Cherise Stander not selected for UCI World Marathon Championships

[Squier]

So the national champ has not been selected for Worlds... Typical CSA idiotic antics or normal protocol being followed?

 

This from www.cyclesport.co.za:

 

The word ‘vision’ is defined by The New English Usage Dictionary as ‘the ability to anticipate the future and plan accordingly’. Judging by the way in which the national selectors of Cycling South Africa (CSA) go about the selection of teams, this word (vision) apparently does not form part of their vocabulary. If it did, they would have selected the current South African marathon champion, Cherise Stander (Momentum-Toyota), for the team that will be competing at the UCI World Marathon Championship in France next month.

 

It is important that there should be explicit criteria when it comes to the selection of national teams. This helps both the riders and their coaches to understand what is expected of them. But it is a sad day for the future of any sport when its selection process becomes so rigid that the selectors do not want to deviate from it under any circumstances.

 

Stander is the first to admit that she has failed to meet the selection criteria because of her road-cycling commitments. If the selectors bothered at all to listen to what she said minutes after winning the SA marathon title in Wellington, they would have realized that her goals as a professional cyclist are changing. “I am going to compete in mountain-bike marathons more often and scale down on road racing. My overriding goal is to win a medal for South Africa at the 2014 UCI World Marathon Championship in Pietermaritzburg.”

 

Anyone who has any vision would realize that South African cycling could only gain by selecting Stander. No rider can just rock up at a World Championship and expect to win a medal. The selectors’ reasoning that Stander is not experienced enough to compete at international level, brings to mind the familiar argument about what was first, the chicken or the egg. How can Stander hope to gain international experience if the CSA does not support her by giving her opportunities to compete internationally?

 

The selectors conveniently forget that Stander, as a road cyclist, finished third overall at last year’s SA Marathon Championship in KwaZulu-Natal. This accomplishment made her one of the most consistent performers at the SA Marathon Championship since 2011. She has also won a number of smaller mountain-bike races, for example the Grape Escape, during the past 12 months.

 

The selectors seem to have forgotten that Stander’s training partner is her husband, Burry, who is currently one of the world’s best mountain bikers. As the saying goes ‘Watch this space”. With Burry Stander’s support, Cherise will be a major force in SA mountain biking by next year. Taking the above into account, one can only come to the conclusion that the CSA selectors act like programmed robots who select teams without due consideration of the relevant factors. It is the classic shotgun approach. Just select a group of riders and start praying that somewhere somebody will win something.

 

With South Africa being the host of the 2014 World Championship, one would have expected that there would be some strategy in place to ensure that a local rider would win a medal. Without detracting from the abilities of the three riders who will represent South Africa in France, it is debatable whether they will still be good enough to race internationally in two years’ time. Yolandé Speedy is coming to the end of her professional career. She has reached the stage where she can say: “I’ve been there, done it and have the T-shirt to prove it”. The 37-year-old Theresa Ralph is undoubtedly one the gutsiest riders on the South African mountain-biking scene, but she is the mother of two young children and it will require major personal sacrifices from her to stay competitive until 2014. Samantha Sanders is a talented rider but the reality is that she has not yet won a major mountain-bike race, for example one of the MTN events. If Sanders is included in the ‘vision’ that the selectors may have for 2014 World Championship, there should be definite plans in place to ensure that she receives appropriate support to keep on improving. The reality is that it will not happen –at least not while the current CSA selectors are in command.

[patches]

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/325/428/264.jpg

[andydude]

Didn't they complain when Cherise wasn't selected for road champs that the selection criteria was to loosely applied, but now they compain it's too strict?

 

Politics... it's everywhere!

[Azonic]

Cycling is all about politics. Run by old men who never made the grade and are now squashing the sport by applying the rules way too strict. Years ago my wife was looking forward to taking part in her first Criterium, but was removed from the starting grid because why? Her shirt did not have sleeves on.

[amoryns]

seriously?????

[Shebeen]

 

The selectors seem to have forgotten that Stander’s training partner is her husband, Burry, who is currently one of the world’s best mountain bikers.

wow, what an emotional article/press release. It's hard to take any of it seriously, when the bare facts were probably quite compelling.

 

On a sort of related issue I lasted about 2 mins before flicking channels when Carte Blanche did their expose on how the 500th best horse rider got replaced by the 160th best horse rider for the olympics. Yadda yadda yadda.

[Wyatt Earp]

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/325/428/264.jpg

 

Gay Sponge Bob feels this way.

It normally ends in disaster.

 

http://cdn.smosh.com/sites/default/files/bloguploads/steal-71-squidward-snapped.jpg

[Eugene]

This woman has achieved more than most SA cyclists put together, but yet, she keeps being over looked for selection. Is there some other agenda that we don't know about.

[Wyatt Earp]

This woman has achieved more than most SA cyclists put together, but yet, she keeps being over looked for selection. Is there some other agenda that we don't know about.

 

Eugene, I couldn't agree more.

That and the fact that they keep sending people who makes this nations name completely gat.

[nochain]

What were the criteria?

 

So is being National Champ is not enough to at least make a group of 3? How can winning Nationals or being on the Podium at Nationals not be part of the Criteria?????

[Spinnekop]

Cycling is all about politics. Run by old men who never made the grade and are now squashing the sport by applying the rules way too strict. Years ago my wife was looking forward to taking part in her first Criterium, but was removed from the starting grid because why? Her shirt did not have sleeves on.

 

Yip....happened to me to.....94.7.....

[CAAD4]

Maybe Zim or Nam would rather have her represent them?

[CAAD4]

Yip....happened to me to.....94.7.....

 

Those big CSA Tannies are woes. Did one licensed race and never again...

[Ceres]

Yip....happened to me to.....94.7.....

 

Weren't you wearing a tank top.

[Gerhardc]

4 Sep 2012

Cycling South Africa’s Mountain Bike Commission has great pleasure in announcing that the following riders have been selected to represent South Africa at the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships, taking place in Ornans, France on 7 October 2012.

 

The following riders have been selected according to the 2012 CSA-MTB Selection Criteria.

 

Men:

Nico Bell

Kevin Evans

David George

Max Knox

 

Women:

Teresa Ralph

Samantha Sanders

Yolande Speedy

 

Special Rules for Mountain Bike Marathon Series:

 

4.6.008 Top 20 men and women of each round of the UCI marathon series as well as the top 50 of the individual general marathon series ranking obtain a qualification for the UCI marathon world championships.

 

 

Please note that if a rider falls within this special rule, they are entitled to participate at the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships, however the travel expenses are for their own account and they are obliged to compete in National Federation cycle kit.

 

All riders must confirm their kit requirement with Dellah Paul by Friday 7 September so that the cycling kit can be ordered. Dellah can be reached by email at dellah@cyclingsa.com, or by mobile on 082 781 5656.

 

ENDS

[Iron]

I have been on the receiving end of the political fat cats and I feel for Cherise.

 

Sad that this crap will never change/stop .

Edited September 18, 2012 by Iron