Aki Sato, promoter of the Bethel Spring Series, has always provided sage advise as I organize the PSS.
Aki has a great cycling blog (http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/ ) that I'm sure you will enjoy.
Go Fast ... JIM
Monday, February 19, 2007
UCI versus ASO, RCS, & Unibet
Hi All,
The French Amaury Sport Organization (“ASO”), the Italian RCS Sport (“RCS”), and the Spanish Unipublic (“Unipublic”) organize some of the greatest and most historic, annual professional cycling races (e.g. Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne, Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a Espana, etc.).
The Union Cycliste Internationale (“UCI”) promotes a Pro Tour comprised of 27 races of which 11 races are organized by ASO, RCS, or Unipublic.
The UCI currently requires Pro Tour organizers to automatically invite the 20 teams that hold UCI Pro Tour licenses.
All teams and riders with UCI Pro Tour licenses are members of the rider’s union, Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels (AIGCP).
A Swedish team named Unibet.com (“Unibet”) holds a UCI Pro Tour license and is an AIGCP member.
The ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic did not invite Unibet to several events and intend to invite only 18 teams to the grand tours they organize.
What action should the AIGCP, the rider’s union, take?
1) None. Professional race organizers can invite any team they choose. It's their race.
2) Strike. Boycott races organized by the ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic.
3) Protest. Disrupt races organized by the ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic.
4) Revise. Request UCI remove the ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic events from the UCI Pro Tour schedule.
5) Abandon. Request UCI stop promoting the Pro Tour. Let organizers invite teams according to the organizer’s interests.
6) Other
Go Fast … JIM
“No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." … Beckett
The French Amaury Sport Organization (“ASO”), the Italian RCS Sport (“RCS”), and the Spanish Unipublic (“Unipublic”) organize some of the greatest and most historic, annual professional cycling races (e.g. Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne, Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a Espana, etc.).
The Union Cycliste Internationale (“UCI”) promotes a Pro Tour comprised of 27 races of which 11 races are organized by ASO, RCS, or Unipublic.
The UCI currently requires Pro Tour organizers to automatically invite the 20 teams that hold UCI Pro Tour licenses.
All teams and riders with UCI Pro Tour licenses are members of the rider’s union, Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels (AIGCP).
A Swedish team named Unibet.com (“Unibet”) holds a UCI Pro Tour license and is an AIGCP member.
The ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic did not invite Unibet to several events and intend to invite only 18 teams to the grand tours they organize.
What action should the AIGCP, the rider’s union, take?
1) None. Professional race organizers can invite any team they choose. It's their race.
2) Strike. Boycott races organized by the ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic.
3) Protest. Disrupt races organized by the ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic.
4) Revise. Request UCI remove the ASO, RCS Sport, and Unipublic events from the UCI Pro Tour schedule.
5) Abandon. Request UCI stop promoting the Pro Tour. Let organizers invite teams according to the organizer’s interests.
6) Other
Go Fast … JIM
“No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." … Beckett
Monday, January 22, 2007
What determined the PSS race format?
The 2007 Plainville Spring Series ("PSS") format is based on my 2006 PSS experience and several other ideas and goals.
Geographic Need
Cyclists are very traditional and surprisingly enjoy 'sitting in' large fields during 'training'. During the '06 PSS, I received several complaints about the small field sizes. Aki Sato (Bethel Spring Series promoter) and I are friends. We are not in competion. However, the Bethel Spring Series is a juggernaut on which the '06 PSS was modeled. If a cyclist chooses one over another, they choose Bethel. A small minority rides both. Cyclists, especially experienced ones, are acustomed to driving. I still don't understand how a large field helps training. Inexperienced riders, Cat. 4 & 5, in the Farmington river valley appreciate the shorter drive.
Saturday Racing
This is an admittedly hopeful idea! I go to church on Sunday. I thought others might like to also. Based on '06, a Saturday event has no impact. Riders are accustomed to Sunday events. I remain hopeful.
Cat. 4 & 5 Focus
The '06 P/1/2/3 category race had small and decreasing field sizes. The field size trend was downward ( e.g. 18, 14, 16, 12) and I saw no reason for it to increase. Indeed, in April, elite riders plan to participate in other, larger races and opt to skip the PSS. I cancelled the two remaining '06 P/1/2/3 races. I don't expect P/1/2/3 interest this year. In fact, P/1/2/3 racers are more focused on Bethel and very few race twice on a weekend.
Additionally, 65% of the '06 riders were Cat. 4 or 5. Cat.5 is by far the largest category in New England.
The '06 PSS lacked team efforts. Only three teams consistantly raced the '06 PSS (Epic Velo, Cyclonauts, EBCC). I hope '07 PSS series ending team prize promotes some team racing tactics.
Two Races per Race Day
After the planning, packing, driving, and setting up your gear, its a shame to ride for only 50 minutes and go home. The 2007 format allows riders to race one event for competion and a second event for training.
Women Categories
There are very few women racers. My intent was, and is, to allow for maximum women participation.
Go Fast ... JIM
Geographic Need
Cyclists are very traditional and surprisingly enjoy 'sitting in' large fields during 'training'. During the '06 PSS, I received several complaints about the small field sizes. Aki Sato (Bethel Spring Series promoter) and I are friends. We are not in competion. However, the Bethel Spring Series is a juggernaut on which the '06 PSS was modeled. If a cyclist chooses one over another, they choose Bethel. A small minority rides both. Cyclists, especially experienced ones, are acustomed to driving. I still don't understand how a large field helps training. Inexperienced riders, Cat. 4 & 5, in the Farmington river valley appreciate the shorter drive.
Saturday Racing
This is an admittedly hopeful idea! I go to church on Sunday. I thought others might like to also. Based on '06, a Saturday event has no impact. Riders are accustomed to Sunday events. I remain hopeful.
Cat. 4 & 5 Focus
The '06 P/1/2/3 category race had small and decreasing field sizes. The field size trend was downward ( e.g. 18, 14, 16, 12) and I saw no reason for it to increase. Indeed, in April, elite riders plan to participate in other, larger races and opt to skip the PSS. I cancelled the two remaining '06 P/1/2/3 races. I don't expect P/1/2/3 interest this year. In fact, P/1/2/3 racers are more focused on Bethel and very few race twice on a weekend.
Additionally, 65% of the '06 riders were Cat. 4 or 5. Cat.5 is by far the largest category in New England.
The '06 PSS lacked team efforts. Only three teams consistantly raced the '06 PSS (Epic Velo, Cyclonauts, EBCC). I hope '07 PSS series ending team prize promotes some team racing tactics.
Two Races per Race Day
After the planning, packing, driving, and setting up your gear, its a shame to ride for only 50 minutes and go home. The 2007 format allows riders to race one event for competion and a second event for training.
Women Categories
There are very few women racers. My intent was, and is, to allow for maximum women participation.
Go Fast ... JIM
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