Skipper is known for being outspoken and has been true to form in recent weeks, including when he spoke to us in an interview for issue 403 of 220 Triathlon <\/em>(on sale 14 April<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n In the interview, Skipper suggested<\/a><\/strong> he felt the Norwegian\u2019s favourites tag for the Ironman World Champs in St George wasn\u2019t as justified as some were suggesting.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking at the Ironman performances last year, I don\u2019t understand why everyone was raving about Gustav [Iden]<\/a><\/strong> in Florida,\u201d he explained. \u201cHe ran 2:34, but the course was 600-700m short \u2013 you can see on Strava.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWith his ITU background, people say Gustav will be a front pack swimmer. But I don\u2019t think that\u2019ll be the case because if you look at a lot of his races, when it\u2019s been competitive, he\u2019s missed the front pack\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI also think it\u2019s 50-50 on whether Kristian makes the front swim pack. So, they [the Norwegians] are going to have to do some work [on the bike] and it all depends how tactically astute people are.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, in a video of him completing some run training at altitude with compatriot Iden, Blummenfelt appears to have reacted to these comments while running on track.<\/p>\n In a video posted to YouTube<\/a><\/strong> (titled \u2018The Norwegian Hype Train\u2019) by coach Mikal Iden, Blummenfelt says: \u201cWhatever you do, don\u2019t believe the Norwegian hype. Believe Joe Skipper. Ho, ho, ho.\u201d<\/p>\n Later in the video, once Blummenfelt and Iden had finished their run session, there\u2019s another exchange between the two referring to Skipper\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n After talking briefly about their session, Iden said: \u201cWe didn\u2019t believe the British Hype.\u201d<\/p>\n Blummenfelt added: \u201cThere are some rumours that the people on the island are in good shape\u2026 One thing is for sure, North America\u2026 Lionel [Sanders]<\/a><\/strong>, he\u2019s strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked who\u2019s going to win in St George, Blummenfelt said: \u201cI told him [Iden] that I\u2019m either going to win St George or I will die trying. I asked him what he was hoping for and he said that he would win \u2013 so he hopes that I will die in the next five weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch the full video below or skip to 10:40 to listen to the exchanges.<\/p>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2021\/10\/joe-skipper-wins-ironman-chattanooga-ab7729e.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C414"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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