What happens if you enter the start-hut the wrong way at a USAC sanctioned race? Rider Richard Finn Jr found out the hard way with a DQ and some kind words from the race official.
This is how one USAC race official reacted to a rider making a simple mistake this past weekend at National Champs. Apparently Richard Finn Jr, the rider recording his run, was almost late for his start time. With all the riders already lined up, the entrance to the start-hut was blocked so he had to enter from the front, inadvertently crossing the timing beam as he did so. We're still blown away by how the race official confronted the rider... he's a paying customer and a stranger. How is this acceptable?
There's a whole thread about other questionable things right now in our forum.
sspomer
7/20/2016 7:44 AM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:46 AM
thom9719
7/19/2016 10:33 AM
Ian_Spivack
7/19/2016 9:15 AM
Did usac ever state what rule was broken to justify the dq?
That is no way for an official to treat a paying customer. Very poor example for usa cycling. I am glad they really are out of mtb racing on the east coast.
Renae_Downey
7/20/2016 2:24 PM
jeff.brines
7/19/2016 9:10 AM
kellyllek
7/19/2016 8:35 AM
It does strike me that there is a relationship between them. I can't imagine he's talking to a complete stranger? Nonetheless. It was a great run and very disappointing he was DQ'd for something that was in some ways beyond his control. He was as the start on time, whether the rules state that he was meant to be there significantly before his start time is a different matter. Yelling is of course unnecessary. I know a lot of these folks are volunteers and even if they're paid I doubt the officials are getting rich. But the USAC seems to be taking advantage at these events to charge exorbitant fees. They wanted $125 or more last year for me to add on short track to my xc race, and that was just too much to justify; nationals or not.
USAC officials and volunteers run a race at MD called the Greenbrier Challenge, and it's one of the best organized races I've ever seen. They even payout in CAT 1 XC giving virtually all profit back to the racers. So, i know USAC people can do it right! USAC controls Road, TT, Track, Cyclocross, and BMX, but in MTB promoters have been not only running their own races but advertising the fact that they aren't affiliated with USAC. It's really a sad state of affairs that culminated a couple years ago with Cannondale pulling all their riders to take them to the 'unsanctioned' Whiskey 50, and when Jeremiah Bishop was passed over for the US Team in favor of someone who hadn't finished a single USAC tour event that year! I understand relations have much improved since then and it lead to some fantastic world cup qualifying xc events in the early season. Things should continue to move forward. But it also means USAC has to continue up their game in support of their own MTB community. They are still the only way for our riders to get to the world stage.
blast_off
7/19/2016 6:44 AM
Max Fierek
7/19/2016 6:38 AM
russthedog
7/19/2016 5:06 AM
Sorry guys I have to chip in here. I'm a race organiser in Australia and a race. I know how hard it can be to organise riders. That is not abusive in my opinion, I have seen and given out worse. You don't have any idea what stress breaking the beam like that can do to a timing system.
There's been a lot of whingeing on here, looks like some of it was discussed with officials at the event. I hope all of it was. That's the best avenue to do in a respectful manner.
Good luck
woodchuuk
7/19/2016 6:00 AM
russthedog
7/19/2016 2:15 PM
I didn't say it stresses me, I said it causes stress.
So you worked running the computer on timing?
My point is if a rider has an issue you should bring it up with the organiser first. An online form first is not very good. I also stated some of these issues appear to have been raised by riders with organisers which is good.
The event is about everyone too by the way
bizutch
7/19/2016 2:24 PM
Nope. Ryan Villapoto doesn't show up late to the start and he doesn't climb past the Monster Energy girl to do it.
If you race, you show up to the start early, find the start list, confirm your time and that you are in line and ready and then walk your butt into the gate when it is your turn. You are the king of hugs and excuses.
deathXsquad
7/19/2016 8:58 AM
i have also designed/tested course, marshaled and worked timing at races up to the NAET & EWS level. its not a big deal at all, if you know what you are doing. thats what manual backup timing is for. and if working a race is so stressful for you that you end up acting in this manner towards hard-working and big $$$-paying racers you need to find a new job. librarian maybe? this is supposed to be fun.
blows my mind people even bother with USAC anymore, just a stream of nonstop drama!
SmartLikeTractor
7/19/2016 3:48 AM
I'm guessing that guy wears a little red hat at night, with "make downhill great again", on it.
Dick move official. Dick move.
Johan_Norberg
7/19/2016 1:50 AM
sometimes I just love living in Sweden, would be so extremly rare to shit like this go down. In any type of sport or event. In this case here the timing officials would just have kept the start hut clear and shouting for the next rider. If you even tried entering from the front they would stop you and make you go around.
