Here is a recent note that I sent to some people. I've added a couple pieces.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: T. Kenji Sugahara
Date: Wed, May 2, 2012 at 9:53 PM
Subject: Re: No women's field
Hey all!
Hope everyone is doing well.
I would like to get some input to the following idea:
Instead of having 1/2/3 and 4 races for the road/crits, splitting up
the women as follows- 1/2/3 and 3/4.
(Note this change would not have any impact on MTB, CCX, Track nor
TT's- this is for road and crit events only)
The eventual goal is to increase the number of Cat 3 women (and 1/2
women) to be able to run them as separate fields while making it
economically desirable for promoters.
Rationale:
In our current system, there are women who are forced to upgrade to
Cat 3, who aren't really ready for the jump to the 1/2/3 field. There
is no intermediate step as there is with the men. With men, racers
start in Cat 4/5, then grow into Cat 3 before they can leap to the P/
1/2 field.
This lack of an intermediate step leads to scenarios where newly
upgraded women racers are immediately shelled and are left to race by
themselves. There is too big of a disparity between the 4's and the
1/2/3's. (distance and intensity) There are also numerous Cat 3's
who do not have time to train at the level to stay with the 1/2 racers
(jobs/family etc). Many times, these 3 racers are left riding solo-
race in, race out. The end result is that we have a high rate of
attrition of Cat 3 females as there is no incentive to continue road
racing- why pay money when they can just ride out somewhere by
themselves.
Until we can race the Cat 3 women as a separate field, a 1/2/3, 3/4
field split would provide an opportunity for the 3's to race with
either the 1/2's or with the 4's. This would give women some more
time to grow as a rider before making the jump to race with the 1/2's.
The problems are as follows:
Women would receive Cat 3 BAR points for the 3/4 races. However, we'd
ask that promoters run Cat 4 women separately for the Cat 4 women's
series races. In those instances, races would be run as 1/2/3, 4
races. Thus, for those races, Cat 4 women would receive Cat 4 women
BAR points.
The other issue is of Cat 3 women who decide they want to dominate the
3/4 field. In those instances, we would carefully monitor the field
to make sure that any dominant individual would be made to race the
1/2/3 field.
Additional solutions:
We are also working on a mentoring program that would pair Cat 3/4
women looking to upgrade with an experienced Cat 1/2 racer. Many
teams already do this on an ad-hoc basis, but this program would help
those who do not have the structure to deal with women specific racing.
For 2010, we are looking to have a Cat 3 Women's Series as they do up
in Washington. This would hopefully serve as an incentive to have
more Cat 3 women out to race.
Finally- we are looking at allowing instructional courses to count
toward upgrades from 4->3 (Women) and 5->4 (Men).
Any feedback is welcome!
Kenji Sugahara
Executive Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
503-302-4935
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