Jean-Christoph Peraud, (Left), improved on last year’s 7th place GC finish by a lot. Photo courtesy of Sea Otter Classic
Gunn-Rita Dahle, (Right), continues to be the dominant female XC racer.
Photo courtesy of Sea Otter Classic
You may have heard the expression « If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. » It is absurd to think that anyone could duplicate the same timing system that has been successful 102 times at the largest bicycle tour in the globe. Used thousands to thousands of times in cycling stage races around the globe?
This change was a natural result of some good science. The Gravity Omnium format, which made its Sea Otter debut back in 2003, was the catalyst. Omnium, short for Omnium-gatherum is a miscellaneous collection. In this instance, it refers to the miscellaneous collection or stages of a race. Elapsed times can only be used for downhill scoring so a points system was created that was based on the finish position of each event. This worked well: the Gravity Omnium was won by the rider with a lowest score.
BREAKING THINGS THAT ARE NOT BROKE
Official Sea Otter Program did not have any information about the MTB Omnium rules. They released some information a few months ago. Points would be awarded for each finish position, just like the Gravity Omnium. They flipped the payout. The endurance omnium points will be determined by the number of registered participants. There were 106 registered men riders. A rider who wins earns 106 points. Second place would earn the rider 105 points. Third place would get 104 points. And so on, with descending points going down to last. Sixty-nine women lined up to compete in the women’s division. 69 points went for the winner, 68 for second, and so forth to 1 point for a place at 69.
No matter how many riders abandon the race or how many are registered for the Sunday UCI-points-paying cross country, the point system will remain the same. The MTB Omnium purse is won by the rider who has the most points after the final XC stage.
ADDING IN OTHER RULES
The promoter released some bonus points information two stages into the race. The bonus structure gave 8 points for the first place finisher in each stage, 5 points for second and 3 points for third. The whole scoring system was confusing team managers and athletes more than ever.
On the Sea Otter website, there was a mention of penalty points and bonus points. There was no explanation for this. It is clear that bonus points were planned to be awarded to top finishers. There is no reason to reverse the points payout, so that the rider who has the most points wins.
It would have been great if they had informed the racers beforehand.
TRYING to FIGURE IT ALL
It was obvious that Sea Otter Classic officials had difficulty figuring out their rules after the second stage. They started to list the current GC standings, which detailed the points tabulation for each rider. However, they had no idea what was happening until the weekend.
Jean-Christoph Peraud is a Sea Otter Champion. I verified that the points were correct. You will get 441 points if you add the points for Jean-Christoph Peraud’s 1st, 2nd, and 2nd place finishes. Also, take into account the bonus points.
Gunn-Rita Dahle doesn’t think so. Dahles 1, 2, 1, and 1 finishes, along with 29 bonus points that the new rules stated she earned, should equal 304 points instead of the 299 listed on Sea Otters Official MTB Omnium results.
It is simple to check the accuracy of Gravity Omnium’s points-paying system. These lists list the finishes of all riders who participated in the three Gravity Omnium events: downhill, duality slalom and mountaincross.
Add the 5 bonus points Gunn-Rita would’ve earned for finishing second in the time trial behind Mary McConneloug and you’ll get the 299 points. Peraud was awarded 5 bonus points in exchange for finishing second in the time trial.
WHY TIMING IS SMARTER
In a time trial, bonus points cannot be awarded as each rider’s race finish time is used to determine the overall results. Race against the clock results speak for themselves. In events that have a group start, the top three finishers receive bonus points. This keeps the race closer and gives riders an extra incentive to win stages. Points are awarded in seconds and are subtracted from the overall, cumulative time score of the winners.
It can be much more fun to use the standard timing method for calculating the GC position. Race organizers can update the GC standings at each stage and make it available to athletes, managers and fans alike. This adds excitement and anticipation, particularly for the third and fourth short track and cross country stages.
If you don’t like the idea of a mountain bike team, it allows each rider to know what he needs to do to advance in the GC.
FINAL WORD
The Sea Otter became a race against time and against the clock. Three days later, we know who won. But does anyone really care?
MTB MTB OMNIUM RESULTS
1. Jean-Christoph Peraud (Fra)Orbea441 points
2. Liam Killeen (GBr).Specialized415
3. Bart Brentjens (Ned).
4. Jose Antonio Hermida (Spn)Multivan Merida407
5. Christophe Sauser (Swi), Specialized384
6. Geoff Kabush (Can.Maxxis380)
7. Matt KellySubaru Gary Fisher376
8. Todd WellsGT Bicycles374
9. Michael BroderickSeven-Kenda366
10. Max Plaxton (Can)Rky Mtn-Biz Obj362
WOMEN
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor)Multivan Merida299 points
2. Mary McConnelougSeven Cycles-Kenda269
3. Katerina Nash (Cze)Luna Chix263
4. Kiara Bisaro (Can)R.A.C.E262
5. Alison Sydor (Can)Rky Mnt-Biz Obj259
6. Jimena Florit (Arg)Luna Chix253
7. Georgia GouldLuna X251
8. Sabine Spitz (Ger)Specialized244
9. Sue HaywoodTrek – VW240
10. Wendy Simms (Can)Velo Bella-Kona236
