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Napa River Velo Gran __rix
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 11:53am
After much discussion, debate, wrangling, stridency, hand-wringing, and deep soul searching, I have decided to abandon my 2 year-old child P on the doorstep of the First Pres. Church. Amidst a deafening cacophany of woeful cries and breast-beating grief, clashing in dischordant clamour with some folks' utter exhaltation of joyful relief, I come today to announce the deletion of the Crazy P from the newly-styled Napa River Velo Gran __rix on April 10th.
Much as I believe crit racers should respond to any reasonable challenge, I just couldn't convince myself that the P was safe. So it's out.
In its place there will be a six-lane-wide semi-circular turnaround, too fast and wide to designate as a "hairpin." (Original name suggestions are welcome). What that means is that the shortest, fastest, most track-like, exciting, spectator-friendly course of the year just got moreso.
What else? Every category of this year's Gran __rix will be run in the Reverse Win & Out format, where the 5 prize placing in each race will be decided by sprints in the final 5 laps, just like at the track. It's all tactics and speed at the Gran __rix!!
This is gonna be FUN!!!
Chris -
For all the commentary that this race has generated, I never heard a word of criticism about the Reverse Win & Out. Frankly, the finish last year -- with Predator LaBerge biding his time in the pack behind a five-man break that seemed certain to take all the prize positions, then capitalizing on a 4th-place sprint casualty to win the race on the final lap -- was easily the most exciting race of the day, and one of the most tactical crits I've ever seen.
What's the down side? Five sprints, lots of tactics.
I can see the argument that the P turn is dangerous (I saw a couple teammates go down in it & 1 was seriously hurt), but personally I liked it.
Also, I know there has been and will be much criticism about the reverse win & out format, but I thought that was a lot of fun too because it really changes the dynamics of the race.
Chris
http://twitter.com/cpbike
First of all...the P-turn was f-ing awesome, and I hope you'll reconsider. If not, I might be forced to take a jackhammer to your selected course the night before the race. Just sayin'.
What's the radius of this "semicircular turnaround?" If it's big enough that people are tempted to pedal through the turn, but too tight to actually allow for it, it's going to be less safe than the fabled "P-turn." My money is on a bunch of meatheads clipping pedals.
Am I the only one in the district that WANTS the P-turn back?