Matt Marcus was the owner of Blackwater Bikes, Davis, WV. It is the home of Sue Haywood, National Short Track Champion, and Olympic hopeful. Matt has carefully calculated the UCI points since last year’s Olympic points chase. Matt’s calculations are limited to the points that will matter for the Olympic team when they are nominated July 12. (A UCI rank for a rider is determined on a rolling basis with points being kept for one year.
Here are the Points On July 12 standings.
Susan Haywood1211 POJ12
Mary McConneloug1179, POJ12
Alison Dunlap822 POJ12
Shonny Vanlandingham741 – POJ12
These points calculations do not include points that have yet been counted by UCI. You can see this in the Sandpoint, Idaho, short track, Maxxis Cup Portugal XC, and the 2004 Snowshoe West Virginia events.
In a long-running battle with Mary McConneloug, Susan Haywood has regained her lead in the POJ12 rankings. Haywood was awarded 20 points
The E2 rated International Gegendtaler Mountainbike Race was won by Monika Schachl, an Austrian road and mountainbike World Cup contender (18th at Schladming).
Alison Dunlap rose to third in the POJ12 rankings due to her ninth place finish in the Schladming World Cup. This was 41 seconds faster than Haywood and three places ahead. McConneloug fell to 19th after several crashes on the first lap. Shonny Vanlandingham was absent
Austria cancelled any UCI points production on her last weekend.
THE OLYMPICS: WHAT PRICE ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR?
According to some, the UCI threatened Mary McConneloug (over ) with a 1200 Euro fine and a 50 UCI penalty for U.S. cross country champions Mary McConneloug-Kobelski and Jeremy Hogan Kobelski for not wearing national champions jerseys at early World Cups. This is a warning. The rule was previously unknown to both champions who are now wearing stars-and-stripes.
Rumours that France Cycling would cover travel expenses for top three finishers to the 2004 Pan American Championships, Ecuador proved false. USAC invoiced every elite athlete who competed in this event to be eligible for the Olympic Games. These costs were covered by USAC in the two previous years, even though athletes weren’t required to race in this event. It’s amazing.
HOW CAN WE GET ANOTHER OLYMPIC POINT?
Now, the UCI knows whether any spots are available by the Tripartite Commission for countries that have requested additional spots or by UCI to countries not yet represented according to the qualifying regulations.
You would be able to find out if there are any available spots if you know how to get UCI to reply to your inquiries. You will need to wait until July 1, 2004 for any other information.
Find out when the UCI will announce any reallocations.
What is LEFT and WHO IS GOING?
This weekend, the points race in Mt. St. Anne, Quebec, with World Cup #5 and then World Cup #6 in Canmore (Alberta) next weekend. Next, the contenders
On July 11, 2011, I will be returning to Austria for the Marathon World Championships at Bad Goisern.
The unrelenting points chase by the women began in week #6, in February in Cyprus, and has since spanned the globe, covering 15 countries.
There are three continents that end in week 28. This is great for filling out a passport, but not so much for Olympic preparation. We have to ask the question: will this be enough?
Is there anything left in the legs/s of the chosen one/s
Haywood and McConneloug are the favourites to win the automatic nomination based upon the UCI points criteria. The race is so close that neither contender can make a mistake or have a mechanical issue. They have performed flawlessly throughout the season, with very minor mechanical problems. It is amazing to think that they will not be eliminated by a flat tire.
Add to that the fact that USACs points total is not known and it makes it difficult to predict that it will all come down to July 11th.
Marathon World Championships.
The overwhelming mathematical odds against Dunlap almost close the door to Dunlap being nominated for the automatic nomination based upon UCI points. Her chances now rest on the U.S. securing another slot for women on July 1. Alison will be the first to get the next slot if the spot becomes available.
Automatic nomination based upon World Cup points
Dunlap could continue to lead the U.S. women’s World Cup points after World Cup #6. If Dunlap does this, we will receive an additional spot. This would allow Dunlap to avoid having to travel to Austria for the Marathon Worlds on the 11th of July. This would be the best scenario for Dunlap and a great relief for the former World Champion.
WHAT IS THE MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS WORLDWIDE?
The Marathon World Championships has 200 points for the winner. The men will finish in five hours, while the women will finish in six. There are 105.7 km (65.5 miles) of climbing, 7% pavement and 21% doubletrack.
The most beautiful places on the planet.
The rider who is focused will have little time to take in the sights, especially the difficult vertical descents on ski area access roads and logging skids.
The race begins with a vertical climb of 304.8m. Most competitors will shift into the small circle by kilometer 3. The loop around Bad Ischl is the final loop on the course. It’s the only flat kilometer. The climb to the top of the course, at kilometer 94 is next. This climb is 3500m.
Approximately 20 km of vertical ascent at the end of race
It will be a fierce competition. Gunn-Rita Dahle (World Cup leader), Sabine Spitz (reigning World Champion), and the
Top ranked German team, Polish national team with reigning Marathon World Champion Maja Wolszczowska, and Canadian Alison Sydor to name a few.
It’s good that there will be beer at the well-stocked feed zones.
Matt Marcus
Blackwater Bikes in West Virginia is hardcore. They can be found on Rt. 32 in Davis; 259-52686. You might even meet Matt there.
