WP League first timer

[BuffsVintageBikes]

No bashing intended, merely pointing out the obvious. He's a Master, he's fully entitled to race in that category no matter how strong he is. Then you have okes like Thys who prefers to race against the Elites in most of his races. Difference strokes for different folks 🤙

[Kelson Elena Da Cruz]

If you're looking to win a race and you're the strongest in the pack, the strategy is simple: wait for the perfect moment to attack, like a long climb or a strategic point in the race. It's textbook stuff!

You wouldn't want to lead from the start and time trial the whole way, only to get sprinted at the finish line!

I feel sorry for some riders who seem to underestimate a 59-year-old CAT 3 rider pushing hard in the Western Cape. In other leagues, that kind of determination would be celebrated for making the race stronger, more positive, and challenging!

Maybe that's why we don't see many Master riders representing Western Cape at SA championship level. Thanks for listening, and let's keep pushing each other to be our best!

Edited Tuesday at 08:21 AM by Kelson Elena Da Cruz

[The Tourminator]

2 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

I also think the CAT3 bunch was much larger than expected because most of the cat 2’s did not want to ride an extra lap. I think WP cycling are hoping that at the next race, a lot of the cat2 guys will go back to riding cat2 which then obviously weakens the cat3 bunch.

I don't think this is the case. Looking at the results, I didn't recognize anyone who rode cat 2 last year. I think it's just merely increased interest in the WPcycling events which bodes well for the sport. I do however think that they will have to start working on enforcing clear category allocation criteria if this interest continues. 

I think we can anticipate similar interest in cat 3, if not more given the atlantis route, with cat 4's peloton being even bigger.

I don't think the results page always tells the story of the race. All things aside, I think there's going to be a lot of exciting racing this year.

 

Edited Tuesday at 10:13 AM by The Tourminator

[NotSoBigBen]

7 hours ago, Kelson Elena Da Cruz said:

One advantage when we become Master 59 that we can choose the Cat we want to ride 😉 on my training rides, I go for a Time Trial mode ,constant power output , no surges , so I not attacking the group , just keeping the speed high, if the group feels they want to learn racing tactics and don’t want suck wheels they can choose to let me go alone so I can have my training and the group can race as they wish is that simple but as you know they rather die than let me go alone 😉

Don't know you from a bar of soap but just do what you do I'd say! 'rather die than let me go alone' .... Flip coffee everywhere 😂

Makes me think of a local chap that I have been 'racing' for many many years, a friendly rivalry if you will, and he has that exact attitude 😎

[DieselnDust]

3 hours ago, Skubarra said:

if you also do 320 watts while drafting him you are doing drafting wrong 😁

There isn't much of Kelson to draft......

[Roadie_]

3 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Did anyone on here actually check the Cat 3 results before bashing the oke for being too strong for his Cat based on a mid-race photo?

Hi Guys. The main reason he did not win the race (or contest the sprint), was that he took a solo left turn instead of right, about 4 km from the finish. He pretty much pulled the group from start that point. Shortly before that the race was neutralized for a short while, allowing the bunch time to take it easy and prepare for the final dash to the line.

Edited Tuesday at 11:22 AM by Roadie_

[Mamil]

4 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Exactly, let's not BS anyone here 🤭 I'd probably do exactly the same if I was that strong so I'm not judging but let's call it as it is.

 

4 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Did anyone on here actually check the Cat 3 results before bashing the oke for being too strong for his Cat based on a mid-race photo?

I'm not sure he's being bashed - but the presence of a super strong rider in a lower cat changes the race dynamics, that's undeniable. 

I think that in the next Cat 3 race we need to gang up on @Kelson Elena Da Cruzand see if we can push him into some discomfort -- it might take 5 or 8 people taking turns and maybe it ends with him exhausting us and riding away once we're all spent but maybe it's worth a shot - 

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Attacking him in the neutral zone while the rest block sounds like the only feasible option 😉

[Skubarra]

2 hours ago, The Tourminator said:

I don't think this is the case. Looking at the results, I didn't recognize anyone who rode cat 2 last year. I think it's just merely increased interest in the WPcycling events which bodes well for the sport. I do however think that they will have to start working on enforcing clear category allocation criteria if this interest continues. 

I think we can anticipate similar interest in cat 3, if not more given the atlantis route, with cat 4's peloton being even bigger.

I don't think the results page always tells the story of the race. All things aside, I think there's going to be a lot of exciting racing this year.

 

A few of the strong guys that were in Cat2 last year were riding in Cat1 at Philadelphia, just my perception but Cat2 felt a bit easier than last year.

Just on our fellow hubber in Cat 3, if I was a super strong masters rider and I had to choose between mid-bunch anonymity in Cat 1/ Cat 2 or competing & hurting others in Cat 3 I know what I would pick! 

[Euvdore]

23 hours ago, Robo said:

Your reasons are valid from an individual perspective…however..here is my 2cents about racing a cat lower.

It changes the racing for the guys that are true Cat 3 racers that might have had a different experience matching with “similar strength” riders…learning tactical racing is somewhat lost if they are totally outgunned. (This league is most probably the only time of the year to be exposed to racing)

Looking at the foto it seems like you are putting the bunch in the gutter…so one might argue if it was only training ride why put them in the gutter?

Not a stab at you, but ultimately its a balance between individual and group goals.

I rode Cat 3 that day and that was my fastest race since I started cycling lol. So thank you Kelson 😄

[Naidy]

12 hours ago, Euvdore said:

I rode Cat 3 that day and that was my fastest race since I started cycling lol. So thank you Kelson 😄

from 1 to 10 please rate the level of suffering 

[bleedToWin]

19 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Attacking him in the neutral zone while the rest block sounds like the only feasible option 😉

Isolate him into a small break early. Work with him. Win or loose in the end you get a good result because the group won't be able to close it. If you get dropped from said break you get a good workout and can come back stronger to try again! 💪

[DieselnDust]

Or just leave him on the front....?

Play the game not the man

[Bub Marley]

9 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Or just leave him on the front....?

Play the game not the man

I think this was what they did last year and no one could catch him. At least, that’s what I hear. This Kelson oke was the talk of the town with his strength.🤣

[Mamil]

42 minutes ago, bleedToWin said:

Isolate him into a small break early. Work with him. Win or loose in the end you get a good result because the group won't be able to close it. If you get dropped from said break you get a good workout and can come back stronger to try again! 💪

 

35 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Or just leave him on the front....?

Play the game not the man

What if a team could get 2 or 3 with @Kelson Elena Da Cruzinto a break with perhaps one or 2 others and then leave him on the front of that break (we know he just wants a solid 2 hours at his threshold) and then have one or 2 blockers on the peloton. Is there a team in Cat 3 who has 5 or 6 riders?

[Titleist]

I see some guy with NP of 320W /Ave 299W did 1:48 in Cat 3, so 320W TT for 2 hours is slow....#justsaying

Edited yesterday at 08:23 AM by Titleist