Read recently in the local paper that there’s no women’s purse at IMCDA this year. And no men’s purse at Lake Placid.
Comments?
Hmmm. Well, I don’t know…
I can see that as a good business decision on the part of WTC. These races are for the age groupers on numbers alone- they make up the overwhelming majority of the numbers.
As far as the sport goes, well, I’m not so sure.
It’s the national championship thing. Ladies at LP, men at CD. Got no problem with that, but why not still host both fields?
The IM CDA race is the U.S. men’s championship and IM USA is the U.S. women’s championship - the purses go deeper and have more money, thereby encouraging more pros to show up for a larger, more competitive group overall - and hopefully better racing. Check for press releases on IM Live…
Mac McEneaney
They announced that quite awhile ago…the goal is to have deeper pro male fields at IMCDA and deeper female pro fields at IMUSA. It’s definitely a good idea to try and increase the level of competition at what are supposed to be top level events.
It’s the national championship thing.
What d’ya mean?
why not still host both fields?
Yeah. Maybe I’m doing the search wrong, but it looks like there aren’t any pro women doing IMCDA at all. If true, I’m very disappointed. Are any male pros racing at Lake Placid?
ah ha! That explains why there are NO female pros registered for IMCDA! And explains why the men’s race is so freakin deep. It looks like I picked the right year to watch the race rather than participate in it again, that men’s race is going to be great.
Last year, in fact I believe the last 2 years, IMLP has been the National Championship. This year, the Lady Pros will have their Championship at LP, and the Men at CD.
Don’t quote me, but I don’t think there is a Male Pro field at LP, and likewise a Pro ladies field at CD. I seem to remember seeing an email from PNF late last year outlining this. If that’s the case, then LP will be won by an amatuer, or at least someone racing as one.
OK, gotcha. That makes some sense. Wish the paper had done a better job explaining that. (And the IMNA official they interviewed, too.)
Should be a good men’s race, then, but I’m still disappointed about the women. Oh well.
Hehehe…I’m doing CDA…and I’m already picturing all the male pros ZOOMING past me on their second lap while I’m still pedalling on my first…
Man…I hope I’m outta T2 when the FIRST ELITE finishes…
Unless I’m mistaken, didn’t the winners of Placid last year earn 20,000$ and this year both the CDA and Placid winners will get 12,000 ???
If that’s accurate, the winner gets 8,000 less and the purse goes a bit deeper.
Nice spin job done by the WTC if this numbers are accurate.
that was two years ago, the structure was a bit different last year and the total purse wasn’t quite as bit. but you’re right, the total money between the two races is now down. however you do have the addition of arizona with a bigger purse as well.
Yes … LP had 100k & IMCDA 50K last year. The winners will earn less than 2004 @ LP but more than 2004 CDA … prize purse goes 10 (i think) deep in the single gender as opposed to 5 deep in each gender. I believe the goal was for deeper / more competitive fields. They didn’t add any prize money they simply shifted it!
I like the idea of a deeper, and potentially more competitive race. We’ll see how it plays out.
Personally, I don’t like this decision. The lack of a pro men’s field at Lake Placid (and a pro women’s field at CDA) changes the personality of these events and makes each one feel more like a minor league affair. Race fees are up, the races fill in <24hr, major new car company sponsors are added, but IMNA still can’t offer a purse any larger than that of IM-Lanzarote with 600 finishers? As was pointed out already, the “championship format” was merely a reshuffling of prize purses with the overall result being a reduction in the amount of the total purse. I must say though, it will be interesting to watch Kate Major win IM-USA outright. I can’t help but wonder how much WTC licenses the name Ironman from Marvel comics for and when this license expires? If someone raised the capital to seize the name by outbidding WTC, what would happen?
I think it sucks! I am doing the race and would love to see some of the pro IM hotties out there on the course. Have you ever seen Desiree Ficker up close? Whoooooa!
Could this not be the year that an Age Group male wins the overall at Lake Placid since there will be no male Pro’s? Or will the ladies get a huge head start?
I think it is an insteresting concept and will be neat to watch/be in the middle of. Theoretically, with the men pro gone, the pro women should be able to race each other and not have to worry about the slower men pro “getting in the way”.
But yeah they are cheaping out on the prize purses. Want to put your sport on the map? Get a huge purse and make everyone think they have a chance at it. Worked for Poker.
Could this not be the year that an Age Group male wins the overall at Lake Placid since there will be no male Pro’s? Or will the ladies get a huge head start?
Based on her time last year, I predict Kate Major will beat all the age group men, head start or no.
That would be cool to see!