Category enforcement is a huge step forward.
But when you are running in the wrong direction every step forward is a step backwards.
Stop using categories. Start using an elo-rating. Like every other good video-game.
- I want to join a race and not a category.
- My elo-rating (initially based on my “critical power/FTP” and changed by my race results) should put me automatically into a group of riders with similar rating.
- And the number of groups for a race should be based on the number of registrations.
The actual problems (for cat C,D) i noticed during my category enforcement races:
- Less motivation (less registrations) for riders just above the limit
- Heart rate sandbagger
- Smurf-accounts for racing
- Zpower or inaccurate exercise bikes
- heavy weight riders shouldn’t win mountain/hilly stages
- heavy sprinters should win sprints
- low weight riders should win mountain/hilly stages
It’s way to easy to abuse a system with fixed category limits.
For example:
