o.k. Let me first state that I understand the rule "all riders finish on the same lap as the leader" . I get it, so if you get lapped just before the race leader finishes you don't need to do another lap, you're done. This is not my question.

My question is about the number on the lap card. I'm with the race leaders. One guy off the front and a group of five, myself included, in the chase. We're coming into the last turn and there is a "1" on the lap card. So I'm thinking one lap to go. They all take off and sprint to the finish I'm left in 6th place wondering what happened. I asked someone after the race and they said you finish on "1". I thought you always ride through "1" and finish on "zero".

So what is it?

The number on the lap card tells you how many laps to go.

Is it possible that when you crossed the line with one lap to go you did not look at the lap card, which should have shown a "1"? The officials often leave the "1" card up during the last lap. I don't think I have ever seen a "zero" lap card. So it is conceivable that the number was "1" when your group started the bell lap, and it was still "1" when everybody in your group (except you) sprinted for the finish.

When they ring the bell there's one left. At all the races I've been at they post laps to go.

I think it's pretty common for the 1 card to stay out at the finish... if the officials are on the ball it might read zero or be moved out of the way but I can't say I ever even looked at a lap card on the last lap. Did you get a bell with one to go? Dunno how long your race was or how many laps, but usually they start counting down well in advance so you'll see like 4, then 3, then 2, then 1, and at that point you should have a pretty good idea of when the finish is coming.

I feel your pain though, when I started riding CX I always forgot to look at the lap cards and then I'd ride the entire lap kicking myself for not looking, only to forget again on the next time though...

edit: clarity

so when they show a lap card with "2" that means "one lap to go"? makes no sense to me.

oops, no, i'm just bad at english today. card that says 2 = 2 laps to go. i edited my post, sorry about that.

I agree with the above post. I usually don't look at lap cards until about 25 min into the race. Then I take a peek and listen for the bell. At this race however, I never heard the lap bell. When I felt like we'd been going for a while I saw #4 lap card so then I started counting. What I think must have happened was that the card was flipped to #3 after I passed (i.e. it was actaully 3 laps to go when I saw the 4 card). So, naturally when I saw the 1 I thought there was 1 to go....arrrrgh :mad2:

ok I'll stop whinning :cryin: and pay more attention.Just sucks b/c I'm usually on top of it

When I felt like we'd been going for a while I saw #4 lap card so then I started counting. What I think must have happened was that the card was flipped to #3 after I passed (i.e. it was actaully 3 laps to go when I saw the 4 card). So, naturally when I saw the 1 I thought there was 1 to go....arrrrgh :mad2: I'll take a wild-ass guess that maybe you looked at the lap card before you passed the line? In a strung-out field they tend to change the lap card right before the leaders pass.

It's a good habit to check the lap card every single lap. (Duh.)