Cycling Reports

CAT. THREE OR NOT CAT. THREE:  THAT IS THE QUESTION ! 

Viewers responses at end of article (July 7)

If Shakespeare had been a cyclist maybe he would have used the above phrase. Whether it be nobler to be a third cat rider and suffer the slings and arrows of others or be a second cat rider and get a kicking from the ‘A’s every second week, I don’t know - but  let’s find out !

Since the abolishment of the third category or ‘C’ grade in Ireland a few years ago, membership of the Irish Cycling Federation has fallen steadily. Whilst the loss of the ‘C’ grade may not be the sole reason for this phenomenon, it is definitely a contributing factor. The lack of a top Irish rider in the pro peleton - until the arrival of Ciaran Power and Morgan Fox this year, the bad publicity from the whole drugs issue, and the sheer physical demands of the sport have all taken their toll.

The argument still rages on as to whether third category should be re-introduced. Opinions are split right down the middle, from those who think it is an important stepping-stone for first years seniors and newcomers to the sport, to those who believe ‘C’ riders are merely “a bunch of Freds.”

The most often heard arguments against ‘C’ riders are as follows. Since the abolishment of the grade, there are more ‘A’ riders than ever before. The bunches in ‘A’ and ‘B’ races are bigger and stronger. Third cats are regarded as the “sheep” of cycling in Ireland, always following wheels, never willing to attack in mixed races and are generally blamed for ruining the race for other ‘more talented’ riders. Third cats always cause crashes. If you have a third cat race you have to have extra marshals, extra prize money, and more than likely extra judges because they always seem to end in a sprint !

The oft–most quoted arguments for ‘C’ riders are the following. Everybody has to start from somewhere. If you have never raced a bike before, or if you have taken a few years out from the sport, it takes time to get into the rhythm of riding in a bunch, to acquire the fitness, tactical awareness. and bike handling skills  needed to win anything, let alone a ‘A’/’B’ race. In ‘C’ grade you can do this with other riders of your own standard, at a slightly slower pace, over shorter distances, until you build up enough to be able to race with the ‘big boys’. A lot of riders now work long hours, unsociable shifts, and weekends, hence they don’t have the time to train properly for the big races but would still like to be able to compete on some sort of level playing field, against others of a similar standard.

O.K, so that’s the main arguments out of the way, where do we go from here? Well, here’s my opinion, I’m sure most of you will have already formed your own, and are quite welcome to respond with them.

It’s true that there are more ‘A’ riders than ever, but quite frankly a lot of them might as well be ‘B’ riders for all the results they get, and are just going through the motions. The same can be said, probably more so, of ‘B’ riders, a lot of them would benefit from the re-introduction of ‘C’ grade. If you look at the results over the past few years , it seems that the same riders have been winning all the races. Will Kenneally, Cassidy, Evans, Moriarty, McCann, O’Loughlin et al be still winning in ten years time ? Unless Irish cycling gets some new blood, probably!

Anyone who remembers junior racing in the Kelly-Roche era and compares it to nowadays will notice a vast difference. The bunches are much smaller today, and most of the new juniors that were attracted to the sport by our top pros successes have long gone. While Ireland has produced riders of the calibre of World junior champion Mark Scanlon since, like Kelly and Roche before him, he is the exception rather than the rule. The leap from junior racing to senior racing is a giant one and could be made that little bit easier by allowing first year seniors to race with ‘C’s as well as Vets and/or ladies. These young riders would gain some experience of riding in bigger bunches on bigger gears, against Senior riders, and could move on with the experience and strength, not to mention the confidence of winning a senior race or two. If the races were combined with the Vets and Ladies too, it would cut down on the need for extra marshals and extra prize money.

At the start of every season, there are new, unshaved legs attached to excited faces at the start line of the races. People who have maybe ridden a bike all their lives, and just decided to try racing, or people who have never ridden a bike in anger but saw Jan Ullrich storm up Mont Ventoux last July and thought - hey I could do that.! Where do they all go ? After about a month of racing, you don’t see them any more. Too many hammerings have taken their toll and the bike is reverted back to it’s former role of fetching the chips on an evening. These are all people who are lost to the sport, probably never to return again. Maybe they had sons or daughters, or friends who would have followed in their cycling shoes, we’ll never know ! If they had a gentler start to the season, a bit more encouragement, we would all benefit from it in the end.

