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TBH I didn't know it was against the rules when I rode in 2016, but there wasn't anywhere obvious where it would have been enough help to be worth the trouble - maybe the first control, or the Giau, where I backtracked, but I didn't think of it in any case.
However in 2017 I believe it was mentioned in the briefing. Given it was mentioned, that kind of settles it.
IMHO the rules are a bit of a weakness in these events. Mike wanted it to be principles-based rather than rules-based, which is fine, but all the questions that crop up on Facebook show that there is need for a few more rules to give new people a bit more clarity.
Culture is important but it can't do it on its own as different events have different rules (Example: in IndyPac I met Vasiliki when she had ridden 80km the wrong way. We crossed so she is behind me. But she was at the next roadhouse when I got there. She must have got a lift - there is only one road and she didn't come past me. On TCR that would probably be DQ but on IndyPac it wasn't against the rules - you only need to ride each bit of the route once and can hitch a lift back to where you left the route).
The danger with this approach is that you have the old timers like us who have done a few and who think we know the principles, but new people don't and so feel a bit excluded, and it can act like a barrier to put new people off - which is exactly what Mike would not have wanted.
The other danger is that it can stifle any innovation. People come up with great ideas on how to go faster by doing something that nobody said they can't. But if there is a principle that says something like 'don't try to be a smart arse and do anything that everybody else doesn't d0' then nobody will ever try anything different.
It's the kind of discussion which really needs to be had with Mike - and which I think he would have enjoyed - but, alas, that is not an option.
frank9755-
The danger with this approach is that you have the old timers like us who have done a few and who think we know the principles, but new people don't and so feel a bit excluded, and it can act like a barrier to put new people off - which is exactly what Mike would not have wanted.
Good point. Though I think it isn't too confusing.
Samuli
I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that in 2016 it was said to be allowed in the briefing, but a bit of a cunt thing to do to leave the bags down when climbing to Giau. As there was that race within a race to be the fastest on the parcours climbs. Don't know if anyone did it. Then in 2017 I remember it was definitely forbidden and I think at least on rider got a penalty for that.
And whether something is in the rules or not, the racers are the ones who shape the culture. So I think we should be very clear on not trying to find tricks/loopholes.
EDit: Meant to write Giau but wrote Grappa for some reason.