A (Dis)taste of Amateur Racing in 2019 - Page 2

m4rk540 · #16 02-19-2019, 08:58 PM

My DMs (Instagram Direct Messages) were blowing up this morning after Cory Williams posted the video. The resolution in the Instagram story wasn't as sharp as the video CW posted on youtube. Initially, I was under the impression that Justin Williams was spat on and the video reflected that greater egregiousness or racism. Turns out it was one of the Caucasian teammates who was victimized. Further developments revealed a witness claiming to have seen Cory W punch the spitter in the head at an earlier point in the race.

echappist · #17 02-19-2019, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4rk540

My DMs (Instagram Direct Messages) were blowing up this morning after Cory Williams posted the video. The resolution in the Instagram story wasn't as sharp as the video CW posted on youtube. Initially, I was under the impression that Justin Williams was spat on and the video reflected that greater egregiousness or racism. Turns out it was one of the Caucasian teammates who was victimized. Further developments revealed a witness claiming to have seen Cory W punch the spitter in the head at an earlier point in the race.

as is with most things, better to let the story develop more fully before making an initial judgment

that said, i find the whole crit scene a bit baffling. Of course, there was that (in)famous Keough v Bahati incident going back about 9-10 years, and hot heads will do what hotheads do. Which is to say, unless we are talking about serious infractions here (think Theo Bos sending someone into the barriers), it's just all parts and parcel of bike racing (though spitting and punching both technically constitute battery...)

FlashUNC · #18 02-19-2019, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4rk540

My DMs (Instagram Direct Messages) were blowing up this morning after Cory Williams posted the video. The resolution in the Instagram story wasn't as sharp as the video CW posted on youtube. Initially, I was under the impression that Justin Williams was spat on and the video reflected that greater egregiousness or racism. Turns out it was one of the Caucasian teammates who was victimized. Further developments revealed a witness claiming to have seen Cory W punch the spitter in the head at an earlier point in the race.

So guy gets punched, and his reaction is to spit on another dude on the team, passing the puncher in the process? Sure. Because that makes sense.

Kids an U23. USA Cycling should put him in timeout for a bit and move on.

tctyres · #19 02-20-2019, 05:46 AM

Yeah, I was going to say that something happened off camera. #5 is waiting at the corner and then comes through looking for a specific racer.

#69 is a monster on that last lap. It's informative to see him control the lines. At one point, he holds another racer along the curb --- not running him off the road, just holding him in place.

tctyres · #20 02-20-2019, 05:51 AM

Duplicate.

oldpotatoe · #21 02-20-2019, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter P.

Thanks for the link, but I couldn't tell what happened, so please clue me in. Obviously, someone was bleeping mad about it!

#5 spit on #37....

William · #22 02-20-2019, 08:11 AM

Crit racing is a different animal, people in close bumping and jockeying for position...it can get hairy. Tempers can flare, but for the safety of all that kind of crap should wait until after the race if you've got a problem. Sure, everyone should be adults and refrain from BS like that, but just like being on the internet or driving in a car, some people will do or say crap that they would never say to you in person standing face to face.

I did a lot of crit races back in the day and the fields were generally pretty big. I had a few instances of someone saying or doing something in the race, and I would wait until after before I confronted them. I never saw the point in endangering everyone else to get back at someone in the race. In the race I get back at you by making sure I beat you to the line. Anything else happened after.

As an aside, I remember one of the Mt Tabor series races where one guy was causing some BS and pissing people off. At one point in the race, after you crest the top and are descending around the right hand turn into the straight before you hit the climb again, this guy was on the outside and turned to his right and started yelling at someone and not paying attention to his line. He gradually veered off line into the grass and then quickly disappeared out of sight down the steep grass hill. The whole peloton was quiet for a second processing what happened...and then burst into laughter that carried on until we hit the base of the climb. No need to talk to that dude after the race.

W.

bathsalts · #23 02-20-2019, 08:28 AM

Crit racing is full of type-A jocks and hot heads. Exhibit A as to why it's dead in the US. What I've read about the Williams bros leads me to believe they're a positive influence so until there's evidence of Corey punching the spitter he gets the benefit of the doubt.

William · #24 02-20-2019, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bathsalts

Crit racing is full of type-A jocks and hot heads. Exhibit A as to why it's dead in the US...

I can only speak for myself, but when I was racing most of the time everyone was pretty cool and in control. I can't speak for the current state of crit racing since I've been out of it for a number of years now. I would agree that it takes a certain mindset/personality to be comfortable elbow to elbow jockeying for position in close quarters at speed.

W.

slambers3 · #25 02-20-2019, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bathsalts

Crit racing is full of type-A jocks and hot heads. Exhibit A as to why it's dead in the US. What I've read about the Williams bros leads me to believe they're a positive influence so until there's evidence of Corey punching the spitter he gets the benefit of the doubt.

Crit racing is dead? News to me. What other type of racing is “alive” in the US? Gravel lmao

oldpotatoe · #26 02-20-2019, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slambers3

Crit racing is dead? News to me. What other type of racing is “alive” in the US? Gravel lmao

How many of these are real 'races', sanctioned, with licenses and such and how many are types of 'races' like running events?

nooneline · #27 02-20-2019, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bathsalts

Crit racing is full of type-A jocks and hot heads. Exhibit A as to why it's dead in the US.

lol
what

William · #28 02-20-2019, 09:38 AM

In retrospect, the folks who usually caused an issue were recent upgrades who thought they were the next up and coming MartyMigeLance NorthDurainStrongahStein.

Live and learn.

W.

54ny77 · #29 02-20-2019, 10:08 AM

So true. "Back in the day" everyone would allow plenty of room in tight corners, share some finger sandwiches and crumpets on the first lap, and discuss world politics whilst in a double paceline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bathsalts

Crit racing is full of type-A jocks and hot heads. Exhibit A as to why it's dead in the US.

William · #30 02-20-2019, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54ny77

So true. "Back in the day" everyone would allow plenty of room in tight corners, share some finger sandwiches and crumpets on the first lap, and discuss world politics whilst in a double paceline.

...and don't forget the espresso or tea after every prime.

I wouldn't want anyone thinking we were uncivilized.

W.