There are various options open as to how one could qualify for ‘C’ racing. First year Seniors could have the choice whether to take out a ‘C’ or ‘B’ licence, as could any of the previous seasons ‘B’s that hadn’t scored any points for that season. Newcomers or riders who hadn’t taken out a licence in over a year would automatically qualify and Veterans and Ladies could be given the choice as to which race - ‘C’ or ‘B’,  they wanted to ride. This way, everyone with potential would be moved up a grade on scoring a certain number of points, gaining results, experience and confidence along the way. For anyone not gaining enough points, there would always be the knowledge that next season, they would be starting afresh, on a level playing field, and who knows, maybe they would start recommending the sport to their friends, we could do worse!  

RESPONSE TO ARTICLE

Philip Cassidy (Meath): Reference Gerard Cromwall's "some people C's are a load of Fred's". In my opinion there is no such thing as a "Fred" as every rider who rides a bike whether racing or leisure has there own goals and are striving to achieve them and improve on them. OK there may well be riders who do not worry if there not wearing the latest in fashion or there legs are not shaven for the last 6 months, but I don't think I would regard them as Fred's. I have often heard riders referring to there fellow competitors as Fred's because they are unable to work at the front or they are unable to get away from them, but in this instance I think a better label would be "Monner" for the rider doing the complaining and I have to admit I have to be in that category on occasion. No I say our sport would be in a sad state if it wasn't for all these so called Fred's long may they last and Lets all hope they multiply ten fold and beyond. And remember any of the "Monners out there you are only as good as you're last race and I think this puts me in the Fred class.  Regards Philip

Brendan Caffrey (Oldcastle): Great article on the 3rd Category,I have'nt raced since August 99" due to change of job,a stupid fall of my bike,and last but not least,sick of getting my hole opened by the so called "Amateurs" of Irish Cycling.I started racing in 1989 as an 3rd Cat,great fun I think my first race was "Beechmount Cup" around 200+ started,what entertainment.So lets bring back the "F" Category,(It's a lot better than the modern one,"S" category,you can figure out what the "S" stands for) For now I keep training during the week,swing the clubs,and support the counters in Temple Bar at the weekend.  From the Caff

Liam Collins (Moscow): I thought Gerard Cromwell's article was well written and very appropriate  given the current status of Irish Cycling, i.e. same winners week in week out and declining membership.  

Remedies?  Considering most guys who would want to race at Cat Three, or people who want an introduction to the sport at this stage of their lives, are working full time an obvious solution  and one that works well in Britain is Track Racing. The distances are shorter, less training  required and  more of a social atmosphere surrounds the events. Throw in handicapped  racing and all levels can compete together with the added advantage of improved bike handling skills. But try selling that to the ICF.  As for those people who think Third Cats are wasters they should bear the following in mind.  - Most Third Cats by their nature hold down responsible jobs, and therefore are more likely to be in a position to bring in sponsors.  - They have higher disposable incomes are much more likely to buy the expensive bikes that the sponsors give free of charge to the elite riders, thus helping to maintain and support the sponsors that top riders live off of.
Keep up the good work. - Regards

Philip Ahearn (Cork): I think the article on the reintroduction of the "C" category is quite valid and am glad someone shares the same views on the subject as I do. Yes some are " freds" but it is these "freds" who make up the bunch size, make up the entry fee and ultimately make up the prize money. Would it not make for some great racing if the juniors,vets, ladies and Senior "C's" were to ride in the one bunch instead of looking at the 10-15 juniors heading out each\Sunday which is now commonplace in this country. I think also the touring cyclists of the country would be delighted to see the return of the category "C" because since it was abolished these tours have become Senior "C" races and are destroying the leisure aspect of cycling. I think there is no doubt but the re-introduction of Cat. "C's" to the country once more could only add to cycling!!!

Paul Byrne (Dublin Whls) I must agree with the other views on the re-introduction of the "C" category races. As a competitive cyclist I tried to make a comeback this year after a 3-year absence. I got on my bike during the winter but due to the pressures of work and other contributing factors I had to stop for the month of January which was detrimental to my preparations for upcoming racing season and because I knew from various sources that the standard in the "B" cat was fairly high so I decided my first race of this year would be in May (Bohermeen).

The standard was incredible I thought the "B" category was just a new name for the old "C" category but I was wrong the racing was very fast the speed went up by each lap. One thing I noticed a lot was how many of the lads that where racing where "A" riders when I last raced 3 years ago. I was lucky to have just enough fitness and experience not to get dropped, I just about lasted the race. Knowing that was the standard for the "B" races and that most of the forthcoming races where combined A & B race's which would definitely be a higher standard I then knew It was probably my last race of the season. 

