Race Licenses Explained

Upgrade credit is available only at BC Championship and Regional A-level events.

• To move up a category, riders must have two wins or three top-five placings.
• If there are fewer than five riders in a category, only the top two will receive upgrade credit.
• Riders can only upgrade one category per race season
• Upgrade credit can be considered from high-sanctioned out-of-province races at the discretion of Cycling BC. In order to be considered, out-of-province races must a possess a similar category format to that of Cycling BC Regional A or BC Championship races and have commissaires/officials.

Upgrade credits are available only at BC Championship, BC Cup, and Regional A level events.

• To move up a category, riders must have two wins or three top-five placings.
• If there are fewer than five riders in a category, only the top two will receive upgrade credit.
• Riders can only upgrade one category per race season.
• Upgrade credits may be considered from high-sanctioned out-of-province races at the discretion of Cycling BC. Out-of-province races: In order to be considered, out-of-province races must a possess a similar category format to that of Cycling BC Regional A, BC Cup, or BC Championship level races and have commissaires/officials.

1.1.      Results-based upgrades

• Upgrade Points will only be allocated to races which are officiated by licensed and certified commissaires, and which are run with UCI ability categories. Results from self-seeded races do not count towards upgrades.
• Results from Grassroots or Mass Participation events do not count towards results-based upgrades but may be considered in applications for experienced-based upgrades and for review by the upgrade committee.
• If the starting field size is less than double the number of positions awarded points in the lowest tier of point schedule (see table 1), points will be limited to half of the field, rounded down (i.e. in a race with 6 starters, points are awarded to top 3 finishers as follows: 5, 4, 3).
• If gender categories are combined into one field for a race, points will be calculated separately for each gender race category based on the total combined field size.
• If ability categories are combined into one field for a race, points will be calculated for finishing position within the field; ability categories will not be separated out for upgrade points calculations.
• For female-only race fields, the finishers will be assessed points based on the field size tiers in table #. At a minimum, the tier 3 (15-25 riders) points scale will be applied regardless of field size. Rule number 1.2.3 still applies.
• Results from races where riders are segmented by age rather than license ability categories will be assessed half of the points detailed in the point schedule.
• Upgrade points may be awarded for results in sanctioned out-of-province races at the discretion of Cycling BC. In order to be considered, out-of-province races must possess a similar category format to that of the appropriate Cycling BC sanction level and be officiated by licensed commissaires.
• A maximum of half of the assessed upgrade points may be earned from results in individual time trial events. For example, a racer upgrading to Cat 2 with 25 points must have at least 13 points earned from results in mass start races.
• Riders who have upgraded will start with a balance of zero points in their new category.
• Riders who require upgrades for a race must contact Cycling BC and request a Temporary Upgrade Letter
• Riders are not permitted to skip a category under any circumstances
• Series: Riders who are more than halfway through a series of 10 races or fewer may request a one-time waiver of mandatory upgrade.

Table 1.1.       Upgrade Point Schedule for results-based upgrades

• Results in the following events will receive double points:

• • BC Cup Series races
  • Provincial Championships
  • USAC sanctioned races (incl. Tour of Walla Walla, Tour De Bloom, etc.)
  • Races on Cycling Canada’s National calendar

1.2.      Experience-based upgrades

• Experience-based upgrades will be based on a predefined number of completed mass-start events including sanctioned races, grassroots races and mass participation road events where the starting field size is greater than 15.
• Experience-based upgrades are eligible to riders moving from Cat 5 to Cat 4.
• Event results must be made available for review by Cycling BC, either by means of public dissemination or sent to us directly.

Table 1.2.       Category Development Pathway

1.3.      2020-2021 Covid-19 Considerations

Cycling BC recognizes that the Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging for all athletes. Young and developing athletes may have been disproportionally affected by the cancellation of races as they have not been able to refine and execute their skills and tactics in a competitive environment. In order to facilitate athletes’ progress along their development pathway and to alleviate “overcrowding” in the lower categories, Cycling BC will employ the following measures for the 2021 race season:

• All racers with points held over from the 2019 season that meet the required point thresholds indicated in table 1.2 can apply to upgrade in advance of the 2021 season.
• Racers with previous experience but without meeting the requirements as indicated in table 1.2 may request an upgrade through the following ways:
• Participate in a Cycling BC organized Learn-to-Race skills assessment clinic during fall/winter 2020/21. During these clinics, Cycling BC coaching staff will evaluate a rider’s skill level to determine if the rider is eligible for an upgrade. Schedule TBD.
• Request a review by the upgrade committee.

Upgrade credit is available only at BC Championship and Regional A level events.

Upgrade points from Cat 3 to 2 and Cat 2 to 1 are only available at BC Championship and Regional A level events

Upgrade credit from Cat 4 are available in any race where more than 10 riders are in the field. However, results for these upgrades will be based only on Omnium Standings for that race (i.e. 1^st in a Belgium Win & Out at the BVC’s Friday Night Race series will not count as one win, however an overall Omnium win at a Friday Night Race will count).

• To move up a category, riders must have two wins or three top-five placings.

• In order to be eligible to upgrade from Cat 4, a rider must show results from at least 2 different velodromes.
• Riders can only upgrade one category per race season unless decided otherwise by Cycling BC under special circumstances. Riders who wish to upgrade more than one category in a season must apply to Cycling BC. The application should include a reference from an authorized NCCP coach/individual from the rider’s home velodrome and provide support (ie. results) as to why the additional upgrade is deserved.
• All other categories require two wins or three top-five placings to move up one category.
• Upgrade credit may be considered from high-sanctioned out-of-province races at the discretion of Cycling BC.  In order to be considered, out-of-province races must a possess a similar category format to that of Cycling BC Regional A or BC Championship level races and have commissaires/officials present.