Racing Sportives !!

pinno

A pair of acquaintances are receiving a bit of stick from the other die hards in this area because they openly train for and 'race' sportives. Neither of them have actually raced properly in their lives. They boasted about coming 1st and 2nd respectively in the Drumlanrig sportive.
I suggested they do something with street cred and do a vets race or some TT'ing. One is 37 and the other is 43 - fair play to them for putting in some serious miles but personally, I think they are daft (polite version). One said 'well, its like a Cat 4 race isn't it' ?!!
I wanted your view on it.

jibberjim

It's illegal in the UK to "race" a sportive as a participant. And it endangers the entire sport if it produces more regulation to sportives.

Vino'sGhost

TWUNTS

jim453

Are they doing it professionally?

RichN95.

If you want to race, enter a race

Vesterberg

pinarello001 wrote:

A pair of acquaintances are receiving a bit of stick from the other die hards in this area because they openly train for and 'race' sportives. Neither of them have actually raced properly in their lives. They boasted about coming 1st and 2nd respectively in the Drumlanrig sportive.
I suggested they do something with street cred and do a vets race or some TT'ing. One is 37 and the other is 43 - fair play to them for putting in some serious miles but personally, I think they are daft (polite version). One said 'well, its like a Cat 4 race isn't it' ?!!
I wanted your view on it.

There's no issue, unless you're a snob - which you have just affirmed.

pinno

Vesterberg wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

I wanted your view on it.

There's no issue, unless you're a snob - which you have just affirmed.

If an individual resorts to personal insults, then that person has lost the argument. So carry on; be my guest.

alihisgreat

I don't see the harm in trying to reach a level of fitness which allows you to cross the line 1st in a sportive..

but calling it a race is silly... because they're the only two guys 'racing' :roll:

everyone else is riding a sportive.

Vesterberg

pinarello001 wrote:

Vesterberg wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

I wanted your view on it.

There's no issue, unless you're a snob - which you have just affirmed.

If an individual resorts to personal insults, then that person has lost the argument. So carry on; be my guest.

jesus, how old are you? five?

pinno

Vesterberg wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

Vesterberg wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

I wanted your view on it.

There's no issue, unless you're a snob - which you have just affirmed.

If an individual resorts to personal insults, then that person has lost the argument. So carry on; be my guest.

jesus, how old are you? five?

Yawn.

Monty Dog

The fact that the OP can't even post in the right forum I think speaks volumes...

Vino2007

Get this sh!t out of the pro race forum you idiot.

emadden

Many, if not the majority of sportives in Europe are actual "races" with UCI licences required for classification in most of them. Of course about 80% ride them as timed personal events - but at the front end it very much resembles a typical race. It seems that many sportives have evolved over the years to cater for those who wish to race and those who wish to do a 150km tt.

To my mind though, a sportive will never be a "proper" race, and I refrain from calling them races as such.

ddraver

Are you talking about the guy in the spoiler thread that stopped at a food stop and then whined that a guy that did nt stop rode a faster time than him? That guy is an idiot.

There is little point training to "win" and event where people are nt racing you. Fair enough train to get your own time down but the position you arrive at the finish line is irrelevant. If your acquaintance wants to race, then enter a race with other people that are racing to be the winner of the race!

dulldave

Isn't that the sportive where everyone stops for a spot of lunch half way round? There's a race on the same roads in August. Perhaps they should enter that instead?

jgsi

Get them to compete for a top ten finish in a TLi race .. I see entries are sought after in the Rothesay racing weekend
viewtopic.php?f=40041&t=12864917

t.m.h.n.e.t

pinarello001 wrote:

A pair of acquaintances are receiving a bit of stick from the other die hards in this area because they openly train for and 'race' sportives. Neither of them have actually raced properly in their lives. They boasted about coming 1st and 2nd respectively in the Drumlanrig sportive.
I suggested they do something with street cred and do a vets race or some TT'ing. One is 37 and the other is 43 - fair play to them for putting in some serious miles but personally, I think they are daft (polite version). One said 'well, its like a Cat 4 race isn't it' ?!!
I wanted your view on it.

Thing is, they'd probably get spat out the back if they attempted to race. You know like Bhima is fast up the fiddle, but he regularly gets beat on it? Local fastmen and all that...

