USA Junior Racing Trivia

[DanielsDad]

The USA M15-16 National Championship RR gives 0 upgrade points to anyone.
Or so the rules say as it was under 50 miles and all riders had to be Cat 3.

Anyone know if there is an exception to the guidelines?

 

[DirtyWorks]

Totally consistent for USA Cycling. Just don't go.

Let me save you the time and expense: USA Cycling, for Juniors, is 3/4 cult, 3/4 pyramid scheme. Where the extra 1/4 goes depends on the kid's personality.

I can't be right though. WTH do I know? Some anonymous crackpot can't be right.

The rest of the discussion belongs in The Clinic.

 

[DanielsDad]

Totally consistent for USA Cycling. Just don't go.

Let me save you the time and expense: USA Cycling, for Juniors, is 3/4 cult, 3/4 pyramid scheme. Where the extra 1/4 goes depends on the kid's personality.

The sole purpose of USACDF is to find the next Lance Armstrong. Yes, in every sense. If you don't like him, maybe Hincapie. Read the affadavits again. Same guy is still "developing" talent at USACDF.

That is not to say there aren't good people at USA Cycling. There are. All the money and control comes from USACDF though. Thom runs that. Thom hasn't changed.

I can't be right though. WTH do I know? Some anonymous crackpot can't be right. Except I am.

I don't quite get the jump. If you were looking for the next LA why wouldn't you encourage Junior racers to race Junior racers and take the top one (or 10)?
This current setup encourages Juniors to race adults - which is fine but its hard to tell if Dano is the next LA racing a 28 yo Cat 1 at Nationals - on his junior gears. Anyway, most, all the more competitive juniors do go to nationals. They enjoy trying to beat each other - all very pure and refreshing.

While its clear I don't like it, I don't see the purpose behind it you do. I think its simply a hole in reasoning.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I don't quite get the jump. If you were looking for the next LA why wouldn't you encourage Junior racers to race Junior racers and take the top one (or 10)?

This current setup encourages Juniors to race adults - which is fine but its hard to tell if Dano is the next LA racing a 28 yo Cat 1 at Nationals - on his junior gears.

Because if he or she is the real deal, they'll deliver a top-10 against national-level adults. The last real deal was Lemond. He only did it because he was destroying his age group fields. I would argue there's are darker motives hiding behind the very unlikely event a child is as good as a Lemond.

This current setup encourages Juniors to race adults ....Anyway, most, all the more competitive juniors do go to nationals.

Remember when I called it a pyramid scheme? Because it is. I'll be charitable. They are maximizing revenue opportunities, for Thom's imagined financial gain connected to finding the next Armstrong at the expense of 99.99999% of kids.

While its clear I don't like it,

Don't reward them for their lunacy. You won't miss much. Lots of people suffering, glaring at each other before and after races that nobody watches. Just like your local industrial park crits, only far away and much more expensive.

 

[DanielsDad]

Because if he or she is the real deal, they'll deliver a top-10 against national-level adults. ...

Wouldn't surprise me if the junior winners (this year) would do that on that course.

A flat finish would be tougher.