I do have to say its kind of strange that he even went through the front without asking and it still not acceptable to be late to your start time. But still no reason to get hammered like he got.
bizutch
7/19/2016 4:12 PM
nismo325
7/19/2016 4:19 PM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:47 AM
scarface
7/19/2016 1:07 AM
Snipa
7/19/2016 7:24 PM
Dave_Williams
7/18/2016 11:57 PM
bizutch
7/19/2016 4:15 PM
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:22 AM
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:24 AM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:26 AM
Renae_Downey
7/18/2016 11:20 PM
bizutch
7/19/2016 12:00 PM
You are so full of it. If he's your son, you should be embarrassed at his ass hattery. The video said he's racing 30+ Cat 1. He's a grown man who should be able to wipe his ass the right way. I've raced since I was a kid in everything from motocross to BMX to mountain bikes to road bikes. Not one grown man on this planet have I ever seen that was STUPID ENOUGH to go through THE FRONT OF A START GATE!!!!
He wasn't there to WIN or he'd have been at the start gate that apparently there were so many other guys capable of getting to...that it was crowded. So your son, who thinks life revolves around him, decided I get to do whatever i feel like and go the other way.
It is LITERALLY THE ONE AND ONLY THING AS A RACER YOU HAVE TO DO RIGHT AND GET IT RIGHT ONCE!!! Everybody quit ass grabbing and coddling. This is a 30 year grown man walking in the start gate ass backwards for the first time in race history.
CAN WE NOT SAY HE'S JUST A FAST IDIOT with a mommy who posts on mtb sites????
Renae_Downey
7/19/2016 2:40 PM
bizutch
7/19/2016 8:14 PM
The way you get around that line ma'am is to get to the top way ahead of your start time. Flat out. You're still making excuses.
I have been the idiot I call your son and rolled up to a start gate by the hair of my head barely able to get in the gate.
I've watched plenty of guys miss their start time.
I've sat on crowded lifts, slow lifts, freezing lifts, stopped lifts, rickety shuttle trucks, you name it.
I realized I love to race so much that I WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP EARLY because that's what grown ups do. It's what everyone does...except your son.
Your son didn't show up early, he didn't show up on time. No, rather than just accept his punishment for his mistake, he posted his run that didn't count and even labeled it "winning run." Just stop it and mail him some cookies.
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:19 AM
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:20 AM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:15 AM
Check your rule book. 2016 Rulebook:
"(d) Each rider shall report to the starter at least three minutes before their scheduled starting time and shall start at the scheduled time. A rider starting early shall receive a time penalty, as determined by the Chief Referee. If a rider appears later than the appointed starting time, the start will be allowed only if it does not interfere with the riders starting on schedule. If it does interfere, the rider may be further delayed. In case of a late start, the appointed start time shall be used in computing the results unless the rider has been granted a new start time as provided elsewhere in these race regulations or in the technical guide for the event. The rider’s bicycle must be stationary at the moment of the start."
Glad you posted those physical threats online. I screenshoted them. Can't be too careful. I got kids and don't do the whole fight thing any more. I'ms sure you and I would have had a lot of fun taking it out on each other when I was teen. But men can handle strong words. You'll live. Real men can accept when they've made mistakes and admit to them too. Not just give excuses. Didn't say you can't ride a bike fast, which is what really matters. Suck it up.
d10951
7/18/2016 10:16 PM
vinny4130
7/18/2016 8:30 PM
Snipa
7/18/2016 7:26 PM
bizutch
7/19/2016 2:28 PM
nismo325
7/19/2016 4:03 PM
bizutch
7/19/2016 5:06 PM
You are Captain Excuse. You want me to go get your participation trophy so you can put it next to your Intramural team t-shirt?
Yeah, I'm talking shit to his mommy because he is 30 years old and the only mommy's boy who didn't show up on time whose mommy is on a forum defending a mistake.
Rules are what wins AND loses races. Should you be allowed to cut the course a Itty bit or none at all?
People are raging on USA Cycling for fining people, and that's fine by me to be upset about.
But this thread is a poorly misplaced bashing of a legitimate rule.put in place to keep idiots from triggering the timer, wandering into the gate whenever they feel like it...and more than anything, shutting down excuse after excuse after excuse for not showing when and where you should.
Hypocrites demanding officials maintain professionalism, but still be your buddy and your brother when you're the one who should take the full blame for not being in line.
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:10 AM
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:11 AM
Snipa
7/19/2016 7:38 PM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:30 AM
Trucker_G
7/21/2016 12:11 AM
kellyllek
7/21/2016 6:19 AM
RichardFinnjr
7/20/2016 7:16 AM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:36 AM
@RichardFinnjr I'm not perfect. Stated (I'm long winded so you may have missed it), but I've been in your spot and almost missed a race run at a National and watched guys travel cross country and miss their start and get NO run.
Let's get real honest. How long before your run did you PHYSICALLY ARRIVE within 50 yards of the Start house? When did you check in with the spotter who stands outside the start house lining riders up in order? The spotter at a National usually has the riders IN RACE ORDER 10-20 riders deep.
If it's 10 riders, 30 second intervals, you still had 5 minutes if you're where you're supposed to be. Be honest.
Alan_Thompson3
7/20/2016 7:32 AM
bizutch
7/20/2016 11:49 AM
Scrub
7/18/2016 6:02 PM
nh dude
7/18/2016 5:47 PM
Salespunk
7/18/2016 5:34 PM