2016 USAC Rulebook.Pdf
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Welcome! On behalf of USA Cycling, we hope that you are looking forward to a new year of bike racing. We are glad that you are a member and hope that you will find many opportunities to enjoy bike racing of all kinds. Good luck with your racing! Rev. 2/25/16 On the cover: Lea Davison and the MTB Olympic long team training in Europe. This Rulebook is published by USA Cycling. It is organized as follows: Chapter 1 – General Regulations Chapter 2 – Track Chapter 3 – Road and Stage Racing Chapter 4 – Cyclo-cross Chapter 5 – Mountain Bike Chapter 6 – Collegiate Chapter 7 – Championships Chapter 8 -- Discipline Chapter 9 – Records Chapter 10 -- Gran Fondo Appendices Glossary Copies may be downloaded from the USAC website at www.usacycling.org. Officials are sent a hard copy. Other members may request a hard copy by sending a self- addressed mailing label and note that says "rulebook" to the address below: USA Cycling/ Attn: Technical Director 210 USA Cycling Point, Suite 100 Colorado Springs, CO 80919 Schedule of fees, USA Cycling Bylaws, Policies, Records, and Results of National Championships may be found online at www.usacycling.org Unfortunately, the English language does not have a neutral gender personal pronoun. Please understand that, where applicable, the use of the terms “he”, “his” and “him” may equally refer to “she” and “her”. © Copyright 2016 USA Cycling, Inc. Copying without fee is permitted provided credit to the source is given Photo by Casey Gibson/Printed by DocuMart 2 Important Rule Changes for 2016 1A3(c): Creates an experienced one-day race license. 1C1: Clarifies existing regulation on cyclo-cross racing age. 1E1(d): Sets a time limit of 36 months for points used in voluntary upgrades. 1E2(a): Allows USA Cycling to award points a clinic based on criteria listed. 1E2(c): Deletes language covered in other sections of 1E2 regarding points from clinics. 1E4: Clarifies that USA Cycling staff must approve certain upgrades on the track. 1H9(f): Allows juniors to race in higher categories in exceptional circumstances. 1H9(k): Clarifies regulations on which races UCI Pro Continental and WorldTeams may enter. 1I1(e): Covers use of UCI equipment regulation in National Championships and other events. 2O3: Brings USAC regulations for the International Omnium in line with UCI regulations. 3B3(d): New rule mirroring UCI regulation on groups being split at level rail crossings. 3H4(b): Allows for interpretation of gaps when hand timing is used at certain stage races. 3H4(c): States that team time trials are not counted in tie breaks for Individual GS. Mirrors UCI regulations. 3H6(c): Removes conflict between stage race free lap regulations and one-day regulation. 5E1(k): Adaption of UCI rules covering timing for gravity events. 7A3: UCI rules will cover call-ups when the race is run under UCI regulations. 7E4: Changes distances for Road Race Championships. 7E5: Changes distances for Criterium National Championships. 7E8: Clarifies category for Tandem Championships. 7F2: Increases distance of Elite Women CX Championship. 7E9: Creates a Hill Climb National Championships. 3 7G2: Allows additional categories in some Cross-Country National Championships. 7I1(c): Allows USA Cycling to make exceptions to eligibility requirements in exceptional circumstances. 7I8: Allows the used of non-USAC races to establish eligibility for Collegiate Track. 8E5(e)(f): Adds specific penalty for track pursuit events that are called for in the regulations. 8B2(m)(n): Adds specific penalty for a breakaway working with dropped riders called for in the regulations. Gran Fondos: Major changes to this section are noted by italicized text. 4 Table of Contents 1. General Regulations ............................. 10 1A. Licenses ............................................................ 10 1B. Rider Nationalities ............................................ 12 1C. Rider Classes .................................................... 13 1D. Rider Categories ............................................... 14 1E. Rider Upgrading and Downgrading ................... 14 1F. Clubs and Teams ............................................... 23 1G. Officials ............................................................ 25 1H. Races ................................................................ 30 1I. Bicycles ............................................................. 36 1J. Rider’s Uniform ................................................. 39 1K. Racing Rule Generalities ................................... 43 1L. Start of a Race .................................................. 45 1M. Finish of a Race ................................................ 45 1N. Conduct ............................................................ 47 1O. Protests and Hearings ...................................... 49 2. Track Racing ........................................ 51 2A. Track Markings ................................................. 51 2B. General Track Rules .......................................... 52 2C. Scratch Race ..................................................... 53 2D. Handicap Race .................................................. 54 2E. Miss-and-Out and Elimination ........................... 55 2F. Sprint ................................................................ 56 2G. Tandem Sprint .................................................. 60 2H. Keirin................................................................ 60 2I. Time Trial .......................................................... 61 2J. Individual Pursuit.............................................. 63 2K. Team Pursuit .................................................... 66 2L. Team Sprint ...................................................... 69 2M. Points Race ...................................................... 71 2N. Madison ............................................................ 74 2O. Omnium ............................................................ 76 3. Road Racing ......................................... 80 3A. Road Course ..................................................... 80 3B. Riding Conduct ................................................. 81 3C. Individual Road Race ........................................ 83 5 3D. Criterium .......................................................... 86 3E. Individual Time Trial ......................................... 88 3F. Team Time Trial ................................................ 89 3G. Track Events on the Road ................................. 91 3H. Stage Racing .................................................... 91 4. Cyclo-cross Racing ............................. 104 4A. Course and obstacles ...................................... 104 4B. Equipment pits................................................ 106 4C. Equipment changes......................................... 108 4D. Starting .......................................................... 108 4E. Duration of races ............................................ 108 4F. Abandons ........................................................ 108 4G. Finish.............................................................. 109 5. Mountain Bike Racing ......................... 111 5A. Procedures common to all Mountain Bike Disciplines ............................................................ 111 5B. Course Markings ............................................. 112 5C. Feeding and Technical Assistance ................... 113 5D. Endurance Events ........................................... 114 5E. Gravity Events................................................. 121 5F. Observed Trials ............................................... 125 5G. High School Racing ......................................... 125 6. Collegiate Racing ................................ 128 6A. Administration ................................................ 128 6B. Teams ............................................................. 128 6C. Rider Eligibility ............................................... 129 6D. Categories ...................................................... 130 6E. Rider’s Uniform ............................................... 132 6F. Equipment....................................................... 132 6G. Conference Events .......................................... 132 6I. Collegiate National Team Rankings ................. 139 6J. Varsity Teams ................................................. 140 7. Championships ................................... 143 7A. Organization ................................................... 143 7B. National Championship Eligibility ................... 143 7C. Awards ........................................................... 145 6 7D. Track Championships...................................... 146 7E. Road Championships ....................................... 150 7F. Cyclo-cross Championships ............................. 153 7G. Endurance Mountain Bike Championships ...... 154 7H. Gravity MTB National Championships ............. 155 7I. Collegiate Championships ............................... 157 7J. State Championships ....................................... 166 8. Discipline ........................................... 169 8A - Rules of General Application in all Disciplines 171 8B - Penalties Applicable in Road Races ............... 180 8C - Individual Time Trial Penalties ...................... 190 8D - Team Time Trial Penalties ............................. 191 8E – Track Racing Penalties .................................. 193 8F – Cyclo-cross Penalties ...................................