Team Success Starts with Registration

I just recently noticed something concerning the results posted on USA Cycling.  Take a look at the results here from this weekend criterium at Todd Stadium in Newport News, VA.  These are the Cat 3 results:

Men - Cat 3
	Place	Points	Name	City, State	Time	USAC #	Bib	Team
	1	243.99	Nicholas Tempest	Virginia Beach, VA		328886		Tri Power
	2	259.51	John Gray	Chesapeake, VA		256083		Virginia Beach Wheelmen
	3	275.04	S Curtis Smith	Henrico, VA		236138		Team 3Sports
	4	290.56	Josh Moore	Virginia Beach, VA		212047		Atlantic Velo-Virginia p/b Walt's Racing
	5	306.08	Jake King	North Garden, VA		231130		Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team, Inc.
	6	321.61	Timothy Pope	Chesapeake, VA		230804		Fat Frogs Elite
	7	337.13	jeffrey hellner	Hampton, VA		296544		JRVS/American Pride
	8	352.66	Luis Guillen	Youngsville, NC		281805		Constellation Cycling
	9	368.18	Owen Hassig	Arlington, VA		186551		Squadra Coppi / Vapiano USA
	10	383.70	Tyler Cloutier	Charlottesville, VA		360809
	11	399.23	Joe Altomare	Hampton, VA		290623		Celerity Cycling p/b Brooks Systems
	12	414.75	Kenneth Sumrell	Poquoson, VA		304878		Fat Frogs Elite
	13	430.28	jimmy deaton	Virginia Beach, VA		8975		Team Tripower
	14	445.80	Joshua Goyet	Virginia Beach, VA		58274		Virginia Beach Wheelmen
	15	461.32	Tim Shockley	Virginia Beach, VA		60982		Virginia Beach Wheelmen
	16	476.85	Christian Sheridan	Crozet, VA		167388		Charlottesville Racing Club
	17	492.37	Mark LaDow	Camden, NC		344832

The thing I want to point out are the symbols all the way to the left side.  The top three medals are obvious but lower down under myself and teammate Tim Shockley you will see silver ribbons.  These are because we were on the same team as the second place finisher, therefore we got Team 2nd Place.

The Virginia Beach Wheelmen have always been team centered.  We were started with friends who enjoyed racing together and hopefully winning together.  Our non cycling friends would ask many times "how did you do this weekend?"  Our answers reflected the top finisher of our team.  This last weekend, when asked, we answered "2nd place".  Usually the top finisher on a team doesn't get there alone.  Even if he raced alone that day, the support of his team during training had a play in how well he raced.  Therefore my team always takes an individual victory as a team victory, we don't see the difference.

I really don't know how long USA Cycling has been placing these ribbons to support the fact that cycling is a team sport, but I do like the idea.  Now to real point of my post.  Notice the winner was Nick Tempest of Team Tripower.  Nick was led out on the final lap by his teammate who sacrificed himself for Nick's victory.  That teammate was Jimmy Deaton.  Jimmy should have received a gold ribbon by his name but he did not.  The reason is because Nick signed up under Tripower and Jimmy signed up under Team Tripower.  In order to support USAC's attempt to really highlight cycling as a team sport, do your part by discussing with your club the team name that all racers should use when registering for the events.  Its the least you can do to support those who sacrifice their personal glory for the team.  Now, for all to see, there is no question when we answer "we got 2nd place."

On a side note, this race was tough.  We went into it with a team plan to win the race via a breakaway.  If we could not establish a winning break, we had a plan for a good leadout.  For those their I think you can agree our 2nd place was an easy 2nd and we did give it everything we had to come up with the victory.  The winner, Nick, also raced well.  He did not sit in and wait for the sprint.  Actually at one point I bridged up to him to form a two man break and he was riding so strong that I could assist at all.  I had to signal to my team to start chasing.  It was a good race, as always.  Thanks again to the promoters.