FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

Tue Jun 3 09:18:16 EDT 2008

As one of the volunteers and officials for the ESG Qualifiers, I would
like to offer my viewpoint on the disqualification of the two riders and
hopefully end this painful discussion:

1)       Rules were distributed via email by the ESG Coach for our
region, Margaret Thompson, prior to the event. These same qualification
rules are listed on the ESG website. The ESG rules state explicitly that
only 2 forms of ID are acceptable, a drivers license listing home
address or student id for juniors. The riders refused to show their
drivers license for various reasons like "I don't have my wallet" or  "I
rode down with someone else". Margaret asked if they were currently
enrolled in school and the response was "no not this semester" and "I'm
doing independent study".  A racing license does not offer proof of
residency, only the state is listed. Only later did the cyclists admit
that their residency was Long Island and that was the address listed on
their drivers licenses. 

2)       ESG is not about fielding the "best team" or "dream team",
whatever that means. It's about representing your region at the games
which is an honor. By replacing our local racers with out-of-region
riders (in this case from Long Island), we are not fielding our "best
team", we are fielding a Long Island team. We are denying our region's
riders their chance to compete and risking expulsion of the entire team
(mens & womens) from the games. I'm not as familiar with the athletes
chosen for the mens team but I do know the women. I'm excited about the
athletes we are sending to the games.

3)       Most of us know Margaret to be serious athlete and competitor,
as well as a well-respected official and professional coach. I'd like to
ask the ESG competitors to be supportive of Margaret and the difficult
decisions she has had to make. For any of the race participants to refer
to Margaret as a "ESG bureaucrat" only shows their ignorance of her
credentials and racing legacy.

We can continue to spend endless hours trying to soothe egos via email
but these riders need to take some responsibility for the days events.
Maybe the race officials would have come to a different conclusion had
the riders been more forthcoming with identification or had arrived
before the ESG field had left for the Time Trial. Instead the TimeTrial
Start was held up due to the riders late arrival after registration had
closed for the ESG events.  And as a result the following races also
started and finished late making for a long day for the volunteers and
officials. And yet, I have not heard one complaint from those athletes
who gave up their time to prepare for and staff the days races. Nor have
I heard many thank-you's.

karen

Karen Holm

Staff Database Architect

Lockheed Martin EIS

607-725-4492 (mobile)

607-741-2240 (office)

-----Original Message-----
From: flcc-bounces at icycle.org [mailto:flcc-bounces at icycle.org] On Behalf
Of Cameron Cogburn
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:42 PM
To: Matt Plumb
Cc: cookies at icycle.org; mgarcia at borgwarner.com; FLCC at icycle.org
Subject: Re: FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

I was canned as well - not having a New York state driver's license was
my downfall. But there will be plenty of more opportunities for the
Cookie's to be seen on the podium and I look forward to racing with
everyone through the rest of summer. After 2 weeks of essentially no
biking because of parents/graduation and then a nasty virus, I was left
riding the weakest and most conservatively I have all season at the
qualifiers. All the fitness has come back quickly though, and I look
forward to using this week to train hard in the mountains and put
Cookies on the podium this weekend at the Settlers Life Omnium in
Tennessee. The finishing climb for the RR is an 8 mile 7% average
finishing at Carvers Gap at 5512'. This is what it's all about. See you
guys next week. 

-Cameron

On Jun 2, 2008, at 4:45 PM, Matt Plumb wrote:

                I know what it would have been.  10 yellow and orange
jerseys up the road at the games! 

                 As far as getting kicked out of the qualifier, as Brian
said and I certainly took the time to express to the race promoter, I'm
very disappointed.  Not only because I felt several of us were unduly
treated, but also because I'd have had a great time riding with you
guys. But any how, no worries. I've got faith and know you guys will ace
it. 

                On the plus side Brian and I got to beat up on each
other for a couple of hours yesterday (we warmed up and used our little
rings occasionally for that so it was a little more fun than the fall
out of car, get yelled at, Red Bull and muffins way too close to start
time, get DQ'ed TT). Also saved a bit of energy to carry me through a
long, hilly ridiculous ride this morning.  

                Any how, my legs are coming right along and am very much
enjoying my summer riding around Ithaca with y'all.  Doing a couple
races the following weekends to prep for Fitchburg and hope to see lots
of you out for Balloon fest this coming weekend (if not, go help out at
ESG Seniors!!!!).  Balloon Fest is a great race and worth the drive.
I'm probably heading out with Brian friday and we'll probably be looking
to split a super 8 close to the start so let me know if you
going/interested. 

               Also, as far as the "Cookies Crumbling" insinuation goes,
we've got an awesome team heading out to big races this year. So
"crumbling", plainly I'd say not.  I'm out riding with these guys all
the time and we've actually got a big batch of those sheet pan sized,
1000kcal frozen Gorilla cookies that are about ready to be taken out of
the oven. 

            Congrats to the qualifiers! 

            Matt 

            -----Original Message-----

            From: mgarcia at borgwarner.com

            To: flcc at icycle.org

            Sent: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 2:45 pm

            Subject: FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

            Maybe Bill Lodico can take up our cause and help us appeal
to CAS?

            I hear they will be finishing up with the Landis case soon.

            All kidding aside, I agree with Glenn that we are left
wondering

            what might have been with the "Dream Team" .

            -Ano

            > We might have been even more prevalent if it were not for
the fact

            that bureaucratic 

            > elements stepped in and voided perhaps three of our
strongest Cookies 

            > riders. I am disappointed that Matt Plumb, Brian Lawney,
and perhaps 

            > Cameron Cogburn as well, were deemed ineligible for the
games because

            of 

            > changing definitions of what constitutes proof of address
(racing

            license ? 

            > place of residence for the last number of years ? driver's
license ?

            birth 

            > certificate ? ...)

            Mariano Garcia 

            BorgWarner Morse TEC Inc.

            Ithaca Technical Center

            770 Warren Rd.    Ithaca NY 14850

            Ph: 607-266-2136 (desk) 607-266-2243 (recep)

            FAX: 607-257-5033

            email: mgarcia at borgwarner.com

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