[Event] 947 Cycle Challenge 2016

[Vetplant]

This is a small sample, but I wanted to see if we can say whether this year's route was significantly easier or not. I compared it to the previous two years.

 

I looked at the Racetec results for batches A to F and the % of riders that completed in sub 3h. The batch sizes remained roughly the same for the three years and the total finishers were also relatively close between the years, so we can trust the percentages. (The big decline from 2015(21 527) to 2016(20272) might start to worry the organisers.)

 

The graph below shows an interesting result. Even though 2014 and 2015 had the same route, 2014 had way more sub 3h finishers, it even outperformed 2016.

 

So the only thing I can make of this is that the conditions play a major part in how quick riders finish the race. If I remember correctly, 2015 was freakishly hot...

 

I would not at this stage say that the new route is faster or slower yet, but I can say it is much more enjoyable than 2014/15.

 

EDIT: I added the columns for total % of riders achieving sub 3h. The overall trend in that regard is that more riders are getting faster.

 

Edited November 22, 2016 by Rookie85

[Blue Monster]

Hi all

 

Thanks for the comments re the start layout.

 

We have a layout issue at Riversands which makes it difficult to do a cut and paste of the CTCT.

 

CT has a shorter/fatter venue with access from all sides into the start pens. We have a long thin venue with little or no tarred access from the sides.

 

We also have a river that cuts the venue into 2 with no access from all people arriving from the North, access to the back of the start. We have to allow these people access after the river. ( so two access points)

 

Lastly, the finish is on the same road as the start pens with the front finishers arriving long before the last starter have access their start pens.

 

Every year we look at improving the start design with the layout of the venue. There are some access roads we could use but not tarred, if it did rain they could be mud.

 

So we honestly try ever year to improve (the electronic signs made a big difference) but welcome any positive ideas.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

This is a bit of a Catch-22 - we try and allow late access to pens as we understand that with this size event traffic, parking, and other problems do happen on the best planned mornings, however this then gets abused by these few individuals who use this to get ahead of their group so that they can get to the front. 

 

But we will bear these comments in mind for next year, thanks.

Thanks guys for the response and for coming on to the HUB to offer feedback.

I believe that the event is very well run.

One observation.

I started in VD and rode to the venue.  I then rode up to the start to see where the staging area was.  This was at about 5am.  There was no control of who could get up to the start.

I believe that closing off the start chute, where the two loading areas merge into one, would have prevented most of the problems.  As soon as the pre loading pens start to fill up, I would assume most riders would not move up beyond their start group.

Most of the above possibly only includes/happens in the racing groups, up to the upper alphabet soup.

[Frosty]

This is a small sample, but I wanted to see if we can say whether this year's route was significantly easier or not. I compared it to the previous two years.

 

I looked at the Racetec results for batches A to F and the % of riders that completed in sub 3h. The batch sizes remained roughly the same for the three years and the total finishers were also relatively close between the years, so we can trust the percentages. (The big decline from 2015(21 527) to 2016(20272) might start to worry the organisers.)

 

The graph below shows an interesting result. Even though 2014 and 2015 had the same route, 2014 had way more sub 3h finishers, it even outperformed 2016.

 

So the only thing I can make of this is that the conditions play a major part in how quick riders finish the race. If I remember correctly, 2015 was freakishly hot...

 

I would not at this stage say that the new route is faster or slower yet, but I can say it is much more enjoyable than 2014/15.

 

EDIT: I added the columns for total % of riders achieving sub 3h. The overall trend in that regard is that more riders are getting faster.

It's what Greg Lemond has said all along...

[IceCreamMan]

This is a small sample, but I wanted to see if we can say whether this year's route was significantly easier or not. I compared it to the previous two years.

 

I looked at the Racetec results for batches A to F and the % of riders that completed in sub 3h. The batch sizes remained roughly the same for the three years and the total finishers were also relatively close between the years, so we can trust the percentages. (The big decline from 2015(21 527) to 2016(20272) might start to worry the organisers.)

 

The graph below shows an interesting result. Even though 2014 and 2015 had the same route, 2014 had way more sub 3h finishers, it even outperformed 2016.

 

So the only thing I can make of this is that the conditions play a major part in how quick riders finish the race. If I remember correctly, 2015 was freakishly hot...

