[NCNCA] Giro SF Juniors race

[Julian Martinez]

Hi,

My name is Julian Martinez and I am emailing you about the recent  
changes to the SF Giro that include cutting the Jrs. race. I think  
this will be an extremely detrimental move to the race. In these  
times of cycling, it is important to develop the youth of the sport.  
By not having a jrs. race, a huge damper is put on the development of  
the Jr progression in the sport in cycling. Many people who have  
never raced before, let alone ride a bike, attend the Giro to watch a  
bike race. This may be the only chance they have to see a bike race  
this entire year, as many people do not want or have the need to  
drive out to Watsonville  or or Oldtown Suisin to watch a 45 minute  
crit. Moreover,  the SF Grand Prix is not taking place either, which  
severely affects the development and attraction to beginning riders.

Just to give an example of how much of an impact a Jr race like the  
SF Giro has on some people. Two years ago, my friend and I who had  
never been in a bike race and had only been riding for about a week,  
decided to go watch the Jr race in the Giro over in SF. We got on  
bart and went over there around 9 AM. We were shocked, but at the  
same time, excited as we watched the 30-mph peloton of Jr riders  
moving through the streets. After watching, my friend and I were  
hooked. We then went up to one of the Jr riders, who then introduced  
us to the manager of Tieni Duro, who invited us to go on a ride with  
the group the following week.

Two years later, my friend Tyler Gough is one of the top riders in  
the United States, winning some of the most prestigious races in  
California and racing in the sublime Tour of Abtibi in Canada.  
Because we watched the Jr race in the Giro di SF, Tyler and I were  
able to make connections with Tieni Duro, and subsequently, launched  
us onto a passion we hadn't discovered before we watched the race.

Please reconsider placing the Jr race back into the Giro. The Women's  
field already has a 3s race and a 1-3s race. Looking back on last  
years results, there were more Jrs. than Women's 4s! As you probably  
know, cycling has been placed back in the dark eye with the doping  
scandal, so it is imperative that we continue to develop the sport  
for the riders that will keep it going in the years to come.

Thanks for your time

Sincerely,
Julian