I have some questions for the more experienced fans, growing out of the results I've seen posted for the USA Mens Road Championships and the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.
Huge percentages of the field, maybe up to half, didn't finish either of those races, each of which were raced over relatively short urban/surburban circuits, and I am wondering if that's a characteristic of US domestic cycling in particular or of the various forms of circuit racing in general?
I mean, what's going on with not finishing? Do riders get pulled by the officials because they've been lapped, perhaps, does that explain it (I've seen that happen in local races)? Do American team managers pull their riders once it's clear they're not going to figure in the finale for safety reasons? Reasons of energy conversation (gotta race next week, after all)? Is this something that also happens in European kermesse racing and in the shorter circuit US-style criteriums as well?
Huge percentages of the field, maybe up to half, didn't finish either of those races, each of which were raced over relatively short urban/surburban circuits, and I am wondering if that's a characteristic of US domestic cycling in particular or of the various forms of circuit racing in general?
I mean, what's going on with not finishing? Do riders get pulled by the officials because they've been lapped, perhaps, does that explain it (I've seen that happen in local races)? Do American team managers pull their riders once it's clear they're not going to figure in the finale for safety reasons? Reasons of energy conversation (gotta race next week, after all)? Is this something that also happens in European kermesse racing and in the shorter circuit US-style criteriums as well?
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