5 replies to this topic

[BG3]

First let me introduce myself - I am brand new to racing and have been reading this forum to get as much good advice as possible.  I ride primarily so I can stay in good enough shape to keep up with my 6 children, but the competitive side of me needs to know how hard I can push myself.  Having said that - I'm at the point in road racing where I just try to stay in the main group for as long as I possibly can. Therefore the incident I'm about to describe in NO way impacted me and my question is purely academic.

This past Saturday in the Cat 5 road race in O'Fallon, the lead car missed a turn and several (maybe 15 or so riders) followed off the course.  Shortly after that I overheard someone saying something along the lines of "this helps us" and it seemed to me the pace picked up.  It appeared to me everyone who missed the turn got back in the race.  

My question, I suppose, has two parts.  Should the race have been neutralized to allow everyone to get back in, or is it just bad luck to the affected riders and watch the turns more closely next time instead of just following the car?  And secondly, Is it acceptable for the group of riders to take advantage of that mistake, or should they maintain pace and give the others (and the lead car) a chance to get back on course?

Thanks for chiming in!

[tarmac72]

3B4. The responsibility of keeping on the prescribed
course rests with the rider. A rider may not leave the
prescribed course unless ordered to do so by public
authorities or a race official.

[wesboyce]

This was unfortunate for the riders that were led off course, but I'd say it is definitely legal as tarmac points out so there was no need for neutralization.  Was it a classy move by the riders that sped up?  Possibly not, but that is hard to determine from hearing only one version of the story.

[nomoretickets]

If something like that happens, I'd say it falls under the unwritten "don't be an @$&" rule. If one rider misses a turn, that sucks but that's what happens some times. If the lead car and the 15 race leaders go off course, I think it's a good show of sportsmanship to at least not hammer away and try and take advantage of their misfortune.

[Spartacus!]

nomoretickets, on 19 June 2013 - 02:08 PM, said:

If something like that happens, I'd say it falls under the unwritten "don't be an @$&" rule. If one rider misses a turn, that sucks but that's what happens some times. If the lead car and the 15 race leaders go off course, I think it's a good show of sportsmanship to at least not hammer away and try and take advantage of their misfortune.

Agreed, Zach.  And I'm FAR more likely to be in the chase group (benefitting from the mishap) -- while you're more likely to be in the lead group (suffering from it)!

[jojo]

It is a d**k move, plain and simple.  It is our responsibility to know the course, but when the lead vehicle goes off course, that is another matter.  To drop the hammer is uncool.  We had the same thing happen to the breakaway in the Frankenmuth RR over the holiday weekend, lead car did not make the turn and they rode off course, then the ENTIRE field sat up, waited for them to catch up, and regain their 30 second gap before we resumed racing.