Olympic track programme reforms (and your five events)

[Skip Madness]

Wow. These changes have gone ahead and the race radio removal looks to be scheduled to slowly start taking effect next year. It's almost as if the UCI is actually wanting to do good for cycling.

I'm sure I'll find something to test my newly-found faith shortly.

 

[Dave5N]

It's a big ask to get hosting cities to build a velodrome for ten short races.

 

[resal1]

Montreal pulled their velodrome down some years later and did not replace it. A 1st World country with no velodrome. That is a statement about the popularity of Track Cycling in that country.

A good step by the UCI. Did they lengthen the women's team pursuit to equate to that of the men and make the number of competitors 4 ?

 

[Skip Madness]

A good step by the UCI. Did they lengthen the women's team pursuit to equate to that of the men and make the number of competitors 4 ?

No, it's still three women in the team pursuit and two in the team sprint. Hopefully that will change in the not-too-distant future.

 

[Skip Madness]

The UCI made it clear a week or so ago that they would be extending the omnium, including adding a sixth event, for the Olympics. I thought to myself, "You know what would be really cool to have in the omnium? The elimination. They won't do it, though."

Well they have! Additionally, they have changed four of the original five events. The 200m flying sprint is now over 250m, while the individual pursuits are now over their standard distances. The points race and scratch have also been upped to 30km and 15km for men and 20km and 10km for women respectively. The time trials are as they were.

They should really add the elimination to the World Championships/World Cups.

 

[andrew_s]

Was I the UCI, I'd go for sprint, keirin, pursuit, team pursuit and points.
I'd also dispense with the time trial phases in the sprint and pursuits, reverting to the original knock out format (as a sort of yah-boo-sucks to the IOC)

 

[Dave5N]

The UCI made it clear a week or so ago that they would be extending the omnium, including adding a sixth event, for the Olympics. I thought to myself, "You know what would be really cool to have in the omnium? The elimination. They won't do it, though."

Well they have! Additionally, they have changed four of the original five events. The 200m flying sprint is now over 250m, while the individual pursuits are now over their standard distances. The points race and scratch have also been upped to 30km and 15km for men and 20km and 10km for women respectively. The time trials are as they were.

They should really add the elimination to the World Championships/World Cups.

Absolutely nonsensical to have such a random race as the Devil in the Olympics. Too subjective, too open to deals, too open to criticism.

Hard enough to judge at a track league, I'd fear to be a judge at the Olympics.

Who calls the interfering rider? Who stops the deals?

Still, Pat will get hs seat at the IOC top table, no doubt.

I hate what they have done with track racing, much as I like the keirin, it should never have knocked out the Kilo.

Not sure I can see why the Team Sprint stays when the IP goes, either.

 

[Dave5N]

Oh and, why change the Flying 200 to 250?

No need, and it changes the race. The whole idea is the rider hits the start after a descent across the straight. With 250, the entire line changes.

Ayway, who knows 250 times? I know a good 200.

 

[Skip Madness]

Oh and, why change the Flying 200 to 250?

No need, and it changes the race. The whole idea is the rider hits the start after a descent across the straight. With 250, the entire line changes.

Ayway, who knows 250 times? I know a good 200.

Yeah, I couldn't work that out.

As for the team sprint, I'm guessing the UCI believes that it's more popular than the individual pursuit with casual spectators.

 

[BigSteev]

As for the team sprint, I'm guessing the UCI believes that it's more popular than the individual pursuit with casual spectators.

I love the way organising bodies assume they know what casual spectators want (and the way their apparent wishes are given precedence over real fans of the sport) - the FIA are great at that too, although they do at least run surveys though whether they pay any attention to the results I don't know.

Team sprints should have the lead rider hand sling in the following one for added excitement

 

[Skip Madness]

I love the way organising bodies assume they know what casual spectators want (and the way their apparent wishes are given precedence over real fans of the sport)

Well - as I've already argued earlier in this thread - I believe the wishes of the casual spectator may well be more important than those of real fans in the Olympics. We real fans can focus on the World Championships and World Cups, which should be the really important stuff.

 

[montage]

So who have we got who would fair well in the elimination? I don't think it is the pure sprinters game with 40 odd laps. Cavandish? Newton? I would imagine good old Lizzie will have a bash for the ladies