Prereg for CX provincials is up

If any of the organizers are reading this: are you planning to stake the course, or will you be using those little flags?

The circuit, which is 4.7 km long, will be entirely staked at the request of the OCA. But we don't have use of the park for two days, so it won't be available for riding until the morning of the races. In any case, we're assuming that most people will be doing their Saturday riding at the Ride with Rendall Anvil cross. Ian

While there won't be a call up, the start area will be exceptionally wide and all riders cover several hundred metres in a straight line before they merge onto the circuit. The other race info is on the provincials' page of cyclocross.org. Ian

We were told by the OCA this afternoon that it has changed its mind and UCI age categories, not ability-based categories, will apply at the provincials. The registration system and entry information on cyclocross.org are being changed accordingly, Ian Austen

Here's the O.C.A.'s explanation for the change in the Masters' categories: After review of the current cyclo-cross structure in Ontario and the complication of merging different master categories within the province, we have decided that the 2009 Provincial Championships will be run under the Age Based system. This is for this event only and by no means is this about Age versus Ability categories. This change was simply due to the logistics of combing two series which have two different categories for Master riders. The 2010 standards and categories will be discussed by cyclo-cross organizers and the Events Committee at a meeting to be held in 2010.

This makes a lot of sense and really should be the way moving forward. When racing in the series, you want to challenge your self and race against similar abilities, hopefully improving over time and move up when you are ready. Then race against your age peers occasionally to see how you rate for your age and give you some feedback and incentive to improve overall. Provincials and Nationals and UCI races being the best vehicles for the age based categories.

Anyone in (or going to) Ottawa have any recommendations for hotel near the course?

Holiday Inn Xpress 15mins away, 613-247-9500

Chateau Laurier is even closer....13 minutes according to Google :-) On a map, the park is basically at Heron Rd. and Riverside Dr. Any of the downtown hotels will work Check out Expedia hotel mapping for suggestions