Just one clarification on the elite categories:

While we listed USAC categories for those classes (pro/1/2 for the men, 1/2)
for the women), the guideline for the women should have been 1/2/3. That
said, it technically doesn't matter: anyone with a UCI elite license can
enter those classes as always. The way it was written it sounds like we
would be excluding cat. 3 women from the Elite race, which we aren't. We'd
actually like to encourage as many of them to race up as possible.

The "B" women's race will remain 3/4 to give them an option since they only
have 2 choices.

Hope that clarifies things if there was a question.

Adam


on 7/15/09 11:47 PM, Adam Myerson at adam@... wrote:

> After much deliberation, the organizers and I have agreed on the new
> schedule for 2009.
>
> What you will see in this schedule are some new approaches, and some
> compromises. Our biggest struggle is trying to accommodate growth and
> support development categories without compromising elite races. We are
> aiming for the best of both worlds, but at a time of the year where there
> are limited hours in the day to work with, it's incredibly difficult.
>
> Along those lines, you'll see that we've still added an 8th start to the
> race day, and an additional 15 minute warm up period at 10:15. This means
> the race day starts earlier and goes later, and that the lower category
> races are now back to 30 minutes like they originally were.
>
> You'll see that the 3/4 women now only share the course with the 10-14 year
> old Juniors, and that the races are the same duration.
>
> 35+ Masters now have their own race. 45+ and 55+ now share a start.
>
> The "B" race is now a Cat 3 only race, and share the course with the
> Juniors. This means that the Elite men race is now a Pro/1/2 event,
> mirroring what you'd normally find on the road.
>
> The schedule:
>
> 1. 8:00: 4 Men, 30 min
> 2. 8:45: 4 Masters, 30 min
> 3. 9:30: 3/4 Women, Junior Men 10-14, 30 min
> 4. 10:30: Open 45+ Masters, 55+ Masters, 45 min
> 5. 11:30: 1/2/3 35+ Masters, 45 min
> 6: 12:30: 3 Men, Junior Men 15-18, 45 min
> 7. 2:00: Elite Women (1/2), 45 min
> 8. 3:00: Elite Men (Pro/1/2), 60 min
>
> At some of the early season races, you will likely see the time schedule
> shifted back to a later start where there is more daylight to work with, but
> the slots will stay the same.
>
> I realize that change is always a challenge, and not everyone will be
> excited about it. However, we know this is the best way to accomplish the
> highest quality product for the largest number of racers across a range of
> ability levels. I'm excited for bigger elite fields, real Cat. 3 racing in
> the B race, a premier 35+ race and a 45+ field that will truly be based on
> age over ability level, and options for people to still choose a race based
> on ability if they want. Rather than eliminate the beginners fields
> completely as was being considered, we can still provide fair and
> appropriate events with dedicated course time for those races, even if we
> are forced to start them early in the morning in order to fit them in.
>
> I think if you spend some time getting comfortable with the schedule, you'll
> see how much sense it makes, and how many choices it gives people. And of
> course, none of these changes are fatal. As we have in the past, if we find
> that in practice they are not working as intended, we won't be afraid to
> make changes in the future. Remember the B race as the final race of the day
> with elite races at noon? An example of a change that didn't work, but
> wasn't fatal.
>
> More details about entry fees and prize lists will be released later.
>
> I'm currently on vacation, so feel free to discuss among yourselves, but I
> can't and won't respond to every single e-mail trying to make everyone
> happy.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Adam