skidmark said:Wha? This is a debate about MSR, not between MSR and some other races. I can't speak to Afrank's interests, but for me, if I didn't like MSR I would watch those other races (and I will anyway), but I do like MSR, I just like it better with something like La Manie. I love that MSR has had a good balance between sprinters, small groups and solo escapees challenging for the win. It's the 'spice of life' that you speak of within a single race. With the Pompeiana, I think it would have been too hard or predictable (no chance of a sprint), without the Manie I'm worried it might be too far in the other direction (more chance of a sprint than not). It seems to me like you're taking a simplified (not to mention incorrect) premise that MSR is a sprinters' race and if you don't like a sprint go watch something else, but I don't think that's the case at all. The race itself can be many things, and has been.
I grossly over simplified there and I apologise.