This one could be the Bailey/Panchik/Bridges show, but Froning will likely do well. He said he put a lot of work into his endurance training this year. I definitely think Khalipa will do better than most people think. He said last year that his endurance training got him into the multiple 6min-mile range, which, especially for a big guy, is very impressive, and, as you stated, he’s very, very good on the rower. He proved that on the half-marathon event last year.
If they have some more lifts and other typical girl events some of the lifters will get back into this.
Perhaps it's me, but more and more this looking like a modified adventure race.