When a winner isn't a winner

[Pure Savage]

Any prize money or is this just an excel sheet competition? :-)

 

There is a floating trophy.

[Odinson]

Smash the children in the short race!

 

No don't. That is a jerk move.

 

A hard faught second place against your peers beats and easy win against beginners hands down.

 

When I was riding seriously as a 20something year old I was away in a 2 "man" break with a youngster at some or other church race in the middle of nowhere. That youngster rode his heart out and attacked me on the last climb. I could have easily chased him down (he was 16ish) but I didn't. The look on his and his folks faces at the end proved I made the right decision.

 

Ha! And folks want to complain about 'entitled millennials' who just want everything gifted to them. 

 

Wins are to be earned, not gifted. #pitywin

[Kalahari Vegmot]

The problem with this story is context-the lack thereof.

 

Didn't you also start that 'advice on a cneating spouse thread'?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

There is a floating trophy.

Like those ones you see in Muizenberg's surf, sometimes?

 

https://www.youtube.com/_nETL4r2mrc?t=1m2s

[Hackster]

Maybe a SLIGHT edit in that Half distances give prizes to U/18 and U16 etc

 

Thank you. This is where the problem lies.

[tux26]

I once saw a 30 something year old standing on the podium next to 2 little lighties because he "beat" them at the 20km race and collected a prize. He looked a bit silly standing up there next to the 2 kids.

I once saw a 30 something year old guy beat a 12 year old girl by about 4 seconds in a 20km race, to take first place.  For about a year after that he kept reminding all his friends on Facebook that he had won a race.

[Patchelicious]

But what if he rode the race on knobblies?

[Just Jacques]

If there is a shorter road distance the MTB comes out to play and my mission is to stick with the front guys as long as I can even attempting to sprint for 6th or 7th place...

 

MTB races do the long route and take a serving of cement !

[gogo@]

By the time I get to the finish the podium is on the back of a bakkie.

I like you.

[Edition 507]

What kind of a liberal millennial fcken bullsh1t post is this?

[scotty]

Reminds me of the incident where at the SA's Mighty Mouse for a bit more competition wanted to race at age category below his. Riders in the age category he wanted to compete in  protested and moaned. 

[Shebeen]

 

There is it.

 

Combined Argus and oceans times. Third time winning for Will.

helps that he has the fastest times for both....

[GSG]

Ha! And folks want to complain about 'entitled millennials' who just want everything gifted to them. 

 

Wins are to be earned, not gifted. #pitywin

 

I agree! More of a lesson in coming second than winning based on pity

[Shebeen]

[EmJayZA]

 

These events can be won by anyone? Why are there no classifications into age groups? I don't believe in backing down in competition, but it seems a bit silly to be competing against kids. 

[Grease_Monkey]

Simple. If you can legaly race in said distance (ie: right age group, bike, etc), and you can win, then win. If you step aside for someone else to win they aren't really winning are they?

 

I'm speaking from a place of not being competitive at any level, but sure wouldn't feel like I won a race if everyone in front of me slowed down or did not compete to "give me a crack at it".