|
Le Grand Prix cycliste des Laurentides a constituté une autre occasion pour les adeptes du FORUM de The Canadian Cyclist de faire valoir leur opinions.
Avec les écarts que peut parfois permettre l'anonymat de propos... |
|
Le Grand Prix cycliste des Laurentides a constituté une autre occasion pour les adeptes du FORUM de The Canadian Cyclist de faire valoir leur opinions.
Avec les écarts que peut parfois permettre l'anonymat de propos... |
What a turn out
August 26, 2003 at 9:14
Was there really only 17 starters and 12 finishers ?
That's hardly even worth the drive, but I guess it's understandable considering they startered pushing this event 2 days before it started !
Laurentides
August 26, 2003 at 10:00 by Paul Moffat
I heard it was a hard race, the "crit" had a monster climb in it, they had to do 20 (!?!?) times. The TT was so twisty, Areo-bars didn't help too much 'cuz you weren't in them long enough, and the RR had climb after climb after climb for 140k. Although there was a small field, I'm sure it was hard with the likes of Gilbert there. Nice weather too.
It would be nice if they ran it next year.
Next Year
August 26, 2003 at 18:21
If they do (ran it next year), count me out.
It was the worst organised bike race I have ever attended.
I can only assume the organiser had never actually gone to a bike race. It's the only way some one could do it so poorly.
There were cars all over the course the first day, the ITT was crazy dangerous, and couldn't have been worse marshelled if they'd given orange vests to a bunch of inmates from a mental institute.
They sent guys the wrong way in the road race and then put them back in farther back from the break than they'd been.
The entire thing was pretty much a waste of time.
Last Post - Bitter?
August 26, 2003 at 19:37 by Mike Finnigain
Wow, you type and spell very good english. So let's see.
Is the last poster :
A: Warren Tilbrook, who is not the kind to run his mouth.
B: Ryan Roth, who had an ok Crit but didn't fair so well.
C: Chris Ried, who also didn't fair so well.
D: Buck Miller, who won a stage.
E: Jeff Schiller, who had a great race with a 2nd in the crit.
F: Peter Sanowar, who also had a great race with a 2nd in the TT.
My bet is Rider B or C. Anyone dare speek up ? I know it's one of the Onterrible riders. Because you 6 riders were the only 6 that spoke english in the whole event. Thats too bad you hated it so much.
How about you don't go ever again, like next year when it's even bigger and better. You ungreatfull child.
Laurentides
August 26, 2003 at 21:03 by Burton
First year event in this area and it was great! I talked to the organizer and he said that there were some awful problems with the different governing bodies in cycling, due to this being a new event, etc.
There was also a substantial amount of sponsor money promised then removed due to a provincial government change which was another issue beyond the organizer's control.
I for one would not miss it next year as it is one of the most beautiful areas of Canada and I think it will become a huge event !
Great location, food, people and police.
Thank you.
Laurentides
August 26, 2003 at 22:36 by "C" (Chris Ried)
It was a frustrating event to attend, simply because it could have been so well done.
Having a UCI espoir race in Canada was an excellent opportunity, and it was largely wasted.
The courses (included the poorly marshalled ITT course) were awesome venues.
We were fed after every stage, which was awesome.
The prize money was excellent, and the awards ceremonies were extremely professional.
That said, there was no field, no information about the event, they didn't advertise it outside of Quebec untill the last minute, and seemingly blamed the athletes for not signing up in their online requests for riders. Had it been advertised at other races this year - Nationals and Four Briges of Elgin for example - it could have been a very different story.
The entire event smaked of poorly planned waste. The amount of effort and money requeired to organise a race for 17 people must have been attrocious, since I can't imagine anyone broke even on the affair. For this reason alone I have doubts that the race will be held next year.
And the races themselves, though on challenging and interesting courses, were dangerous. The first stage was scattered with cars on the course, (and a string of horses crossing the road at one point), especially on the descent - wich with riders using the full width of the road could have been disasterous.
The ITT was super dangerous and poorly planned. On my ride alone, I faced a car coming head on inside the barriers, and was marshalled into the apex of a corner at the same time as an oncoming rider. This was before being marshalled the wrong way, so that my time was all messed up (somehow it didn't seem right that I won the 17 minute race by 3 and a half minutes, so I was given the time of the last rider plus 2 minutes). Buck Millar also was directed the wrong way but was able to turn around and get back on course, and Ryan was sent outside of the barriers on the finish straigh, and had to come to a stop and duck under the rope to get in. It would have been one thing if we had been able to check out the course before hand - but due to organisation the thing wasn't marked so we couldn't.
The road race, was a pheonominal course, but two of the top riders, Pete and Ryan were misdirected, not only ruining their results, but worse they were sent head on into oncoming traffic- a dangerous situation.
