deSade wrote:you ask me I'd say it happened in part because people are tired of the Morgan Stanley Team's negative tactics during the race (every race), and often overly aggressive positioning in the sprint.

Well, I'm not Morgan Stanley, and in fact I don't have any particular friends on that team, but I must differ with this author's castigation of the team.

When a team shows up with numbers and asserts itself to control the race the way MS did at Dunnigan and San Ardo, they are likely to be unpopular. But "negative" or "overly aggressive?" No. I was in the middle of the MS lead-out at Dunnigan with 1 km to go and Steve G nudged me off Stan's wheel and toward the center. I was pissed until I saw it was a MS rider retaking his lead-out, which I felt was his right. Although the diminution of position probably cost me a top finish, the move was absolutely righteous.

At San Ardo, MS rode a masterful race. Their leadout could have been better (they started too early and burnt too soon), but their tactics for 46 miles showed excellent planning and execution, even if it led to a rather boring race.

I applaud Morgan Stanley for having a full team in the 45's, where everyone knows tactics and few have the manpower to effect them. They have been the uber-team all year, and I think they've handled it damned well. They haven't crashed me out yet, so they're blessed angels as far as I'm concerned.

Shawn M. did a god job of policing our group for centerline violations. I saw him pull a couple of riders for blantant disreguard.
There was a few times that it was a bit over the top, like on turns.
You have to choose your battles, by picking a lot of little ones you might miss an important one here and there.

Thanks for the time splits, I wish we got those more often being that the 35 1/2/3s are almost always finished in a break.
Ron

The 882 mistake was corrected later in the day when the officials did a final; review of the results before leaving the race site. The 859 listed in 30th place should have been 869 and was a transcription error.

Riders complain when the results take to long to get out ( ie when the officials take the time to carefully review things before before posting initial results). When the officials get the results out quickly they don't have the time to do a careful review to catch all the errors. Then again that is what the protest period is for to give the riders a chance to catch any errors in the results.

Quote:Some riders are listed as finishing twice; today it was #859(he finished 6th AND 30th) and #882 (he finished 19th AND 39th). If this were a stage race finish, they could be fined--rule 4H16a.

Well I was one of those riders and I did not cross the finish line twice. Must have been a mistyped number,.

Quote:#865 was told to retreat to the back as we approached the finish, but he was PUSHED by #858 (who finished 2nd) across the line

That's not quite how it happened. 865 had passed to the left of the centerline, advanced his position, and was trying to get back in. He should have just kept passing until it was clear to move back to the right of the centerline. Instead he tried to squeeze 858 to the right. Problem is other riders were already crowding 858 to the left. The story I heard is that 858 pushed 865 for safety, though he did say he probably pushed harder than was absolutely necessary. If you ask me I'd say it happened in part because people are tired of the Morgan Stanley Team's negative tactics during the race (every race), and often overly aggressive positioning in the sprint.

Next year I hope Bob uses this course again but gives us two laps instead of just the one. That would make for a safer finish...