Categories?

Confused about the categories?

First you need to keep in mind that cyclocross is a short high intensity race. Picking a race because you want to race longer is counterintuitive. It's all about speed and explosive power.

If you've never raced cyclocross before or don't have decent elite level results you MUST start in either cat 3 or 4 (3 if you're a pretty good racer on the road or MTB, 4 if you're an average racer or new to racing). If you can ride away from the group in cat 3 road races or win Elite MTB races then you can apply to the cyclocross committee (speak to Gary Sewell) to start in 1/2. Riders with race experience the previous year will be categorized according to their results in the previous year.

-Relating to the above, riders who arrive only in time for the A race will simply not be allowed to race.
-Riders who are too strong for a particular category will be moved up.
-Equipment rule exemptions may apply to lower categories. A rider may take advantage of those, but once moved to a higher category must comply with the appropriate equipment rules.
-An elite level male rider with poor results/no results in the previous year due to injury/illness/etc may petition the cyclocross committee to start in the A race.

Note that for the purposes of deciding your category you shouldn't rely on the category seeding. Seeding was based on a combination of performance and attendance whereas performance alone should be considered when determining a competitive category.



Men
If you were cometitive racing in A last year, you'll likely race in cat 1/2 this year.
If you were pulling up the rear in A last year, you'll move to cat 3 this year.
If you were in the top half of B last year, you'll race in 3 this year.
If you were in the lower third of B last year, you should consider racing in cat 4.
If you were lapped in B last year you should definitely race in cat 4.

Previously known as	Now
A	CX 1/2  aka  'cat 1/2'
B	CX 3  aka  'cat 3'
C	CX 4  aka  'cat 4'

Women
If you were racing in A last year, you'll race in cat 1/2/3 this year.
If you were in the top half of B last year, you'll race in 1/2/3 this year.
If you were in the lower third of B last year, you should consider racing in cat 4.
If you were lapped in B last year you should definitely race in cat 4.

Previously known as	Now
A	CX 1/2/3  aka  'cat 1/2/3' CX 1/2/3  aka  'cat 1/2/3'
B
C	CX 4  aka  'cat 4'

Kids
Kids under 13 may only race in C race
Kids under 15 may race in either the B or C race


Citizen Licence
Citizen racers are only allowed to race in the lowest licenced category, i.e. the C race.


I know my category. What race do I take part in?

Race	Which Groups	Time
Kids	Kids	15 min
Non UCI licence	Number of races determined by organizer	Approx 20 min
C	CX 4 men, CX 4 women	25-30 min
B	CX 3 Men, CX 1/2/3 Women	40 min
A	CX 1/2/3 Men	60 min

Will my race be exactly sixty minutes?

Race	Official Time	Goal	Time plus lap(s)
C	25-30 min	25-30 min	20 minutes plus 1 lap
B	40 min	37-42 min	30 minutes plus 1 lap*
A	60 min	56-62 min	45 minutes plus 2 laps