The 12/8/09 UCI Cyclocross rankings are the hot new reality distortion field.

Check out some of these rankings.

14. Jonathan PAGE:  this is accurate.  He earned this ranking in Europe against the best in the World.

19. Sven VANTHOURENHOUT: again, very accurate.

21. Timothy JOHNSON:  Hasn’t raced Europe once this season.

22 and 23.  More Americans that haven’t raced Europe once this season.

When/if positions 21-23 get to go to World’s they will be lucky to stay on the lead lap.  Many guys ranked way below these three will finish on the lead lap!

On the Women’s side:

1. Katherine COMPTON: totally earned her #1 in the European races.

Positions around 20 and below have Americans that have won much slower domestic races mixed in with European UCI World Cup racers.

In both gender groups, those Americans don’t stand a chance of collecting as many points if they raced in Europe.  Is it ‘wrong?’  Not really because it’s impossible to set up a points system while looking into the future and have it accurately reflect a reality that has not yet happened.

People like Ms. Vardaros are wrongfully penalized for racing with the best and it doesn’t force American fields to get faster.  Hopefully, next year the UCI will adjust their metrics.  World Cup racers for the most part should be roughly on top of all of the domestic-only racers.

I know how many UCI administrators read my blog, (0) so have a few meetings on this one, okay?