Should we award a "most combative" award at races?

[Metro Commuter]

A recurrent theme is that racing is dull, that no one will "have a go", that everyone wheel sits until the end etc etc.  Personally I now think racing is what you make it, so I have stopped whinging about wheelsucking scum and just raced as best I can.

However, there is no doubt that a race where there are a number of people attacking is much more "fun". Often, but not always, those people come nowhere at the finish. 

For example, a C grade race a week or two ago Vince Keir was undoubtedly the hardest and most aggressive rider, but he did not place.  He is not a sprinter.

Shouldn't people, such as Vince, be recognised by at least a token prize?  The people in the race could nominate the person.

Just a thought. Comments?

[Bill Cox]

A noble suggestion Metro, but people still need to work out how to win.  If one does not possess a sprint, that is the aspect of their training that they need to work on.  Too many of the strong, non sprinters continue to do long hard training rides while neglecting speed intervals.  To improve you must work on your weaknesses.  My hit out at 500m to go on Friday was not really aimed at winning, more at a speed endurance interval effort.  Looked pretty impressive though and made some others rethink their strategy.  Try different things and don't become predictable. 

[Metro Commuter]

Bill,

Well that might answer my other post about doing well with minimal training! 

Perhaps the problem is that everyone (including me) tend to race the same way, race after race, week after week etc etc.  Everyone seems to know the strengths and weaknesses of everyone else, or at least the "real" threats.

One of the wins I am most happy about is the CD D grade road race this year, where I broke away going up the bridge on the first lap and stayed away.  I did not win because I am good at breakaways - in fact, my strengths probably lie elsewhere.  The satisfying thing for me was I am pretty sure that when I broke away, with the more attractive of the Prossalanitisisisisisis on my tail, that everyone who knows me well would have been thinking"there he goes again, what a fool, it is WAY too early on a tough day like this, the fool won't last 1/2 a lap", and that is what motivated me to do something I doubted I could do.  Winning a race by doing something you are not good at beats winning a race by a means where you do have some ability, IMHO.

My thought was to try to inspire those to do something a bit out of the ordinary - it mixes the racing up and probably means people develop skills they may not see as a strength.

[hilljockey]

Metro,

Breaking away, particularly early in a race, is one technique I imagine require some training as opposed to the MMM (see other thread).

If I get in the clear there is nothing left after a very short time... at least at speeds I think are needed to stay away.  In fact I'm gone just getting the gap in place.  Now forget I told you that in case we race each other.  Oh wait, you've probably figured that one out ages ago!

[2ndwheel]

Metro (head space man)

I will never win most combative rider. I have tried a couple of times and the whole bunch laughs. But then i laugh on the inside when i cosider the number of sprint wins compared to a lot of other stronger riders.