:lol: Sounds friggin' hilarious to me!! :lol:

I see the entire field racing hard to the 5 to go bell, then the whole pack coming to a complete stop 1 foot from the line in a mass track stand (cuz no one wants 5th) the rider with the weakest track stand skills has to pedal forward to not fall over and takes 5th, then the field rolls through, this happens every lap until the final lap when the rest finally sprint for 1st. sounds sketchy to me. :shock:

And by the way, there is no 6th place.
Since prizes and upgrade points only go 5 deep, all other placings are irrelevant. (Logically, upgrade points are irrelevant for all finishers in a 35+ 1/2 race, since masters' races don't count for the 2>1 upgrade.
And frankly, cat 1 & 2 racers usually don't care about minor placings anyway.)

And the prizes will be a decent booty for each of the 5, so it might be worth taking a 5th place flyer. One chaser on that break, and maybe you get 4th ....

I do think it creates a very sporting gambling scenario when the penultimate sprinter on the final lap gets nothing but people nagging him about "eggs in one basket" or "horseshoes and hand grenades."

Are we having fun yet??

True, the last lap winner isn't necessarily the overall winner. But on no given lap is there counterincentive to be faster.

Oh, yeah -- the free lap rule :). I'm not a fan. But then I don't understand crits.

Dan,

In a points race the first rider across the line on the last lap isn't necessarily the winner. Heck in a points race a person can go out and lap the field and still not be the winner of the race. In the Miss and out you can go out and lap the field and still not be the winner since if you rejoin the field you are still subject to being pulled if you are the last rider across the line.

Then again in a Crit you can have done several laps less than the stated race distance yet still be the race winner if you have taken several free laps during the race.

Oh, I like the idea, and I applaud the innovation! It just points to a larger issue. The rules don't actually say the fastest rider wins.

On this one, I'd try to break away for fifth, or wait for the sprint for 4th or 3rd. But I'm only a lowly 3, so don't qualify.

Your tactics are Napoleonic, Chris.

There is no penalty for race day registrations in additional fields if you pre-reg'd for one. (Obviously there is only one late fee for those who register day-of for multiple fields. And it all goes to charity.)

Chris, you'll note that the races have been staggered to allow maximum participation by masters (i.e. "homeys"). SO... Your most cost-effective strategy would be to pre-reg for the 35+ 1/2 race (most likely to sell out), and day-of reg for the 35+ 1/2/3 and Pro/1/2 races for $27+$15+$15.

Considering that the prizes are pretty decent for each of those races, you should expect a tidy profit and a bounty of Cycles Gladiator wine and Cytomax products to boot! I do know how you love the CG!! Does Larry drink? Maybe he'll pass his down the podium. :roll:

Make perfect sense to me.
If you are only a fair sprinter, you might hedge your bet and take the go for the first finishing lap for 5th. The true sprinters will likely wait it out and go for the big win.

I like it.

Ron

Yes, this looks like fun and I plan to give it a try. I'll just sit patiently on Larry's wheel until the last lap like I always do.

I was actually trying to figure out the most cost effective wat to register since the 2nd race discount only applies on race day (along with the $15 late penalty?).

Pre-reg for 2 races for $54 ($27 + $27), or enter 2 race day for $57 ($27+$15+15)

Or does it work out better if I pre-reg for one and enter the 2nd on race day? $27 + $15 (or does the $15 penalty apply?)

The race is known at the velodrome, though I've never raced one, and only heard of it being part of an omnium only once. The win and out is often run---the first bell the first rider wins and pulls out, the next lap the first rider earns 2nd, the next lap there is a sprint for 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

The tactic to solo away at the bell often works in the win and out, but at Napa it'll get you 5th. The gamble is the last sprint is for 1st AND 6th place; if you don't win, you may not be "in the money". Seems like it'd be easy to solo away for 5th place.

Perhaps you are missing something. You will be if you miss this race.

It's INNOVATION, man.

Your fablieu of a 17th place winner is novel, but neither practical, tactical, enforceable, nor enjoyable to watch. The ReverseWin&Out, by contrast, promises to be all of these!!

Of course, who knows? As far as I know it hasn't been tried outside of the track. But what can really be the downside for the spectators of five consecutive field sprints? Or of a breakaway playing chicken with each other and the field to avoid taking a lesser prize? Or of a five-man team trying to sweep the podium?

The scenarios boggle the mind. Which is why I've limited the field to 35+1/2's -- so there will be minds capable of enboggling -- and 50 racers -- so everyone involved will be thinking.

I've been looking forward to this for two years, since Casey mentioned the idea offhandedly at a race. I think it's a BOSS concept, and I can't wait to see what Larry Nolan and Dean Laberge and Pat Briggs and Dan Martin and Chris Phipps do with it.

It's the Mystery Spot of NorCal crit racing!

https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Item.aspx?item_id=3220