but like 10 years ago there was only like 6 ironman events a year. Now almost all metropolitan city have they’re own ironman event. Where an athlete can complete every month. If they would made a tour of ironman (like a 3 day ironman event), I would think that would be really harder than any European tour just because there is no time to rest or recover.

David

For those interested in what the Race Across America is, here's an article (http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/06/09/spt_Cyclist-0609.html) from the Cincinnati Enquirer about a guy training for it. Absolutely wild.

Kind of hard to compare the two really. But look at it like this, most Ironman winners have bike splits that can rival TDF caliber athletes and then after a "stage" worth of riding jump off and continue to run sub 6 minute average for 26.2 miles.

Either way, the comitment and volume of training for each that must be done in the year or more prior is just crazy.

There are a lot of elderly and overweight people who finish the Iron Man within the given time limit. Granted the athletes in the older age groups are incredibly fit for their age, but I don't see any 65 year old women making the time cut in the Pyrenees.

You can't really compare the two. A kin to comparing selling cars to selling funiture.

You can't really compare the two. A kin to comparing selling cars to selling funiture.

You can't compare the two. The training that goes into both are totally different. That being said, I have a lot of friends that have done many ironmans (a few Konas), and I know I for a fact that they would not come close to finishing TdF in the allotted time.

Depends on if you know how to swim or not. :lol:

Can't compare them. Although winning in Kona is certainly more attainable than winning the TdF.

And the comparison between the two events in terms of effort are totally different as well, the IM will be an all day all out effort. That doesn't happen that often in the tour, on the flat stages most of the guys are "loafing" along pretty easy (heart rate in the mid 90's), the climbs and TT's are where the big "sustained" efforts come from, but they are relatively short compared to doing the Ironman.

But it's still not fair, it's like comparing a 60yd dash sprinter to a marathon runner.

Andrew

You can't compare the two. The training that goes into both are totally different. That being said, I have a lot of friends that have done many ironmans (a few Konas), and I know I for a fact that they would not come close to finishing TdF in the allotted time.

I don't know any of the riders in the TdF, but I doubt any of them could swim 2.4 miles in a racing fashion, or run a marathon after a 112 mile time trial.

I don't know any of the riders in the TdF, but I doubt any of them could swim 2.4 miles in a racing fashion, or run a marathon after a 112 mile time trial.

And I seriously doubt a single IM competitor could last 3 weeks in France without getting run over by the broom.

Andrew

the fact that each athlete would fail at the other isn't a good indicator of which is the 'bigger accomplishment'.

it's obviously the tour though. you could totally create some kind of race that was supposed to be a 'kill yourself in one day' affair for cyclists, but what'd be cool would be a marathon-a-day-for-three-weeks event for the IronMan ppl with sprint points and mountain points so they could try loafing in the first week and then stepping it up running a 10k up the alps or something.

The TDF is more like a war, IMH is like a battle.

The size, scope, and expense of the TDF dwarfs any Iron Man. IMH is run for individuals. The support required for the TDF teams are gigantic endeavors, big bucks.

Both are great events.

I don't know any of the riders in the TdF, but I doubt any of them could swim 2.4 miles in a racing fashion, or run a marathon after a 112 mile time trial.

You get 17 hours to finish the Ironman in Kona.

If you can do the swim, in 2:20 you made the first time cut

If you average 17.5mph you can do the bike leg in 6.5 hours, But you actually get 8.5 hours to finish the bike leg

you can walk the Marathon in 7 hours easy. thats over 16 minute miles.

Throw in 30 minutes for Transition areas, and you are in under the time cut.

Im not saying its easy, in fact the medical tent was full last year, with abandons, but you do see a lot of people who start out way to fast, and pass out 10 miles into the run. They are trying for personal best times, or sub 12 hours, sub 10 hours, etc.... my buddy did it in 14:55, which seemed to take forever. He likes to run and ride his bike, but he is not exactly a hard charger with a real competitive streak. He said he has never had his heart rate over 150 in training. He went low and slow, and walked the last 16 miles or so....My buddy got beat by the fastest 73 year old in the world.

oh, and i didn't realize that the 'bigger accomplishment' was specifically about _winning each event (as indicated in the poll).

of course that makes it a no brainer because to win the TdF you'd have to beat Mr. Armstrong, and as we all know that isn't actually possible.

I'll vote for triathlon. It is a bigger commitment to complete body training. TdF, you focus on building one thing. Tri requires three different and somewhat unrelated disciplines. I think, in general, a multi-day cycling event is easier than a triathlon. Also, in tri, drafting is not legal. It is an individual sport. No resting on your team-mates (unless you are in the olympics). I know that I am in the minority... but were posting on a cycling forum... so of course. If you haven't been in a triathlon, try it and you may change your decision.

I don't know any of the riders in the TdF, but I doubt any of them could swim 2.4 miles in a racing fashion, or run a marathon after a 112 mile time trial.

There are a number of TDF racers that could if they set to do that. LA actually came to cycle racing after racing very sucessfully at Tri at a pretty young age. And last year there was a guy in the peleton that actually was a competive Tri-althlete as well as competive cyclist. As to which one is harder if I try to find out please follow me with an ambulance.