I'm not quite sure there is a sense of "winning" in an event that has no podium placings but if some wannabe's who are too scared to race want to be first to get a t-shirt and a goodiebag - let them have at it.

wiffachip

I've just seen a couple of kids running up our backstreet, they thought they were racing, obviously I told them to join Wallsend Harriers and get some street cred

as for those two sportive blokes enjoying themselves without a licence, that's just bonkers, can't they just pedal up and down a dual carriageway on their own ffs

the two kids told me to eff off btw, they have a point

RoadMeridaBen

wiffachip wrote:

I've just seen a couple of kids running up our backstreet, they thought they were racing, obviously I told them to join Wallsend Harriers and get some street cred

as for those two sportive blokes enjoying themselves without a licence, that's just bonkers, can't they just pedal up and down a dual carriageway on their own ffs

the two kids told me to eff off btw, they have a point

Atleast if you were riding up and down a D/C in a TT you would actually be part of a race with people with a common goal to go as fast as they can and PLACE as highly against people who are actually RACING

I've got nothing against people who do the odd sportive but its not a race at the end of the day, its a fun run

Cleat Eastwood

why was this moved out of pro race when theres a thread in there about a halfords ad. most odd. I've seen a club in italy train for a fondo - it was a proper full on hard day in the hills round san marino - tremendous prestige in all cyling achievements over there.

paulmgreen

Any event that has recorded and published times will surely be held up as a 'race' at one level or another.

A sportive 'race' is a race to some people.... But to those who race in a 'true race' they are at a higher level as everyone there is doing so to race properly... Not just have a fast Sunday ride?

Personally I think it's fine..... But boasting of ' winning' sportives as if it were the Tour de France is a little sad !

me-109

So a sportive is not racing, then what is its point? What benefit does the individual get for a £15-£25 entry fee? Can't you just go and ride alone, with mates, with a club and save the entry fee or put it towards fuel to go somewhere different to ride?

t.m.h.n.e.t

Me-109 wrote:

So a sportive is not racing, then what is its point? What benefit does the individual get for a £15-£25 entry fee? Can't you just go and ride alone, with mates, with a club and save the entry fee or put it towards fuel to go somewhere different to ride?

The clue is in the name

sportive [ˈspɔːtɪv]
adj
1. playful or joyous
2. done in jest rather than seriously
3. (General Sporting Terms) of, relating to, or interested in sports
4. Obsolete wanton or amorous a sportive wench

verylonglegs

As far as I'm concerned if they aren't ran and categorised as a race then they shouldn't provide any timing and publish any such place listings afterwards.

Secteur

verylonglegs wrote:

As far as I'm concerned if they aren't ran and categorised as a race then they shouldn't provide any timing and publish any such place listings afterwards.

+1

giropaul

Secteur wrote:

verylonglegs wrote:

As far as I'm concerned if they aren't ran and categorised as a race then they shouldn't provide any timing and publish any such place listings afterwards.

+1

British Cycling guidelines specifically state that positions should not be not published. By publishing times and positions organisers risk being the organisers of a race (as defined in the law that defines cycle racing on he highway) without the required permissions and regulations. - i.e. commiting offences.

That's why British Cycling give this advice; to try to prevent "rogue" sportives endangering all road cycling events including racing.

Frank the tank

Never done a sportive. Never done an Audax.

I have read however, spotives are for people who think they're racing but they aren't. Audax are for people who don't think they're racing, but they are.

How true that is I don't know.

Nowt wrong with getting yourself fit though.

If you want to race, get a license and race against people who know they're in a race rather than a bunch of unsuspecting sportive riders.

Pross

I race (badly) and did my first sportive yesterday. For me it was a personal challenge, probably the toughest ride I've done in nearly 20 years if not ever as it was longer than anything I've done in for 15 years and very hilly. There were undoubtably some riders who were very fit and I suspect quite a few were racing cyclists but as with other very fit sports people who are new to racing I suspect it would be the pace changes and race craft that would see them struggling. I'll go back next year and do the ride again as a guage of my improvement and because it's bloody good, hard training!

GiantMike

4th cat racing is very different a sprortive. The latter is best compared to an individual TT against a lot of other people who aren't actually racing, and a few who are.

pinno

The reason this was taken out of the pro-race forum is probably because of people like this complaining.

Vino2007 wrote:

Get this sh!t out of the pro race forum you idiot.

Don't quite see why I am an idiot, perhaps you have to be a dyed in the wool 'ripped' professional 600 mile per week, 50 banana a day racer to post in pro-race. Well, fvck em. I'll post where I like.

I agree with Jibberjim, it just may compromise the whole sportive scene and put the prices up even more due to insurance and libel. I looked at a number of French sportives and the entrance fee is negligable compared to our events.

Cleat Eastwood

pinarello001 wrote:

The reason this was taken out of the pro-race forum is probably because of people like this complaining.

Vino2007 wrote:

Get this sh!t out of the pro race forum you idiot.

Don't quite see why I am an idiot, perhaps you have to be a dyed in the wool 'ripped' professional 600 mile per week, 50 banana a day racer to post in pro-race. Well, fvck em. I'll post where I like.

I agree with Jibberjim, it just may compromise the whole sportive scene and put the prices up even more due to insurance and libel. I looked at a number of French sportives and the entrance fee is negligable compared to our events.

Bad modding once again - and we all know who is to blame.