And the worse part of the whole affair was that it was suppositly a UCI race. If we are going to have a UCI Espoir race in Canada (and this again is an excellent thing - we need more of this type of event in Canada) it must be held to a higher standard. In the final analysis my main concerns are with safety, which may make me paranoid but examples such as Tuscon and acident Amy Moore suffered a few years back are all to prevelant in the sport. All in all it seems a wasted opportunity - for the atheltes and the organisers.
And no I won't be back next year, I'm too old. But if I were eligible, it still wouldn't be worth the drive.
Unreal
August 26, 2003 at 23:53 by Hartely
So this event wouldn't be worth the drive if the race got it's shit together and actually had a good strong field like Four Bridges ? Or even the whole Canadian Espoir population for a 5 days stage race ? What's wrong with you ?
This is a dream come true for Canadian Espoirs and you piss on it like this !? Do you know how many UCI Espoir races Holland, France, Italy etc. have a year, I don't ? There's that many. Now you bad mouth it, and next year it turns out the same as ths year and the race is never to be held again. Alot of good that does, Retard.
Your Shitty, Bitter Attitude and everyone else like you is the reason cycling in Canada is SHIT. And we have shit for development.
Hey Hartely
August 27, 2003 at 11:40
If someone attended the event and states concerns about rider safety is that any reason to slam them on the forum. "C" brought up some positive points about the race while providing some constructive criticism. Hartely, it would seem to me that you feel concerns about rider safety are not legitimate. Perhaps this is because you don't compete in larger races and are not aware of the risks involved with racing at high speeds. I am sure if a rider were hurt or worse you wouldn't be so quick to flame against someone raising safety concern on the forum.
From what I have heard about this event, it would seem that a lack of organization resulted in a poor turn out and poor course marshalling. If the organizers get there act together and take into consideration the concerns and problems of this year, perhaps next year you will see a well run race.
Why are you dissing Chris ?
August 27, 2003 at 11:41
Come on, get off of it. Really. Danger is part of the sport I realize (I have raced long enough to know), but dangers that are outside of the nature of the sport (when properly run) are NOT acceptable.
No matter what the race or situation. For a rider to accept this is foolish. To complain about a rider who speaks up is more idiocy. There are alot of problems with Canadian cycling. I can assure you Chris Reid is not one of them.
I laud the efforts of the race organizer but I commiserate with the riders. Chris, well done on your thoughtful critique of the situation. To the others... you should take Chris' lead. Really.
Substandard Events ?????????????
August 27, 2003 at 11:47 by Gilles
Accept substandard events ?
Surely you are kidding!! Coming from Ontario, you should be well used to substandard events as new people all over that province as well are trying to create new events and learn as they go.
Fall down off of your pedestal (or should I say bicycle) and make a contribution towards bettering cycling events rather than shooting your piehole off about someone else !
Laurentides aftermath
August 27, 2003 at 21:22 by Wheel Concerned
The response from forum participants regarding aspects of the G.P. Laurentides was a troubling one for Canadian Cycling and also, may I add, not of a surprising character.
The original Roman and Greek forums were instituted as arenas for public discussions concerned with the nurturing, and nourishment of the society as a whole. This forum became the unwitting arena whereby Laurentides was pushed and pulled at by the regular factious elements of Canadian Cyling. I say "regular" because during my 30 + years of being involved with the sport I have seen these factious elements at work time and again. They are involved with pursuing their own agenda and not a united cycling agenda for our country. There is no building concensual committment from these people. An honorable, logical, maturity , based upon care for others and the sport.
The Laurentide group did not intend to present a disorganized, unsafe and unenduring keepsake. Their intentions were honorable. I was there and I did see some very glaring mistakes made, which, while greatly hazardous, were the mistakes of inexperience and lack of knowledge. Luc Dubois will fully debrief and consider the next step while congnizant of invaluable experience gained, strong points to reinforce and weaker ones to strengthen. It was his first big event and we all start from somewhere.
What we need to do for the Laurentide group is to join with them and help the event through it's growing stages so it can be the wholely worthwhile event it should be, for it had many solid attributes. We need to support as we should nourish and nurture any honorable cycling aspirations in our country.
Then, the developement of cycling in Canada would be the winner and factionalism would be the loser.
Laurentides
August 28, 2003 at 0:58 by Aurthor
The "Crit" was more of a circut race. About a 4k circuit, on the outskirts of town makes it rather hard to get full closures. I think the Marshalls just needed to be more educated, and perhaps forcefull with the people that wanted in and out of their drive ways. They (the Marshalls) didn't quite know what kind of speeds racers were reaching on downhill every lap. (70+kph)
But none the less, the Circuit race and Road Race were both full of good, strong racing between the few that did show up and last.
page mise à jour le 28 août 2003 par SVP
