Please read this Boulder Element Race Press Release from Barry Lee – Without Limits Race Director
Dear Colorado cyclist,
We’d first off like to thank you all for your support of the new Boulder Element weekend – a 3 day timed based omnium. This brand new format took some creativity, but USA Cycling was fully on board and helped us format the finer details to mesh within their existing rule book. Our goal for this weekend was simple; brand new courses, the elimination of all dirt sections, and to give the racer the flexibility to pick and choose what days of racing fit their family, work, and personal lives.
So something must be up or you wouldn’t be reading a new press release right now. Many of you have alerted us to the “disaster” known as Left Hand Canyon right now, which we’ve been aware of since this winter in our planning meetings with all agencies. Construction was set to conclude with asphalt paving, allowing time to spare for the day 2 road race. The spring weather did not do the construction crews any favor, but even with some delays things were still on tract. However, for those who’ve tried to ride/drive sections recently you may have noticed that the repair damage was more extensive than construction crews anticipated and all time-lines have recently been re-worked. In recent planning meeting there’s optimistic hope of dirt sections on a re-opened Left Hand Canyon by the end of June. However, it’s not fair to you to plan based on “optimistic” construction crews, nor safe to allow race groups to descend on potential dirt sections.
So where does that leave things moving forward? The 3 day Boulder Element race is going to be one that lasts for years to come, not a flash in the pan. So planning long term we’re shortening the weekend to 2 days of racing for 2016. Unfortunately that means the 3-day time based omnium will be pushed off to 2017 to allow it to take strong roots in the municipalities, but there is a silver lining.
What’s this silver lining you speak of? We get to race our bikes on two brand new courses. After meeting with all various agencies this week, which have been amazingly supportive, they’ve allowed us to move the Friday time-trial to Saturday (1pm start time) andSunday’s circuit course will stay intact. Because we have a longer time-frame to work with on the time-trial this has allowed us the addition of a team trial-trial division. Given that the start/finish are 200m apart that makes racing the ITT and a TTT an easy transition for all athletes.
Do we have a Plan B for the road race in 2016? We do have a Plan B course that half of our staff actually prefers as a more dynamic road race course on Peak to Peak Highway. Working with all pertinent agencies we’re targeting a late August date for a solo road race on the Plan B course, giving everyone a cushion on other various construction projects. Please stay tuned for future announcements regarding that solo event.
What happens if I signed up for the 3 day omnium package? Simple, you will be refunded in full and then can choose to sign up for the Saturday time-trial or Sunday circuit race. We apologize for the inconvenience, but hope you can understand that a potential gravel decent is not a safe situation for the majority of cyclists in this type of race.
What happened if I signed up for the day 2 road race?: Simple, you will be refunded in full. We apologize for the inconvenience, but hope you can understand that a potential gravel decent is not a safe situation for the majority of cyclists in this type of race.
What happens if I signed up just for the Friday Time-Trial? Simple, you will be refunded in full. We apologize for the inconvenience, but hope can make the new date on Saturday.
I still have additional questions, who may I talk too? Our e-mail and phone lines are open to all athletes at any time, please feel free to reach out with your questions: Email Barry Lee – Race Director .
Original Race description HERE.
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