First Road Race

AndrewCri

Hi,

I entered my first 3rd/4th cat road race today. Was hard, got dropped by the main Group on the 3rd lap but got with 3 others for the next 3 laps before dropping 2 of these riders for the last 2 7 mile laps.

I was not lapped though the main group were probably not that far behind me as I started my last lap. For these last 7 miles all the marshals had gone and as I climbed the hill to the finish I was greeted by an empty finish line, everyone had gone.

Wondered what people think of this....is this normal/expected or am I right to feel very annoyed, as I persevered and made the effort to complete the race. I think I came in about 15 minutes after the main group.

Cheers

16mm

They're all volunteers. I assume there was still someone1 at the HQ?

AndrewCri

Yeah, everyone was at the HQ still a couple of miles down the road.

fcukwit

Not sure what you say you are annoyed about? The fact you got dropped, or the fact no-one was there to see you finish? If the former, nothing to worry about, many newcomers to racing experience getting dropped at some point. Not only newcomers either.
If the later, no-one is going to wait around to see someone come in almost 15 mins down in a 3/4 race unless they love them with all their heart.........

celbianchi

You are wrong to feel annoyed. Similarly if there is neutral service in a race and you are behind the main group then you are on your own.
First race or not 15 mins is a long, long way down and people will not hang about at a finish line to count everyone in for a chipper race.

DavidJB

If you're out the back of the peloton you're out of the race...simples.

maryka

Once the commissaire's car overtakes you (when you've been dropped enough that you will never regain the front group) he/she will note your number on the race info sheet as a "dropped rider" and that info will be used at the end of determine where you finished if a full result is done. Many races don't bother with results past the main group, though if you're competing in a league where any finish counts for league points, make sure the organisers know that you finished and didn't DNF.

The commissaire's car (or other cars at the back of the convoy ) is there in part to provide protection for the riders in front, once all those cars are past you, you are effectively riding on your own. Marshals will pack up and leave their corners after the last of the cars passes on the final lap, unless told otherwise. So keep this in mind -- you are essentially riding on open roads with no warning or protection from other traffic apart from there being a number on your back that people or may not notice. So more care coming into corners, etc. is necessary.

16mm

^this really.


The commissionaire should have said at the start that once the safety car following the main group passed you, you were essentially out of the race, and shouldn't expect marshals to attempt to hold traffic etc.

but got with 3 others for the next 3 laps before dropping 2 of these riders for the last 2 7 mile laps

They probably went back to the HQ for cake:-) I know I usually pack if I get dropped. Legs usually too shot at this point to get any benefit from riding around.

mamba80

You have experienced the main difference between running races and bike racing.
Once, after severe cramp, i crossed the line to no one and back at HQ the organiser left my licence on my car ! (there was no cake ) tbh i didnt give a fig, my view is its a amateur race and there are no podium girls waiting for me! but i m not a new comer either, had it been my first race......?

In a bike race no one turns up dressed up as a banana, carrying a bucket for a charity - its a very hard sport and i know plenty of people who have tried it and have said "never again" after experiences such as yours.
One the things that comes up time an again (on our reg RR committee) is to try an improve newcomers experiences of RR (which to be fair is usually a cct race) and what you experienced, does happen, i dont know what anyone would suggest be done, as people ie Marshalls, have lives and most want to go and have coffee before all the riders eat it all !
From your perspective, you paid to enter and expect a certain level of support for your efforts, which you feel was not met - maybe from a duty of care POV someone should have stuck around and made sure you wernt under a lorry or something ?
Keep at it and improve and if you ever organise your own race, be different and make sure all finishers at least get to cross a chequred flag !

16mm

mamba80 wrote:

Once, after severe cramp, i crossed the line to no one and back at HQ the organiser left my licence on my car ! (there was no cake )

That is pretty brutal !
You're right though it's not like charity running, but it's not great for newcomers.
Don't be put off, but there is usually no fanfare for just keeping up either!