[NCNCA] Cascade Field Changes

[Ron Castia]

Chad,
As a team president and past participant in both Mt. Hood and Cascade I wanted to touch base with you on the field changes affecting the 3s and 4s.
As a promoter myself I understand the need to make adjustments in order to better accommodate the riders, but this change dramatically and negatively affects the Cat 4s who have already registered or have already made arrangements to participate.

I am sure that there are more teams than just mine sending Cat 4s up to Cascade that felt they were competitive in their respective field as advertised prior to registering.
I can tell you for a fact that the cat 4s on my team would not have selected this event had they known that the 3s would be racing with them.
Making this change at this point in time is extremely unfair to the Cat 4 racers. Most if not all registered under the premise that they would be competing against riders of like ability.
Even though they will be picked separately, mixing the fields will have a negative affect.

Let me be clear, I am not against combining fields and picking separately, but making that change after a large number of riders registered under the premise that they would have their own race is a problem.
It's a situation that has to be noted up front so that the riders are aware of what they are signing on for.

As a promoter, a rider, and a team leader I am asking you to correct this problem and restore the Cat 4 field as it was originally advertised so that the field remains fair.
Even if it means separating the 3s and 4s by a few minutes at the start, it's the right thing to do.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks,
Ron Castia, President
InfoVista Cycling Team
925-606-9975