Joe Cipale

r r wrote:

> I agree. An uphill finish would be better as far as safety and true competi=
> tion.
> =20
> I've been racing the BB's for years, and have seen some (possible understat=
> ement) god awful crashes (people ambulanced out and even life-flighted) occ=
> ur because of this downhill finish in the dip that the line is in. Being in=
> the dip provides just too much speed for the close quarter chaos of the wh=
> ole pack trying to sprint. Especially in the less experience fields.=20
> =20
> Didn't Silverton last year teach us any lesson at all about downhill finish=
> es and safety issues in the peloton at the finish. How many more tragic acc=
> idents need to occur before changes are made, in not just the BB's but ever=
> y race that has a sprint heading downhill to the line. Yes, there was no cr=
> ash yesterday, but its like an active volcano or fault line, its only a mat=
> ter of time till another horrible one happens again. Lets make it a more sa=
> fe finish, and a finish where the stronger riders will truly prevail (which=
> is that not the point of competition; that the stronger and/or more talent=
> ed athlete prevails). At the BB's, there is optimal scenarios for a finish =
> line, with plenty of wide spots in the shoulder to accommodate the van/tent=
> /camera. It will just mean you may have to ride a WHOLE mile back to the lo=
> t instead.=20
> =20
> Safety should be of the up most importance in a bicycle race.V
>
>

Stmt #1 - Bicyle racing is dangerous.
Stmt #2 - OBRA does the best job of any organization of putting the safety of the riders at the top of the list.
Stmt #3 - Crashes happen, regardless of the type of finsh. Usually from rider inexperience and/or inattentiveness.

Joe