r r
Thank you Erik. Finally someone in OBRA land opened up to look outside the box. He may have even explained it better than I had.
The main point WAS, downhill finishes do not have a place in road racing. Like Erik stated, in a TRUE sprint, only the TRUE sprinters are at the front, while the climbers and tt riders are hanging off the back watching. Therefore its a SPRINTERS race, and the sprinters get their chance.
In a downhill finish, such as BB, you have EVERYONE there. There is no separation of skill that should naturally occur, even in a flat sprint. Therefore you truly do take the SKILL out of the sprint, and start to throw in more luck and danger.
Yes, i do watch all those BIG races, and yes i have seen ALL those crashes. But when have you ever seen a downhill finish in either of those races? Answer me this. If you can give me an exact example and video proof, ill shut up. But till then i will stand by my view, and shun me as you may, but i just cannot agree that a downhill finish is something to be excepted and argued for. You want a downhill finish, go race DH on your mt bike.
V
> Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:40:34 -0800
> From: erikv@erikv.com
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Banana Belt Updates
>
> I know this is a little off topic in regards to the original post, not
> to mention unpopular, but I'll have to differ with the opinion that
> downhill sprints are just as safe as any other, especially at this
> course.
>
> On a flat sprint, take PIR for example, we'll hit 40mph sometimes, but
> only the fast guys in front. On a downhill sprint, EVERYONE is at
> 40mph, and it goes up from there. Say what you will, superhandlers,
> but bikes handle differently at those kind of speeds. Combine that
> with gravel laiden shoulders (and isn't there a bridge to compress the
> group in the final K?), and I can completely see V's point of view.
> Not the safest finish, but then it's my choice whether to race or not.
>
> -Erik
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