The finalized time trial start times will not be posted until after registration closes and once posted it cannot be changed. No racer will receive a special start time based on their personal needs and all riders must be at the starting line prior to their official start time. If you miss your start, go directly to an ACA official and tell them what category you are. It is at the discretion of the ACA officials as to any restart and all racers who miss their start may receive a DNF/be unable to start the next day. Final TT start times will ultimately depend on the total number of racers competing. The first racer will depart at 1:30:00 and category starts will be as follows:
Juniors(15-18)
SM 55+/65+
SW 4/45+/55+/65+
SM 35+_4/45+_4
SM 4
SM 45+
SM 35+, SM35+_3
SM 3
SW 1/2/3 35+
SM Pro 1/2
In the first two years of the Steamboat Stage Race, our event was held as part of the ACA Best All Around Rider & Team (BAR/BAT) points competition. There are ~20 established categories that have their own ranking for this competition and in the previous years we have been granted an exemption by the ACA to combine these categories into 10 fields of racers competing for one prize list and one results sheet(The ACA took care of the BAR/BAT rankings on their end and we listed the BAR/BAT categories out under combined fields/start times). This year we were not granted an exemption and would have been required to have greater than 10 individual prize lists, podium presentations, and results as is the case for all other BAR/BAT Races. With four days of racing and the importance of daily podium/cash payout we opted to not participate in BAR/BAT for 2011 despite meeting many if not all of the stated goals of the BAR/BAT program.
We are keeping the category designations the same as last year with 10 fields racing for 10 prize purses and a result list for each field.
Still confused? Email register @ bikesteamboat dot com for more clarity.Please review the ACA rulebook, specifically pages 27 through 29 regarding the rules of Stage Racing. Under Stage Race rules you must start each stage and receive a finishing time. If you miss a start, if you have a mishap that prevents you from finishing, or if you are disqualified you will be listed as Did Not Finish. An omnium event allows racers to pick the days they want to race and still compete in an overall competition even if they skip or drop out of a stage. The organizers of the Steamboat Stage race have no desire to hold an omnium as the competition is completely different. In addition to special stage race rules, please obey all laws, race officials, and volunteers. No racer who receives a DNF will be given a refund.
Disregarding these rules may jeopardize your safety and will jeopardize the sustainability of the event.The Steamboat Stage Race has enjoyed the opportunity to use the private roads of Marabou Ranch in 2009 and 2010, however the property owners opted to not allow racing their this year(I am sure many racers are thrilled to hear this as it was a very challenging course that results in some large time splits). In our search for an alternative circuit course we were met with many challenges including degrading county roads, private ranch communities who were not interested in holding the event, and a summer schedule already filled with events like Ride The Rockies, Bicycle Tour Colorado, US Pro Challenge, Erikson Tour de Steamboat, all of which have raised the community awareness and scrutiny of bicycle events being permitted on county and city roads. The course we have selected at Wildhorse meadows is 1.4 miles in length and while not a large epic circuit race similar to Marabou, it will provide for a solid day of great racing in the heart of the Steamboat Ski Area.
We recognize that all racers have their own views as to whether a course is too flat, short, long, hard, technical, not technical enough, etc., and our goal in future years will be to continue adjusting courses so that every year is different, but please consider the dynamics of promoting four days of bike racing. In the first year of the event we disallowed Time Trial equipment and got an earful from many time trial specialists, last year we allowed TT equipment and again got an earful from the other side about the hassle of bringing two bikes, next year you might be racing up Rabbit Ears Pass….
The Steamboat Stage Race is sanctioned by the American Cycling Assocation and requires all racers to hold a current ACA racing license or purchase temporary one day licenses, at a cost of $10 per day. If you hold a USCF license or do not have any racing license, you must purchase the one day ACA licenses totaling $40 for the four days of racing. Please come prepared to pay this $40 at packet pickup, no exceptions. If you DNF we will refund your temporary licenses for the days you do not race, at your request.
We welcome and want your feedback, but ask that you keep it constructive and consider the constraints of promoting four days of road racing. Of particular importance to the organizers of the Steamboat Stage Race is safety and if you have input or concerns, absolutely make us aware so we can address the issue. If you enjoyed an aspect of our event or would like to see something changed, you can fill out the contact form located here. Please include the category your participated in as well as contact info that we may follow up with.
All concerns regarding results should be directed to an ACA official as soon as possible. Do not go to the promoter or race organizers to contest your place, your DNF, etc. Please understand that results for races with more than one category on the course at a time require a bit more time to complete accurately. Please be patient with the judges if this is the case. Also make note of rule 16.1 on page 19 of the ACA rule book that explains how the protest periods for stage races is different than other races.
