Eric,
Of course I wasn’t there and didn’t see what was going on, but you allude to the fact that this may be a RD problem and not a competitor problem.
Although I certainly may agree with you in some aspects, remember, the view is much different from the position of the competitors. Remember too that the “race” is still on. Also, please note I’m not suggesting reckless abandon. Quite to the contrary - I’m only suggesting that it looks a bit different in the heat of battle. Also, an experienced cyclist may be able to “slow down” and safely go by at 25mph, while others are dangerous the whole race at 15 mph, so if you were to mass DQ folks how would you know the difference?
Unfortunately, I have been in a lot of races where course marshals and police are signaling slow down and there was no reason for it at all. It’s kind of the old cry wolf deal. For example, I have been on courses that I have scouted in advance (BTW-cycling is my strength) and know how fast I can take downhills, or curves, or speed bumps, etc and yet have a marshal screaming at me to slow down. For me, there is absolutely no reason for it, and after all it is a race.
Lastly, your comment about the racer being OK “no thanks to many in attendence(sic)” (I’m not sure I know what that means) doesn’t make sense to me. If the ambulance and police were on the scene, what were those in attendance supposed to do? Were you expecting them to help or spectate, or are you just referring to slowing down?
Again, just trying to give you a little racer perspective. I really don’t think all those folks you saw were trying to do a bad thing - heck they may not have even figured it out until they were up the road. I have found over the years that most racers are respectful and courteous, even if at times ignorant and oblivious.
Hey, thanks for your efforts and for marshalling - we really do appreciate it! Best wishes,----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------David at the accident scene there was nothing the RD could have done better that would have changed what happened, a driver ignored the police manning the intersection’s directions . The thing is “on Course” racers need to follow the directions of course workers, Police, fire, or Race Officails at all times. we out of necesity shut the expressway down to 1 lane out of 3 for cars 1/2 half lane for racers and 1 1/2 lanes for the ambulance and medical workers. The was myself and 2 uniformed SJ Police officers in a line stretching 200 feet up the road from the scene yelling and waving at racers to slow it down. When police are telling youto shut it down, the marshal is telling you to shut it down,DO IT don’t argue, “one of the I’m in control” people blew through and hit a paramedic. The medics are dealing with a patient and are not looking at the race, they depend on you the racer paying attention to orders for their safety. and 10 mph was the max we could safely squeeze the hundreds of racers past the scene. the other thing people were discussing was the bike in run out crossing inside the parking lot at the transition area, that is an RD issue and was a sperate discussion from the bike car crash. as for a penalty, speeding through the accident scene ingoring course worker/ police instructions can be construed as indangerment and is, at the head referee’s discretion either a time penalty or a DQ. I hope that clears things up a bit
In a situation like the one described here the first priority is the injured racer, if they have to block the course, oh well. It doesn’t matter how fast you think you can safely pass, it matters what the guys on scene are comfortable with.