The flyer for the Minnesota State Road Race has been posted.
I think it is extremely stupid that the Men’s Category 3s are combined with the Men’s Category 4s for the State Championship Road Race. Why is this? Maybe it is because there is a Masters 35+ 3/4 Category in the same wave. Rather than being able to run a strict Cat 3 race and a strict Cat 4 race the promoters are offering an age group difference race…
Sorry, but that is stupid.
It is the state road race championships and should be treated as such.
This means individual races for the categories of riders in the USAC. Promoters need to quit pandering to the whiners that suggest that Masters 3/4 racing is safer than regular 3/4 racing. That is a flawed argument…and has been rendered useless this season. If you are a cat3 you should be racing in the cat3s. If you are a cat4 you should be racing in the cat4s at the State Road Race Championships.
I wish it was 1971 and a real champion was still road racing. He wouldn’t allow for this crap.
Our state road race championships has now become the newest version of the old USPRO championships in Philly. The first American became the champion even if they finished in 5th place (like Fast Freddy). So, now we could have the cat4s racing for the win in 4th place and totally ruining the race of the category 3s…just think if the break last year had a cat4 and a cat3 up the road.
Stupid.
My $30.00 worth of criticism.
…
It is a great day in my own personal soccer world. You may remember that I am a big fan of Celtic F.C. out of Scotland…well their arch nemesis, Glasgow Rangers, got bounced from the Champions League in qualifying!
Ha! I hate the Rangers.
If you are a cat 3, why can’t you drop the cat 4s in the 1st lap? The race in theory, should sort itself out.
Comment by wah — August 6, 2008 @ 6:48 am
A,B,C.
Comment by dew — August 6, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Agreed, It’s not about safety. People need to learn how to fun without taking first place.
Challenge yourself.
Comment by Taylor — August 6, 2008 @ 9:52 am
How does one ‘learn how to fun’?
Comment by title ix — August 6, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
by not listening to the btdc podcast!
Comment by Super Rookie — August 6, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
SR, you take an interesting position that cat 3 and cat 4 riders should have seperate races at the State RR. I agree completely because mixed field do impact the outcome of both categories. You lost me with the reference to 1971 since all seniors (cat 1, 2, 3 & 4) raced together with one one winner. There were Veterans (Masters) races then too
Comment by Kevin — August 6, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
the 1971 state champion wouldn’t stand for the masters whiners.
Comment by Super Rookie — August 6, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
There shouldn’t even be state championships for cat 4’s or 5’s. Think about it.
Comment by dew — August 6, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
[...] I have to say that I agree with Dew. state championships and Rider of the Year trophies should reward exceptionalism. I’m sure that my wife and my mom won’t be offended when I state that there is nothing exceptional about the winner of a Masters 35+ Cat 3/4 men’s race, or a Cat 5 men’s race, or a Cat 4 women’s race. Nothing against those riders that win those events, bike racing is hard work and any race win is something to be treasured by the rider. [...]
Pingback by Smithers MINNEAPOLIS » Blog Archive » Race Categories — August 7, 2008 @ 7:56 am
I think it’s stupid to have cat state champs
run them all together
Comment by Mark S — August 8, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
Quit the whining and sign up for the Cat 1/2/3 event, https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Item.aspx?id=2701.
I agree with Smithers (how I found this from norcalcyclingnews.com), there is nothing exceptional about a cat 3/4 winner. Ever.
Comment by Tom in San Jose — August 8, 2008 @ 7:01 pm