World cup downhill rule change
AIGLE, Switzerland (transcendmagazine.com) -- The UCI has implemented a rule change to the way downhill finals are run that should avert the heavily weather affected nature of the first 2 world cups of the 2007 season
From here on out, starting at the Mont Ste Anne World Cup, all of the top 20 ranked riders will leave one after the other.
Martin Whitely pointed out how this change will effect future races.
1) The main players are racing the same track.
2) Teams like mine cannot play rain tactics.
3) TV will always have the winning run recorded, as they don't film all 110 riders.
4) If rain does hit, we may have an odd winner, but the integrity of the overall title chase is not compromised.
The idea is that the main contenders for overall (top 20 men and 10 women), will always start at the end, in the reverse order they qualified....therefore, the worst qualifier of the men ranked in the top 20 of the current UCI World Cup standings for that race, (regardless of whether his semi is a top 80 result or not), will start first of this group at the end of the field.
It is important to note that this is not a knee jerk reaction to the situation in Champery and to a lesser extent, Vigo. It appears that Whiteley was instrumental in these changes.
It was discussed "last year, again in Vigo, and again in Champery. It seems there is a software change that needs to get done, and it will be ready for MSA" he points out.
What do you think about this rule change? Leave your comments below!
Posted on Jun. 11 07, 12:03
Knee Jerk, Knee jerk, Knee Jerk.... calling it anything else is a joke
Posted by: Gavin D at June 16, 2007 10:13 AM
And what if it was Uber wet from a previous night's rain, and the first finalist of the day was to run in sloppy mud, and then the top 20 guys get to ride a tacky track?...How is that fair??? It's not! Conditions change, and smarter riders (Lehikoinen in Champeny, Fabian in Livigno) will try to qualify in a position that will benefit them.
This is a decision that the UCI needs to reverse.
Posted by: project_d at June 16, 2007 1:00 PM
I feel the decision also really fails to take into account the local audience and riders at each world cup. take the Brazil World Cup where locals with no World Cup team and thus no chance of being in the top twenty have a,ways done well and thus kept the local crowds stoked. Do we just tell them, sorry, but the top twenty will take it easy in qualifying because they don't have to try there and no matter how well you qualify you are not going to start in the top twenty come finals time.
Posted by: Gavin D at June 18, 2007 12:27 AM
Maribor WC
Worlds '07
Eurobike '07
Crankworx '07
I could rant and rant on about this. but i will just say now that i think it is a Stupid rule, and that it should be removed Immediatly
Posted by: Jerott K at June 13, 2007 2:30 AM