I stopped looking at that thread before you posted because I just didn't find it very interesting. I don't think it's interesting unless you know someone in the race and/or it goes near where you live. I actually do know a support crewmember, but I still don't find it interesting. I just prefer to enjoy riding my bike to experience the world around me (and for touring trips), and not make it a torture event for proving oneself, is all. But each to her own, right?