Eric Kytola
- maybe OBRA should stop placing people after the points run out (15th place?) so people stop sprinting mid pack to see their names listed 23rd?
-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Green [mailto:neilgr-@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 9:16 AM
To: ob-@topica.com; stevea-@comcast.net
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Cherry Pie - input?
From what I understand, there were a few wrecks in the CAT 3/4 race. I
agree with the statements below. If you are not truly a sprinter, you
shouldn't be contesting the sprint. Clear out and let the fearless ones
fight it out. If you feel strong and want to have a go, why not go for
a solo win? Just my two cents.
Neil
stevea-@comcast.net wrote:
Also IMHO, moving the finish line to a hill top finish for all races
would favor the smaller riders in all races and that would not be right.
Additionally, How would you do that at races like POC or OSU road race
where the entire race is pancake flat.
The real problem, as you so appropriately noted, is that nobody took the
initiative to push the pace and stretch things out.
Translation, everybody was playing the sprinters game.
I myself have allowed myself to get caught in this thinking trap when
clearly it's to my benefit to have the pace pushed even if I have to do
it myself. Reason, I don't sprint like the real sprinters and I'm going
to have a better finish just by keeping the pace high in the last 1k.
Besides, there are other tricks you can play to get a higher finish even
if you have to resort to pushing the pace yourself. Just ask Dave Ripp
who I have seen push the heck out of the pace at PIR for a good half
last lap and still get a top ten for himself. No, he didn't win, but he
did kick up the jam for his team while still preserving a respectable
finish for himself.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Whitlinger [mailto:david.l.w-@intel.com]
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 8:08 AM
To: cmur-@obra.org; ob-@topica.com
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Cherry Pie - input?
IMHO..the CAT 3/4 field was too big. After the final hill, the lead
peleton was still 25 riders all riding shoulder to shoulder and wheel to
wheel without anyone taking the initiative to push the speed and string
it out. Things didn't open up until 350m out with the crash being the
outcome. Same as PIR with about half the road width. Again, IMHO, I
would suggest breaking the field into a CAT 4 and a CAT 3 field with
limits of 75 riders and/or moving the finish line to the hill top and
add another partial lap. A hill top finish would be safer for all.
A better inter-race communication system could be developed, but making
the race safer could also be something to look at. This would avoid the
need to move the finish line - which I would expect to be a non-trivial
task in the middle of a race.
Dave
_____
From: Candi Murray [mailto:cmur-@obra.org]
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 7:38 AM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Cherry Pie - input?
So there was a crash in the very large Cat 3 & 4 field about 300 meters
from the finish. Four riders went down, two were injured. The
ambulance and subsequent went to help. There were 3 fields still behind
them finishing.
1st group behind Masters 45+ broken into 2 smalll fields from 2-10
riders. They were neutralized and all finished with the same place of
the that group. Two 1st places, 6 3rd places etc.
We heard that the next group was the women. The finish line
communicated to that field that the finish would be quickly moved to the
1K mark. The field was informed but obviously not the riders otb.
There finish was not a problem either.
However the Cat 1,2,3 passed the women somewhere along the last 4 miles
and came in aiming for the real finish. Some of the riders heard that
they no longer had the full road, but it doesnot seem that they got the
word on the move. Plus the move was moving 1 judge down to manual pick
as the truck and camera could not get around the riders in the
road/ambulance. The judge was surprised and did not get them picked.
We have film that we were still trying to review at 5 pm. I am not sure
what results that we will come up with.
This is the 2nd time in 12 months that we have had a crash at or very
near the finish with more fields approaching. We need to develop a
system of making sure the riders know what is happening. First and
foremost this is JUST bike racing. When you see ambulances and bodies
in the road realize that your finish will not be the most important
thing on the officials mind.
It was suggested that since informing riders on the road is difficult
that we come up with a paddle or flag system that the official cars hold
up to signify that things need to come to a screeching halt. I am up
for suggestions.
The two riders sustained collarbone/clavicle fractures degrees of
severity. We all wish them a speedy return to the peleton.
Candi Murray
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