Hot off the presses, here is the latest dispatch from USA Cycling on upgrades. Read it, learn it, know it. The entire 2013 rulebook is available here: 2013 USA Cycling Rule Book.
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USA Cycling revises cyclo-cross upgrade criteria
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| Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 20, 2013) — USA Cycling on Wednesday announced that it has amended rule 1E6, which outlines upgrades and downgrades for cyclo-cross racers.
Beginning in 2013, all newly-licensed riders will begin as a category 5 racer. Any riders who will be renewing from 2013 forward will maintain the category from the previous year. A category 5 rider will mandatorily be upgraded to a category 4 rider after competing in 10 races. Once a rider becomes a category 4 rider, he or she faces voluntary or mandatory upgrades.
A category 4 rider can voluntarily be upgraded to a category 3 rider after earning 10 points. A category 4 rider faces mandatory upgrade after accruing 15 points or two wins in a field of at least 30 competitors. A category 3 rider can upgrade to a category 2 rider after amassing 15 points. A category 3 rider is mandatorily upgraded to category 2 after collecting 20 points or winning two races with at least 30 competitors. A category 2 rider can elect to be upgraded to category 1 after totaling 20 points. A category 2 rider will face mandatory upgrade after accruing 25 points or two wins in a 40-rider field.
Juniors riders are exempt from the mandatory upgrades beginning at category 4.
For a look at how points are earned, please see the chart below:
Points awarded for Cyclo-cross Races
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Number of Starters
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| Placing |
5-10 |
11-20 |
21-50 |
50+ |
| 1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
| 2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| 4 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
| 5 |
|
1 |
2 |
| 6 |
|
1 |
|
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It’s still unclear whether a rider can accumulate all of their points in one race category to upgrade or if they can combine race categories. i.e. Can a masters rider upgrade only using masters races and can a junior rider upgrade only using junior races or do they have to race category appropriate races to upgrade?