So I am getting ready for St. Anthony’s in a few weeks. I was put in the amateur elite wave for no specific reason. I was told by RD that if you have gone under 2:15 in past 12 months you qualify but do not have to race it. I expect my finishing time to be around 2:08-2:10. Based on previous years that should get me top 5. If I race elite it would get me mid pack. I am leaning on AG because they are giving top 5 of each AG free entrance into this years Hyvee. Top 15 in AG qualifies but is not free. I don’t think I will make top 15 in the elite wave. I certainly am not sandbagging in the AG division since I would need to have the race of my life to win the AG. I would be lucky to hit top 5 which is no guarantee.
If your goal is to race HyVee for free, then race AG.
You cant change division entry this late before race.
Whatever you entered in, you have to race in that division.
I’d definitely race age group. Those elite amateurs are there to attempt to get their pro card in most cases. It’s nice they have an elite amateur wave. At boulder peak this year you can race elite amateur but you start with your age group…what’s the point?
I’ve done St. Anthony’s a couple times… If given the opportunity to race in Elite or AG, I would definitely pick Elite. There is a lot of traffic out there on the bike. I suspect it would be the same even if I wasn’t a shitty swimmer.
Race elite. You never know what the increased competition might do for your effort. Sure you might miss out on a free Hyvee slot, but you may nail a PR.
What about when riding in traffic you tend to get a constant draft by always passing. I think that’s a real theory. A bit cheap, but within the rules. Sometimes traffic also allows you to set goals of picking people off that are up the road.
I looked into this for another 5150 race and here is what I found with regard to Hy-Vee.
If you enter the Elite AG wave at the 5150 qualifier and place high enough you get to race in the Elite AG Championship in Des Moines (i.e. for a car). If you do not want to race the Elite AG Championship in Des Moines, too bad, you are stuck there. I do not know if free entries are available.
If you enter the AG waves of a 5150 qualifier and place high enough you enter the AG Championship race in Des Moines. The top 5 do get free race entry in Des Moines. You cannot race the Elite AG Championship if you qualify this way.
I’m not familiar with how Boulder Peak is working this year but last year there was a separate Elite AG wave. I really, really wish I could enter the elite AG wave in the race I’m doing but I don’t have a prayer against the top of the field in the Elite AG race at Hy-Vee.
Jim and I were talking about this this week. No point in racing elite amateur at boulder peak unless you’re going to hy-vee. You’re starting with your age group no matter what, there isn’t a separate wave and then you’re scored separately from your age group. You get the same prize for racing either age-group or elite…a pair of socks. It completely sucks because last year it was a great way to get that “pro-like” feel literally starting at the front and fighting, this year I don’t see the point.
St anthonys has a dedicated elite wave. After pro m and w.