Million Man Natz?
Don't know how many of you NorCal folks are headed out to the 2006 Cyclocross Nationals, but a big question on many minds is just how large the fields will be. Last year, many of the fields (mainly B's and masters) filled up to their 150-rider capacity, more than a month before Natz. As a result many riders didn't even get to start -- yet many others who reg'ed did not show up. Those who did faced endless traffic jams on the course. So is there a better way to do this?
If there is a better system, the promoter hasn't spelled out what it will be. This year, there are no published field limits, no rider counts are shown in the BikeReg info, and all fields are apparently still open with two weeks to go, welcoming anyone with $37 and an appetite for chaos. There has been no talk of entry requirements, qualifying heats, or anything else to bring order to the situation other than the complicated callup procedure. The promoter's site notes that a "confirmed rider list" will be published tomorrow, December 1, though reg will stay open for an additional ten days. And that's after more than 600 riders signed up in just the first ten minutes of the reg. period back in October!
It's going to be interesting to see what that "confirmed rider list" reveals tomorrow. Rumor has it that the promoter has decided just to throw field limits to the wind, and let things sort themselves out. In the masters championship events, that actually might work: judging by the low raceday turnout in many of the full fields last year, maybe only the riders who really feel ready will come to the Natz, and you'll have an authentic, competitive race.
On the other hand, past experience also shows that the non-championship B race (which gets a large local draw) will be attended by everyone in driving distance regardless of the conditions. So those events are sure to be a real adventure, at least for anyone not in the front row callup. Who knows, maybe the promoter will have to issue massive 5-digit race numbers (covering the entire rider's back) to get enough numbers for all the entries.
So, how about all of you out there in the Babblesphere? Are you signed up? Are you going? Are you concerned? Do you care?
posted by Dave Carr at 10:14 AM
20 Comments:
Natz Schmatz...let's put Natz on the back burner, because we've got DISTRICTS this weekend, and it should be a real showdown.
My preview here.
DISTRICTS, schmistricks(?) I'm going to Masters Worlds!
Well, I am excited for districts as well as the BASP finals this weekend at Coyote Point!
Let's rock!
we're burned out babbling about it - had many a go rounds when reg opened about how to make it...
FOPs (friends of promoters) seem to be the only reason not to list the order of registrants...
It'll be a freaking clusterf*ck no doubt...
but hell if ya ain't getting a call up it don't really matter...
and if the course doesn't bottle neck too badly (from design or ice on the start/finish pavement) field numbers ain't that much of a hinderance...
we're dealing with 150 rider fields on a regular basis 'round here (at least in the Verge races in new engerland)
Masters Worlds! your a dreamer!
you probably finish in the top 5 here in the Master races..... and if it was a Super cup national caliber race, you might end up in the top 15 or top 10....So you will fly somewhere that no one goes to and race and be happy because it is the Masters Worlds?? Your just kidding yourself! If you came across a true Master Worlds youd be lapped! because guys like Richard G. and Adri V.D.P. would show you the true speed of some of the Worlds best Masters racers!
You cant even place top 5 in our districts and your thinking of Masters Worlds and bragging about it?
Hold your line and dont cut people off!
See you Sunday!
SF Mafia~
thats the thing... how do you hold a line on a course that's 3 meter's wide?
"HOLD YOUR LINE"
generally is yelled by some dude who is riding a different line... it ain't one line... its a race... it ain't slot cars...
meh - if ya wanna go around me... i'm gonna be riding my line... find one that works and gets past my slow ass...
/annoyance
even if it was slot cars you would still lose your line and crash someone out, and then write a whole story about how someone crashed you out at the Master Worlds.
S F M
sfm - ease up, nobody is taking your bait...go somewhere else...
...go on...
In response to the person who feels that "dissing" someone who may or may be placing top 5 in local Masters A's, but who will (still) make the trip to Worlds (makes you feel better,'cause I'm going to Belgium and your not?). I don't understand why you would chose to "smack talk" anyone (dreamer?)who wants to enjoy the exprience of racing against the best in the world whether they they get lapped or not!
I don't know what category you race in, but what you may not know, several local (top ten) Masters riders have made the trip to Masters Worlds over the past few years, and a few of them have either medaled (Trina Baumsteiger), or come in top ten against Belgians, Czechs and Dutch (Henry Kramer).
Ask any of those folks about they're experiences racing in Europe, and I bet they don't regret it one bit regardless of where they placed.
Cyclocross is about fun and if you really think I give a "rats ass" about where I place at Masters Worlds, you'd be dead wrong.
Have fun this weekend everyone!
Im going to master worlds and then to disneyland!
the san fran mafia boys are the fastest! we will dominate the master worlds! and we wont cry when someone crashes in front of us!
Hey now!
if anyone wants to go race, then that is great! i really respect anyone who races any where!
Good luck!
KD
WAY to dominate the districts, now you can go dominate the Worlds.
schmistricks
Lets Rock!
i am the world master(baiter) champion..........
lets rock!
master of disaster
i am the worlds top master racer, and i am going to belgium,
so take that.
my master mind makes me the master of my own domain. i will race master class in belguim and wherever i finish is my curent world ranking. like it or not i am the master race. im going to master worlds and all of you are mere mortals compared to me the master.
i think master of the universe is beter then master worlds!
sounds like someone missed the short bus.
people are going...
people have been in serious training
the bikes are expensive
the intensity is high
there will definitely be a King of the Sandbaggers on that day!
oh
I think some Elite Pros may show up too..
im a brother.....
why this gotta be a slave master thing?
you think your the master well i will show you master *#x#@**xx#!
yu da master and I gonna sho yu some woop ass master reality checck boy........
you white boy think you go to master worlds, well you need to go to tha hood and they will shoe yu who is da real master!
master worlds??? you beter just try and win a southern mine race boy...
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