Has anyone actually read the new CSA rules for road racing 2011? http://www.cyclingsa.com/App_Resources/Uploads/FILE00000154.pdf Here are some interesting extracts from the rules? A. Why the Changes? To comply with Cycling SA’s 2020 Vision of placing cycling SA in the Top 10 of the World To change attitude from being a participant to being a competitor To lessen the jump from local racing to international racing To align ourselves with general team and entry conditions of the top races in the World To create a competitive atmosphere within club teams Basic overview To establish a ‘strength to strength’ group outside the normal age categories with emphasis on the development of team structures in the junior, U23 and Elite categories. This is quite funny because they have hardly changed anything with regards to Elite racing. The groups stay the same as previously except that individuals can’t race in this group anymore (don’t know how that helps SA cycling) and that the teams racing there have to pay a R2000 registration fee (KCHING). No more prize money for the toppies either. All age cats now have to race in 1 group for 1 purse. D. Prize Money Category 1 Race • Overall Top 10 positions • Elite/U23 Men Top 3 • Veteran Men 30+ Top 3 • Jnr Men Top 3 Category 2 Race • Overall Top 10 positions (it doesn’t matter whether male or female) • Women Top 6 (if applicable) • Remaining prize-funding up to organisers discretion Category 3 Race • Overall Top 10 positions (it doesn’t matter whether male or female) • Women Top 6 (if applicable) • Remaining prize-funding up to organisers discretion Category 4 Race • Overall Top 5 positions No Elite or U23 rider is eligible for prize-money in any other category than category 1. And wait the best of all there is a new abbreviation that CSA have come up with....... a PDI..... Previously Disadvantaged Individual. This is what they say about these guys. j. A Previously Disadvantaged Individual (PDI) is a black rider who for purposes of definition only, is not white and who must be a South African Citizen. – Sorry Doug Ryder you going to have to replace your African riders with a PDI. And here comes the pinnacle.... the QUOTA system..... Team Composition: a. Minimum 4 riders – Maximum 8 riders (to participated), Maximum 9 riders (to register) b. A 9th rider may be added to a sponsored top club on the following conditions: i. A mountain bike U23 rider who has to participate in 75% of the events stipulated as selection races by the Cycling SA Mountain Bike Commission. OR ii. An Elite track rider who has to participate in 75% of the all National Series & Grand Prix events. c. Ages of the riders: i. Maximum 4 elite riders born before 1 January 1985 of any nationality * ii. 1 x U21 South African rider (1st or 2nd year U23 during 2011) as 5th rider iii. 1 x PDI South African rider as 6th rider (any age) iv. 7th rider can be either a PDI South African or a U26 South African (born after 31 December 1985) rider. v. 8th rider can be either a PDI South African or a U26 South African (born after 31 December 1985) rider. d. Sample Team compositions: i. 5 riders: 4 riders of own choice, 1 rider U21 or PDI ii. 6 riders: 4 riders of own choice, 1 rider U21 and 1 rider PDI iii. 7 riders: 4 riders of own choice, 1 x rider U21, 1 x rider PDI, 1 x rider U26 or PDI iv. 8 riders: 4 riders of own choice, 1 x rider U21, 1 x rider PDI, 2 x riders U26 or PDI v. 9 riders: riders of own choice, 1 x rider U21, 1 x rider PDI, 2 x rider U26 or PDI + either a Track or MTB rider (as per point e. A maximum of 8 riders will start in top club competitions f. Should a PDI rider be an elite athlete, an additional Elite rider will be allowed to make up the total Elite riders as 5 riders Conclusion! CSA you have proven to South Africa that you actually don’t know what you are doing. You are screwing up Veterans racing and they make up the majority of South African Cycling. Take our National Team to go race in Europe, that’s how they are going to improve! It’s a fact just look at our riders John-Lee, Robbie, Daryl, Asheley & Carla they became what they are from racing in Europe.
