Just finished the SOC "elite stage race" - word around the campfire is that several big name teams
are boycotting the event in 2004. Not sure how this affects Redlands though. Several reasons were
mentioned:
1) Ridiculously dangerous stage 1 - open course to cars, narrow streets, parked cars, inept
policework on "rolling enclosure" (not one sign on the race course indicating a race was taking
place, nor were residents told not to park on the course).
2) Poor management - this has gone on for a few years but most have given them the benefit of the
doubt as they are running dozens and dozens of events. Items mentioned were slow results, last
minute course changes, poor race support.
3) Prize Money - The purse is among the smallest on the tour - insultingly small to some (15th
place gets $4).