 

I would not at this stage say that the new route is faster or slower yet, but I can say it is much more enjoyable than 2014/15.

 

EDIT: I added the columns for total % of riders achieving sub 3h. The overall trend in that regard is that more riders are getting faster.

nice work.

 

Is the total on the right correct? Seems counter intuitive when looking at the other graphs. Unless of course many finished sub 3 but not in groups A to F.

 

whats the absolute number of sub 3 finishes over the years?

 

If there were less riders this year than previous years I would imagine its the general riders where the numbers shrunk not the sharp end of the field.

[Davey_Jones]

I find it weird that there were so many news articles building up to the race but hardly any after the race.  No pics of the winners no interviews that i can find. Usually this stuff is up in a matter of hours. Or are my google skills dropping off?

[Davey_Jones]

Oh wait i found a whole 1

 

http://inthebunch.co.za/events/947-cycle-challenge/

 

 

[Jase619]

It's what Greg Lemond has said all along...

Ooooh, where did you get that?

[Frosty]

Ooooh, where did you get that?

Google - here's the link:

https://img1.etsystatic.com/109/1/7177325/il_340x270.888073537_2sy1.jpg

[nonky]

nice work.

 

Is the total on the right correct? Seems counter intuitive when looking at the other graphs. Unless of course many finished sub 3 but not in groups A to F.

 

whats the absolute number of sub 3 finishes over the years?

 

If there were less riders this year than previous years I would imagine its the general riders where the numbers shrunk not the sharp end of the field.

 

in 2016, 2349 riders less than 3 hours.

 

Jakobus Hendrik Bester is the unlucky sod that came in 3:00:00

[Vetplant]

nice work.

 

Is the total on the right correct? Seems counter intuitive when looking at the other graphs. Unless of course many finished sub 3 but not in groups A to F.

 

whats the absolute number of sub 3 finishes over the years?

 

If there were less riders this year than previous years I would imagine its the general riders where the numbers shrunk not the sharp end of the field.

The total column on the right also confuses me, but the numbers don't lie, more people from the lower groups seem to finish sub3 each year.

 

The absolute numbers for sub3 finishers for the entire field are as follows:

2014:1916

2015:2074

2016:2349

 

Totals of sub3 finishers for groups A to F:

2014:1052

2015:1099

2016:1122

 

So large contingent of sub3 finishers are in the lower groups, close to half of the total....  further analysis will follow...

[eddy]

 

 

So large contingent of sub3 finishers are in the lower groups, close to half of the total....  further analysis will follow...

 

 

Nope

 

Where have you listed the Elites, Veteran categories, Tandems etc ?

[Blue Monster]

WRT the number of sub 3 finishers.

Cycling is becoming more popular. There are also more formalised training studios. When I started riding 4 years ago, the only one I could find on Google was Cadence.

If you do a search now there are plenty.

The racing after winter this year seemed to have changed a lot.  I trained all through winter and got quite a bit stronger.  I however still placed in roughly the same position in the batch at each of the races I entered.  Guys are getting stronger and will skew the numbers of sub 3 finishers.

[Vetplant]

Nope

 

Where have you listed the Elites, Veteran categories, Tandems etc ?

Aha, thanks, that makes ALLOTT more sense, that is where the rest of the sub 3's are located. Thanks for showing me the error of my ways

[ahmedbadat]

does anyone know what sort of power stats these amazing pros finished the race with or even the super fast guys who finish around 2:30? i had an average of 173w and did 2:50 riding on the limit the whole way. just for interest sake

[Long Wheel Base]

does anyone know what sort of power stats these amazing pros finished the race with or even the super fast guys who finish around 2:30? i had an average of 173w and did 2:50 riding on the limit the whole way. just for interest sake

Yes, They(The Pro's) know but I don't think they will tell us. Much like SKY keep all Froome's data under wraps.

Why?

Wish I knew because as you say its just for interest sake. Not like we can actually do anything with the figures. Us mere mortals will just look at the figure and think how the heck is it possible.

[s14phoenix]

does anyone know what sort of power stats these amazing pros finished the race with or even the super fast guys who finish around 2:30? i had an average of 173w and did 2:50 riding on the limit the whole way. just for interest sake

 

Did you use a power meter? or Strava estimate? I got 2:52 and estimated strava was around 229w