Shimano SKCC Super Crit Support Race

[zill]

Anyone doing this race this year? Is it a lot more competitive than the usual St Kilda crit?

Heard there were big accidents in the lower grades last year or the year before. Is that true?

[jules21]

there have been some big crashes in the past. there is a lot of prize money and the atmosphere goes to some riders' heads. but it's an adrenaline rush...

[zill]

there have been some big crashes in the past. there is a lot of prize money and the atmosphere goes to some riders' heads. but it's an adrenaline rush...

A crash every year in either C or D?

[danny the boy]

Pretty sure there was a big stack in the womens race last year that delayed the start of the elite mens.

[zill]

Pretty sure there was a big stack in the womens race last year that delayed the start of the elite mens.

What about in the lower grades?

[danny the boy]

Didn't see any of those races.

[zill]

How did you find the Men's Elite race say compared with an A grade crit.

[jules21]

How did you find the Men's Elite race say compared with an A grade crit.

the elite race has a bunch of World Tour riders competing in it

[zill]

How did you find the Men's Elite race say compared with an A grade crit.

the elite race has a bunch of World Tour riders competing in it

So faster and by how much km/hr?

Heard there was another crash in C grade today!

[jules21]

the elite race will be close to 50 km/h

[zill]

the elite race will be close to 50 km/h

oh so not too much faster than A grade which is usually in the high 40s.

[danny the boy]

the elite race will be close to 50 km/h

oh so not too much faster than A grade which is usually in the high 40s.

Its faster. Its actually a good chance to see how big the gap is between the best club racers in the peak of their season and the pro's who are here for Xmas holidays. Some of the better A graders will be mid bunch all race just hanging on.

[zill]

the elite race will be close to 50 km/h

oh so not too much faster than A grade which is usually in the high 40s.

Its faster. Its actually a good chance to see how big the gap is between the best club racers in the peak of their season and the pro's who are here for Xmas holidays. Some of the better A graders will be mid bunch all race just hanging on.

Can club A graders race with the elite guys? Surely there must be some criteria to race with the elites?

[danny the boy]

oh so not too much faster than A grade which is usually in the high 40s.

Its faster. Its actually a good chance to see how big the gap is between the best club racers in the peak of their season and the pro's who are here for Xmas holidays. Some of the better A graders will be mid bunch all race just hanging on.

Can club A graders race with the elite guys? Surely there must be some criteria to race with the elites?

Its a teams race, OGE and Drapac have their own team and then a lot of the local teams like o2 will have a team with maybe a pro or two filling guest spots, Caleb ewan won for o2 last year. But then teams like Bike Gallery will be made up of some of the best local A's, my guess is they invite guys to race for them.

[cerb]

27 teams apparently vying for 20 spots in the elite mens event and the club is working out who to accept. Pro-Tour Teams > Pro-Conti Teams > NRS Teams > Local Teams will no doubt be the way it's whittled down and accepted.

So, unless you are a pro or can get a ride with one of the top local teams, it's pretty unlikely you could have gotten an entry in that particular race! They need to be pretty concious about who enters because one crash could take down a pro rider and have them out for a whole season... how many pros would come back after that happened?

Should be a good day of racing though!

[macca33]

Great event this one - getting to see so many World Tour Pros locally is a fantastic thing. Whets the appetite of a Victorian cycling fan for the Nationals and the Cadel Evans race early next year also!

As for Elite vs Club A Grade - BIG difference - if you've ever seen an NRS race go by, you'll see how different it is and the World Tour is another big step up again.

I'll trundle along and watch with a few mates - hopefully the weather is as good as last year.

cheers