2018 PPA CycloSportif

[Ferro]

I've watched that video around that time again and again but I can't see any crash. Is it before or after they turn that left hand corner?

42:30

[rpedro]

This is a tricky and difficult one to "fix". People were getting frustrated that it took 2 years to get from Z-A. Now after 2 races people can go from Z-A. The A index is now larger as well. So people that sit on Zwift and have lots of watts have little bike handling etc. 

 

As with most things, the slower you go the more time you have to save yourself. Hence the thinking behind taking longer and making it harder to get into A. 

 

Agreed this is not a Jnr problem though, there are some okes with zero race craft in A now. The only way to get better is spend time racing. Tricky to fix without upsetting someone. 

 

My index is now sitting at 0.02 - This cannot be right, but to make sure people go up groups after an event I think its been softened. Even my parents are now seeded E     

 

We also don't have enough "proper" CAT 1/A Batch Riders. I reckon at best we have about 5-10 Cat 1 riders at our local events and the rest of the CAT 1 riders make up the numbers. I don't have the answers but it's part of the reason why our guys get smoked when they get to Europe. Our racing is just not hard enough. I would like to see more handicap style Criterium racing and I think that would help.

[FootballingCyclist]

I do agree with you, I found myself near the front of the bunch often, But for safety reasons, I would drop towards the back end to have a bite to eat and take a gel and take a sip of EPO H2O, then would work my way back towards the front end. My last part of my comment, the part you talking about also boils down to bunch riding skills and I could see that there were a few guys who were not sure of what was going on and found themselves fighting the wind and quickly figuring out what a "gutter" was..

started in the same group and don't think the guttering after the left turn near Malmesbury had anything to do with intentionally riding people off the back.

[karma]

Please list names of everyone who got team contracts after the fun ride...  

[thisismyotherbike]

Hi guys,

 

I was riding right after the cyclist who crashed, been lucky to move in time and catch it on video.

 

Hope no one got hurt badly 

 

 

Ahem, may I suggest one of these nifty valve stickers?

 

http://www.wigglestatic.com/product-media/5360114252/3652-8856-thickbox.jpg?w=700&h=700&a=7

[FootballingCyclist]

 I would like to see more handicap style Criterium racing and I think that would help.

The WP League has plenty crits during a WP winter league racing season

[Pure Savage]

I've watched that video around that time again and again but I can't see any crash. Is it before or after they turn that left hand corner?

 

Just before the turn, it happens one rider in front of cameraman, you will see the group split all of a sudden, that was the crash.

[rpedro]

The WP League has plenty crits during a WP winter league racing season

 

WP is doing a great job of trying to lift the racing but we need more and/or harder racing. I think handicap racing like at Killarney might help but I'm not sure.

[Stricker]

We also don't have enough "proper" CAT 1/A Batch Riders. I reckon at best we have about 5-10 Cat 1 riders at our local events and the rest of the CAT 1 riders make up the numbers. I don't have the answers but it's part of the reason why our guys get smoked when they get to Europe. Our racing is just not hard enough. I would like to see more handicap style Criterium racing and I think that would help.

I will be able to count on one hand how many guys were actually racing yesterday and how many were waiting for final sprint.

 

Was chatting to a friend the other day after he told me to ride with my brain and not my legs.

So I told him imagine everyone did that, PPA could just as well make all races 10km long , as everyone will do a how slow can you go and save all their "energy"  for final attack or sprint.

 

That being said .. each to he's own.

[Pure Savage]

We also don't have enough "proper" CAT 1/A Batch Riders. I reckon at best we have about 5-10 Cat 1 riders at our local events and the rest of the CAT 1 riders make up the numbers. I don't have the answers but it's part of the reason why our guys get smoked when they get to Europe. Our racing is just not hard enough. I would like to see more handicap style Criterium racing and I think that would help.

 

Hard racing was the Lagoon Beach challenge, got in the break this year and Kevin last year. 75km of full out attack after attack then the rest between the attacks is at just below threshhold. That makes it hard, not just out climbing okes for 3 minutes. 

 

At one point on Sunday climbing the Windmeul climb the group was crawling along at 17km/h, there was even an auditor on the front at one point keeping the pace above 20

 

I dont know, people dont like hard racing, they like coming 8th and not 14th at a fun ride. 

 

Durbie dash this year was a good case in point, gutters all day long, no place to hide and race for the matt. 

[Pure Savage]

I will be able to count on one hand how many guys were actually racing yesterday and how many were waiting for final sprint.

 

Was chatting to a friend the other day after he told me to ride with my brain and not my legs.

So I told him imagine everyone did that, PPA could just as well make all races 10km long , as everyone will do a how slow can you go and save all their "energy"  for final attack or sprint.

 

That being said .. each to he's own.

 

So true! 

 

My best is when you are working at pulling back to the break etc and okes hang on doing nothing, its gets within 100m, they jump from the back leaving 5 okes carrying on the paceline only for 'Sagan' to pop and come back and sit on the wheels of the 5 okes ticking over. 

 

I can understand dont spend all day on the front, agreed (Cannonball doesnt get that) but if there is a group chasing or you are trying to stay away put some effort in.

[Pure Savage]

Some stats from the last 2018 Sportif: second most entrants, second most female entrants. Still sub 500 riders though. 

[devocean]

Just before the turn, it happens one rider in front of cameraman, you will see the group split all of a sudden, that was the crash.

Ah, crash is at 42:30 not 43:30. damn, looks like a fast crash

[Skubarra]

 

I dont know, people dont like hard racing, they like coming 8th and not 14th at a fun ride. 

 

Durbie dash this year was a good case in point, gutters all day long, no place to hide and race for the matt. 

 

Not to be disrespectful to anyone that participated, but I don't recall seeing many "big" names on Sunday in A bunch? Think the lack of "racing" might be a function of most of the usual top riders not participating on Sunday? 

[LeoKnight]

Some stats from the last 2018 Sportif: second most entrants, second most female entrants. Still sub 500 riders though. 

 

I am still wondering how they will get more people to enjoy these races.  I am serious sitting at the fun side of the weekend warrior pack  (not sure what the official ranking is from racing snake down to last man over the line).  But there is a perception that it is mostly serious cyclist that take part in these races and not so many that is using it as an introduction to road cycling

[Karman de Lange]

Should one not go with the British methods one step at a time? You earn points for each race you participate .. IE  100-seeding index achieved , so even if you have dodge ride you get some points) .. if you get xyz points you go to next group or up 2 groups max at time.

 

Then at least, you will have to have raced 10 - 20 races before getting to fast groups. ?

 

 

I take myself for example .. went from K to D in one race (or something silly like that) .. I was dropped very quickly in D till I got bit fitter.