Americans at the world championships

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Permalink Reply by Simon on February 2, 2009 at 11:31am

Apart from the domestic travel to the US races and the travel over to Europe for Worlds I'd be interested to know why you think it's harder for a US rider to perform over the season than it is for a Euro, who generally race between 30-40 times between September & Worlds, which I think is more than a US rider? And it doesn't appear to be a problem for the Women who generally race a similar schedule as the guys...
Not that the travel issue isn't a major factor; way harder to stay healthy and in good shape flying around the US than driving an hour or two around northern Europe.
I too have my opinions but as someone who dislikes chatroom "experts" I'll keep those to myself!

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Permalink Reply by GeWilli on February 2, 2009 at 11:55am

Disappointed? Hell no. Trebon was going pretty well until he rode into a TV Boom blocking most of the course... Page, well what can you rightfully expect from someone who's gone through what he has? Miracles? I'm sure all that travel back and forth to the USA for a trial and waiting for results of the appeal helped his conditioning. Not to mention his broken ribs. Powers? It was a brutal race. You must have missed the live coverage with TJ commenting on just how hard the race was. how out of this world the belgies rode.

TJ probably would have been a great selection if he had had the mental focus and desire to extend his cross season this long instead of getting ready for the bread and butter season.

But hey, finishing on the lead lap as fast as everyone was riding yesterday is a testament to improvement. Treefarm will figure out the euro scene one of these years. Page will be back with a fire next year.

I'm wicked proud of the US team's accomplishments. The Women kicked ass and we had respectable showings in the Junior race too.

If the US could pull their heads out of their ass and have nationals the same weekend as the euros and continue to have big marquee races stateside until worlds it could prepare our national team members better. But still there isn't much better way to prepare for nats than to do what Rachel, Katie and Sue did. Actually spend the time between Nats and Worlds in Europe racing consistently with focus, AND good luck.

I'm responding mostly because it gets me a bit bent out of shape to hear someone complain of a disappointing showing in Europe. Katie got third. That is nothing to be disappointed about.

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Permalink Reply by pignone fisso on February 2, 2009 at 7:14pm

GeWilli, don't get too bent out of shape. I may just be as big a fan of these guys as you are. I am also convinced they give it their all when they're out racing, and that it was no different at Worlds. I'm not complaining about their showing. I'm not really complaining about anything. I'm just disappointed that despite having what it takes to do better, they were not able to. And I can't help but think that some factor(s) beyond their own abilities is/are keeping them from being able to display what they are capable of.
You mentioned the team could have possibly done better had Nationals been held in January, as in Europe; and the national calendar of races been extended until Worlds. This is the kind of response I was looking for with my original posting, simply for ways that could help these guys out.

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Permalink Reply by Surly Bastard on February 3, 2009 at 12:37pm

I'm not disappointed at all in their effort at all. Quite the opposite in fact. Hats off to the guys who took the time, trouble, expense, not to mention the pain and suffering to make the race. I can't imagine Ryan's feelings about being taken out when he was having a good ride. What luck! But he took it like a man - saw his responses to being "Boomed" and no sour grapes. Very classy. And a big hand to J-Pow for putting his head down and making a good showing. The rest, they're just starting and it's a whole new game, not just a matter of "timing". The real heart-breaker of the WC was the frozen conditions allowing the women's race to turn into a crit and Katie getting nabbed at the line. That sucked! But again, congratulations to her for taking the race to 'em when it really wasn't her kind of course. It took a lot of courage to attack from the go! Way to go Katie!!!

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Permalink Reply by Echappe Equipment on February 4, 2009 at 8:37am

The travel around the US for our races is too demanding on athletes physically and sponsors financially. I would love to sponsor an elite 'cross team, but it would cost about as much to do as being a part-title sponsor for a road team. What about dividing the US into two or three sections like other pro sports? We could race east or west only for a majorty and then have a few championship races between the east and west leading into Worlds. I think , and know, that there are a lot more talented 'cross riders out there than the few who are selected for Euro Camp and the National Team who would love a longer season or at least have the same schedule as the Europeans.

I do know, though, that racing in Europe is a lot different. I did it on the road, but the 'cross seems to be the same. The style is different and is simply not matched here in the US yet. So, going to Europe a few weeks before Worlds does have some sense in it.

But I can also say that the level of racing in the US would increase if there was more money to be won. Winning nationals gets you like $350? Thats terribly pathetic and embarrassing. If you expect athletes to spend 15-20hrs a week on the bike and the rest of the time with their feet up, then paying them $350 for winning nationals is an insult. Raising the bar so that 10th gets you $350 would push a lot more people into the ring and make the racing a lot more cut throat. Then I think we might have some better performances elsewhere.

ATMO.

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Permalink Reply by tom p on February 4, 2009 at 8:52am

the europeans (begians) are that much better (the men). simple. they have no excuses. in the usa the men are a "big fish in a small pond" over in europe there just pack filler

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Permalink Reply by pignone fisso on February 4, 2009 at 7:34pm

...ok, "Tom P" (or anyone with an opinion on the matter), but what makes the belgians (men) that much better? And how can Americans rise to that same level?

Some of the issues I've seen pointed out so far: extensive and tiring US travel; lack of significant prize money; shortened calendar of domestic events.

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Permalink Reply by Hamilton on February 5, 2009 at 10:05am

I know that Kenda is sponsoring a new setup for MTB races. They're going to have a West Coast Series (all in CA...grrr) and an East Coast series. Perhaps we'll see something similar as 'cross gets more popular. This seems like it would help the team sponsors to save on travel as well as get more local racers involved in the big races because the fields would be just a little thinner thus giving the up-and-coming little guys a chance to mix it up with the pros.

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Permalink Reply by Breadman on February 4, 2009 at 5:58pm

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ read between the lines$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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Permalink Reply by andrew on February 7, 2009 at 12:57pm

although the level is certainly increasing every year in the states, I think part of the difference is that you race to the level you need to. if you've ever been lucky/strong/bagging enough to be at the front of a race, you probably raced to the level you needed to in order to win/do well at the race. if you're crushing it domestically as a junior/espoir/elite male, that might not be at a pace that would win races abroad, and I have to believe racing against the very fastest certainly makes you stronger and gives you something to shoot for and push yourself in training for.

that's the big value in proctor's euro cross camp - giving folks experience at racing at the highest level. I bet the biggest benefits for a rider are realized not in the year attended, but in future years, after they've gained an understanding of how fast it is over there.

the hard part is after understanding how fast it is training for that level when the local competition isn't at that level.

and of course, as breadman mentioned, there's that money thing - a big motivator and enabler.

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