Doug Friman got himself something rare at Corner Brook, Newfoundland two days ago: a podium finish by an American male triathlete in a World Cup triathlon. What makes it especially noteworthy is that he did it all by himself. He's used to getting a little help from his friends.

Doug Friman is on the KINeSYS team, as is Victor Plata, and they were the first two qualifiers for America's Pan American Games team. They owe their team slots largely to their teammates, who raced but had no intention of winning, or qualifying, or even placing highly. Teammates, you ask? What does a team have to do with how you finish in a triathlon?

To answer to that, best to look at what the rest of Doug Friman's KINeSYS team was doing while he was in Corner Brook. It was helping another "team leader," Marcel Vifian, on the other side of the country in Newport Beach, California.

The Pacific Coast Triathlon was another ITU points race, and with only a year until the Athens Olympics, points are coveted.

The first group out of the water in Newport Beach included Brit Simon Lessing, the current flash on the North American scene. Also in the group was the ITU's number-2 man in the World, Aussie Chris Hill, and Matthew Reed from New Zealand, second to Lessing in the important Bellingham race several weeks ago. Also in the group was top Aussie Craig Alexander.

Vifian was not in the first group, nor in the second. When he did enter the bike course he was in the third group, but with a, "What... me worry?" look on his face. Also in that group was Vifian's teammates Chad DeMasi, Erik Burgan and Dave Reid.

As for Burgn and Reid, they've raced plenty this year, and have run little. In fact Burgan admits to running, "...as often as I race. I never train in the run. No need to." Reid says if anything he runs less than Burgan. But of the team's six members, five are Category II bike racers. After the Pacific Coast Tri, in fact, Burgan was considering traveling north for the Brentwood Criterium, a big bike race on L.A.'s West side. The Pro/1/2 race was to be held later in the day and Burgan could still make it. And the next day was the San Marcos Crit, which was definitely on Burgan's calendar.

Within three of the bike ride's six laps Vifian's lieutenants, DeMasi (left), Burgan (middle) and Reid (in between them) had hauled him up to the second pack. Plata (right) normally a team leader—i.e., designated winner—was off on the day and was of no real help. Vifian (second from right) didn't need Plata, as it turned out.

Making the first pack was a bit harder, but by the final lap on the bike their work was complete. Reid, Burgan and DeMasi had made contact with Lessing's pack, and 27 runners started together. Vifian ended the day fifth. All five split the prize money evenly.

And so it has been.

Why isn't this a more widespread practice since, as in cycling, it's obviously one that works? Perhaps the KINeSYS team is just the first of what will be a trend. American swimmer/cyclists like Kerry Classen would be perfect adjuncts to the chances of good runners who need help getting to the front. Australia's Michellie Jones, the women's winner in Newport Beach, is a case in point, as would be Canada's Carol Montgomery.

On the international scene, however, it's more problematic. You need to be a highly ranked athlete just to get into large races like World Cups and World Championships, and so a domestique would have to be more than just a swim/bike specialist. And when it comes to really prestigious teams, like the Olympic team, try telling America's second or third best individual athletes they'll have to give up their place for a worker bee.

Maybe there are ways of getting around that. Perhaps the glue that holds a "trade team" together would span the lines of nationality, and an American's swim/bike "lieutenant" in a big international race might be a Czech, or a Pole, or a Chilean. Who knows?