Folks, send us your thoughts and we’ll post ‘em. This one’s just in and showing great support of the Avondale Criterium. Also, as soon as we receive the results, we’ll get them posted.
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Turns out the three most important things to consider when throwing a criterium race is the same three things to consider when purchasing overpriced real estate in Arizona; location, location, location. This weeks Avondale crit was testament to a well scouted area and it paid off. Workable crit locations seem to be going the way of the Mexican Grey Wolf or the famed Spotted Owl in Arizona lately. Every location seems to have its distractions or detractors and finding and keeping the perfect spot is easier said than done.
The Avondale crit got it right on many levels; no police needed as no major thoroughfares or residential streets were closed this also meant minimal street signage or barricades, no obstacles that required concealment via bales of hay or subterfuge, and the street itself was clean, wide, and for the most part even and smooth, no decreasing radius turns or sharp joints. All this and a fair amount of public parking. The public facilities seemed a bit overwhelmed at times but it seems every race is short on port-a-johns for some reason.
As mentioned, finding a course with all these attributes is tough to do but when you consider there were races during the 2009 season with a half a dozen crashes, some due in part to one or more of these conditions being less than favorable, you should tip your hat to the team that put the Avondale crit together. Well done!
The racing itself laid out a lot like the first race of any season; the five field sold out and could have supported another group of 50 from the looks of the size of the 4-5 race with over 75 riders by my count. The 4-5 event was the only race of the day with a wreck of any consequence that this reporter noted. A crossed wheel sent a few riders tumbling just before turn one however no broken bones or serious injuries were noted, a rider from the newly formed Arizona Masters team got a suitcase full of road rash but was hobbling around during most of the later races and appeared none the worse for wear. There was some mention of a summer time series under the lights at this location I hope it happens, it’s a great location.
SK
Avondale was a great race just like last year. My only suggestion is to not include a 4/5 class next time. Just have a straight Cat. 4 race. I was in the 4/5 race. It was a bit dicey and there were a bunch of guys being forced out into the dirt on the backside. A field limit of 50 for the 4/5 or a straight 4 might help. The 3/4 and other races were fine.
A Summer series there under the lights would be fantastic. Maybe a Spring-Summer series. May-June??
I’d vote for a summer season as well. I was there before sunrise, and the city street lights provided considerably more light than we usually have at Wednesday worlds. It would be a perfect venue to continue into the summer.
A Summer series sounds like a great idea. Just two recomendations: Don’t force racers to have a new # for every race(gets a little tough when you have back to back races), and dump the “eyeball” scoring. It gets real interesting when racers are asked to tell the official where they finished. Otherwise a good job overall.
The races were fun and fast. To many riders in 4/5 field. Scoring needs to be a bit better. Depending on riders to note their placements is to complicated. Otherwise, great event and I hope the summer series is a go..
Agreed with Steve. The scoring was terrible in the 5s race also. I finished at the tail end of the top 20 but I was noted as a DNF. And a good amount of my team mates finishing places were incorrect also. Thumbs down.