December 12/07 8:19 am - Road BC Cup Category Changes

Posted by Editor on 12/12/07
 

Road BC Cup Category Changes
Courtesy Cycling BC

Cycling BC has rearranged the Road BC Cup day-of-race category combinations in order to better align the series with the provincial development model (Long term athlete development model - LTAD).

Races in the 2008 BC Cup road series will feature the new combined categories. Results will be separated for the purposes of awarding series points or upgrade points, and thus riders entering their category are automatically advanced to the next ability category (5,4,3,etc.) when they accumulate 20 upgrade points. Races that aren't included in the BC Cup Series may or may not offer these category groupings, at the organizers discretion.

• Men and Women "C" (Category 5 Men and Category 4 Women)
• Women "B" (Category 3 Women)
• Men "B" and Women "A" (Category 3 and 4 Men, Category 1 and 2 Women)
• Men "A" (Category 1 and 2 Men)
• Master and Junior Men (Open to Male riders 30 and older with a Master License, and suggested for Male riders 18 and under (gear restrictions are in effect)

Those with day-of-event licenses, a citizen licenses, or first year riders with a UCI license, are automatically placed in Category 5 (men) or Category 4 (women) and thus, race in the "C" group. Only those with UCI licenses are eligible to upgrade their category or enter into the Master / Junior category. The development priorities, mentioned above that are driving this change in the way we combine categories together for the purposes of racing, are as follows:

• A development emphasis on Juniors
• Recognition of Master categories as an important level of the LTAD
• Progressive advancement of senior riders to higher ability categories as they increase their fitness and skills
• Recognition that women need a better quality pack racing experience to help maximize their chances of developing
• The need to have a novice category that is separate from more experienced categories

It is not easy for any race series to address such a broad range of priorities; however, those present at the Race Organizers meeting felt that this format comes much closer to achieving these goals than past versions. Aside from the manner in which the groups are titled, and the more explicit recognition of Juniors and Masters, riders should notice little difference otherwise.