My point is this as a person who doesn't have a lot of spare time and was trying to start racing again I now know that racing with the "B" category is out of the question only if I want a hammering week in week and most probably dropped and don't want any enjoyment out of the sport.  

I think this is a valid case for the re-introduction of "C" cat's not just for likes of me but for anyone who would like to try racing and not get turned of it after the first race and for lads who like myself would like to race again and not be put of after their first race back but would like a more progressive way of getting back to a fairly good standard of racing.  As has been said on numerous occasions we need to introduce more younger riders into racing which is difficult as it is with more higher profile sports such as soccer, golf etc. But I also think we need to hold onto to the competitive rider base we already have on a par with trying to introduce more riders to competitive cycling. This is not going to be achieved by current levels at which inexperienced cyclists or lads like myself who are trying to return to competitive cycling must race at present. So if there is a re-introduction of "C" Category maybe we would see a more even playing field for all types of cyclists.

Paddy Sweeney (Kilnaleck Co Cavan) I want to agree with the reintroduction of the C CAT.   I only took up cycling at the age of 25, and I can tell you it was extremely difficult to survive in races, even at C cat. In races where B & C riders raced together I was dropped every time, while in handicapped races I could usually survive until the A's caught us, then went rapidly out the back. The C cat races allowed me to develop as a cyclist, physically & mentally, so that by last year when the C cat was abolished, I could survive & enjoy racing as a B & even give the A's a run every now and then. I have also been involved in an attempted to start a racing club in Cavan, where one has never existed before. I have now doubt that had I to start racing as a B, I would not have persevered more than a couple of months, getting hammered all the time is no fun. Those of us in the bunch see new faces all the time, but it is rare that they are seen for more than a few months.

There are probably fewer than 200 seniors who race regularly in Ireland. To make a comparison with another sport, Gaelic Football, this is the equivalent of the top 10-12 inter-county teams. It is inconceivable that someone who had never played the game before would be expected to play in a championship game and mark Ollie Murphy or Anthony Tohill, but this is what is expected of anyone between the ages of 19 & 40 who wishes to take-up cycling in Ireland. Because of the hard nature of the sport we are never going to have participation levels like Soccer or GAA. For my own part the hardest thing now is not the racing itself, but the travelling to races.  With the exception of The Mountnugent GP, the nearest venues for races are, Navan 30 miles, Enniskillen 46 miles, Drogheda 50 miles, or the Phoenix Park 65 miles. There are 25 GAA, 5 Soccer, and  2 Rugby clubs within 15 miles of here. That is enormous competition for a sport like cycling, but we should not shrug our shoulders. The easier we can make it for beginners, the better for us all. I believe that the reintroduction of C racing will not be the saviour of Irish cycling, but it is vital to the survival of a viable dynamic racing culture. 

David Tobin (Waterford) I read GERARD CROMWELL's article with interest. I have been cycling for fitness and sport for at least 10 years and have competed half heartedly on an intermittent basis. I have come to the realisation that road racing is the most snobbish and cliquish sport I have come across. The use of the term "fred" just illustrates this. Irish road racing cycling appears to hate newcomers and non winners. If an unknown 20 or even 30 something year old arrives out at a race or a club outing, with a less than £1K bike, and hairy legs, he or she becomes a "fred". Add to this the fact that if they race, the competition is so high that they are probably totally demotivated after only a few hundred metres, and therefore quickly retire the bike to the shed.

There is one problem that has led to this situation. This problem is that road racing has failed to embrace what has happened in mountain biking, which is the inclusion of a sport section. This section means that anyone that arrives with a mountain bike to a race, with any reasonable degree of fitness, can enter a race and probably not end up totally embarrassed. If there is 40 people in a sport section of the race and the new comer arrives 40th but the difference in time between 30th and 40th is only a couple of minutes, then the chances are that this person may train and try to do better next time.

In contrast to this, a reasonably fit newcomer to a road race will be dropped and not see the bunch again. And the end result of this race is that the newcomer will leave the sport. There are more cyclists out on the roads these days than in recent years, they are not racing because they are not given a chance to compete against individuals of similar ability.

If a category C is re-introduced the numbers of weekend cyclists will increase. If this number increases then the next generation of cyclists may increase in numbers, and from this increased population a new champion may emerge. However if Irish cycling continues along its current path, numbers will wittle away and therefore the chances of discovering significant talent diminishes.