USA Cycling Contemplating Time Trial Format For XC National Championships
In an effort to meet Colorado' mass gathering requirements, USA Cycling is considering a time trial format for the XC National Championships this year as opposed to the normal mass start race.
The Nationals were originally supposed to run at Winter Park on July 6-12 but are currently postponed until August 13-16 for downhill and enduro and August 20-23 for XC. Alongside the new dates, the governing body yesterday announced that it is also considering changing the format of the XC Nationals into an individual time trial in an attempt to offer, "participants an event that is as safe as possible."
From what we understand, this will mean riders set off on a circuit at staggered intervals, similar to in enduro or downhill racing, and the fastest time will win. Whether the circuit will be a point to point or a loop, what those intervals might be or any other details on how the event would run are currently unavailable. While it would definitely be a shame to lose the tactics and action of head-to-head racing, it will still no doubt be a better option for most racers than the Nationals being canceled outright.
The governing body said: "We recognize that changes such as these may dishearten those who have been holding out hope for a sense of normalcy that comes with a regular training schedule and a quest for Nationals. We and our Local Organizing Committees have worked through countless options for our National Championships and this is one additional option that may be needed for safety and to meet regulations.
"We want to be clear that even though events may be currently postponed, if we cannot reasonably ensure the safety of our members, volunteers and host communities we will not run a National Championship. We will continue to provide status updates over the next couple of months and we will not open any registration until we are confident we can successfully and safely hold an event."
USAC will be sending its next update about the event on June 30.
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@HB208: Enduro nor DH typically have timed steep tech uphill sections. They don't even have to be that much flatter now as I see the main reason against really steep tech descends and uphills would be the mass nature of these traditional XC events. You don't want people to lose control and crash into each other. No doubt most if not all these top level XC athletes have access to enduro and/or DH equipment and they know how to handle it. Not talking about big gaps and drops, just steep tech.
Aside from the fact that the climbs are timed too, making a 100mm bike the fastest ride from start to finish.
Other than that, totes enduro.
And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the XC bike MvdP is riding have the rear shock in the seattube/toptube corner where he'd otherwise shoulder his CX bike?
You could use a system like the staggered starts used in qualifying races for rc cars. Basically it's a time trial format but the competitors set off at 2 second intervals, with their time starting when they cross the line. This means they still have to race each other.
Chip time in marathons is the same concept.
Instead of a 2 second interval you could just make the entire field start in a single file line with 2m between riders.
Start order would need to be seeded to make things fair. ( but the same applies with a grid start.)
It was dumb.
Now, I've always envisioned a race format that's long steep super-f*cking-technical climbs followed by equal descents. The kind of trail where a 27 pound 120-130mm bike is the fastest way from point a to point b. You know, the kind of bike that sells the most.
I just realized that the TT format is the way to go here.
Any of you race promoters interested in Super-XC?
.so thoughtful of them. 30 year old marquee trail.