As June approaches and the announcement of the results of the second half of the cycling grade assessment nears, fierce competition for points among the athletes is being directly reflected in the races.
▲Special and superior level athletes' desperate strategies for survival
The desire to win among athletes standing at the boundary scores between special and superior, and between superior and selected categories is hotter than ever. To secure points, they sometimes showcase bold strategies different from usual, and emerge as unexpected dark horses that shake the flow of the entire race. This trend has become distinctly visible since mid-May. Especially in the Sunday general races composed of athletes who did not qualify for the finals in the Friday preliminary races, or in the independently matched races held on Saturdays, unexpected outcomes have been frequent, particularly in races where dark horses adept at marking and coming from behind are participating.
Notable athletes include Lee Wook-dong (15th generation, S2, Sinsa) and Yang Hee-cheon (16th generation, S2, Incheon). Both athletes have seen their scores drop to the 95 to 96 range, putting them at risk of demotion from the special category to the superior category. However, Lee Wook-dong achieved 3rd place in the 14th race on the 3rd day of the 20th competition held on the 18th of last month and also secured 3rd place in the 16th race of the 2nd day of the 22nd competition held on the 31st. Notably, in the race on the 31st, he was evaluated as having lower skill compared to fellow competitors Park Gun-soo (29th generation, A1, Gimpo), Ahn Chang-jin (25th generation, S1, Susung), Jo Joo-hyun (23rd generation, S2, Sejong), and Eom Jeong-il (19th generation, S2, Gimpo), but he maintained focus until the end of the race, securing 3rd place and recording a trifecta payout of 186.3 to 1.
Yang Hee-cheon also showcased his own skilled race management abilities, finishing 3rd in the 14th race of the 18th round held on the 5th of last month, 3rd in the 15th race on the 17th, and 2nd in the 13th race on June 1. Notably, in the race on the 1st, even though he was ranked 5th in popularity, he caused a surprise by finishing 2nd, recording a quinella payout of 66.7 to 1 and a trifecta payout of 235.7 to 1.
▲29th and 30th generation rookies, all-out effort
Meanwhile, athletes demonstrating top-tier skills in the selected and superior levels are aiming for higher grade entry through regular grade assessments or even faster through special promotions. However, recently, receiving a special promotion from superior to selected is becoming increasingly difficult, described as 'like grabbing a star from the sky.' This is due to the leveling up of athletes' skills, as there are strict criteria requiring nine consecutive 1st or 2nd place finishes for special promotions. Therefore, those who wish to ascend to the selected level but are still in the superior level are focusing more on managing their remaining race points through regular grade assessments.
Looking at the rookie athletes, the 28th generation, which debuted last year, saw significant success with eight athletes advancing to the special levels, including Son Je-yong (S1, Susung), who achieved nine consecutive wins upon entry, as well as Seok Hye-yoon (S1, Susung), Lim Jae-yeon (A1, Dongseoul), Min Seon-ki (S3, Sejong), Won Joon-O (A1, Dongseoul), Kim Jun-cheol (A1, Cheongju), and Park Gun-i (A1, Changwon Sangnam). Although Lim Jae-yeon, Won Joon-O, Kim Jun-cheol, and Park Gun-i have since been demoted back to the superior level early this year, Lim Jae-yeon, Won Joon-O, and Kim Jun-cheol are showcasing superior skills in the superior level, with current scores in the 99 range, strongly indicating a return to the selected level.
However, Park Gun-i is standing at the boundary between grades. Fortunately, he has been giving his all in recent superior level races, recording 1st place consecutively on the 24th and 25th of May, so if he manages to accumulate a bit more points, he may also return to the selected level.
Meanwhile, the 29th generation rookies are being evaluated as somewhat weaker compared to the 28th generation. Although a bit late compared to last year's leading athlete, Son Je-yong, the 29th generation's leading athlete, Park Gun-soo (S1, Gimpo), successfully achieved a special promotion to compete at the selected level by the end of May. Kim Tae-ho (A1, Cheongpyeong) also seems likely to advance to the selected level in the current grade assessment. However, Ma Min-jun (A1, Busan), Kim Tae-wan (A1, Dongseoul), and Lee Seong-jae (A1, Jeonju) are in a similar situation as Park Gun-i, standing at the boundary of special and superior grades, meaning their future prospects will likely fluctuate based on their performance.
Jung Kyung-seok, the chief editor of the prediction magazine Choi Gang-gyun, noted, 'As the grade assessment approaches, the aggressive race management of athletes on the boundary of promotion and demotion can influence the overall flow, and nowadays, it's important not just to rely on an athlete's ranking or recognition but to pay attention to the movements of dark horses or those who have been performing well recently when predicting races.'
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