This September’s Chequamegon 40 start line will include an expanded start gate system allowing additional spots for preferred rider placements.
In the long race, five start gates will be available with specific qualifying criteria. Start gate qualifications will be as follows for the Chequamegon 40:
Gate 1 Top 100 men, top 40 women, top 5 tandems, top 5 mixed tandems based on the better of the two previous years ranking. Gate 1 will replace the traditional “Preferred Start” area that has existed in the Chequamegon 40 start for many years.
Gate 2 Overall rank 101 through 200 based on the previous two years ranking.
Gate 3 Overall rank 201 through 300 based on the previous two years ranking.
Gate 4 Overall rank 301 through 400 based on the previous two years ranking.
Gate 5 Overall rank 401 and above on a first come first served basis.
Those without previous two year’s Chequamegon 40 results may submit recent race resumes for consideration for placement in start gates 1 through 4. Gate placement is at the discretion of the race officials.
Each gate will have some discretionary space available that will be filled solely by the decision of race officials. While Gate 1 will include the noted men, women, tandem and mixed tandem rankings, Gates 2-4 will be based on overall finishing rank regardless of gender or competition class.
As riders are added to the entry database, the past two years overall finishing data will automatically be reviewed. Gate placements will be assigned and riders notified on their confirmation cards sent once all the entries are added to the database. On site, race day entrance to the specific start gates will be monitored by range specific bib numbers issued to each who qualified.
For those who do not qualify for Gates 1 through 4 there will be little change in the traditional first come first served line up in Gate 5. For those who do qualify for Gates 1 through 4 based on the previous two year’s overall rank the line up spot will offer an improvement over the past. Please note that the position within each of the gates will still be on a first come first served basis.
For the Short & Fat event, no change is planned in the start gate system this year. The traditional “preferred start” will take place in Gate 1 with the balance of short race riders filling in on a first come first served basis in Gate 2.
In the Short & Fat the top 75 men, top 40 women, top 5 tandems, top 5 mixed tandems from the previous two years will automatically qualify. Other Short & Fat Gate 1 placements will be considered based on previous finishing results on a space available basis. Those without Short & Fat event history who wish to be considered for Gate 1 placement must submit a short verifiable race resume for review. The decision of the event officials is final.
As with any other database change, once the assignments are made and the confirmation cards sent, any further request for consideration or further review for qualifying gate assignments must be made in writing prior to the September 1 deadline. As with all event of choice, competition class or start gate requests a $10.00 fee must accompany the request. After September 1 no further requests will be reviewed or changes made.
Our goals in the expanded Chequamegon 40 start gate system include: qualifying a greater number of top riders with a specific start gate assignment, alleviating some of the early morning line up crowding and providing additional opportunities for some discretionary placement in start gates.
Due to staffing limits, space requirements and city service logistics, it is not a goal to manage the entire start area line up or to institute a wave start. Even with the expanded gate system, riders who do not qualify will still show up early for the first come first served spaces. While we do not intend to manage the entire line up, we do hope to provide a better start for the greater numbers who qualify.
