USAC Rulebook
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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. 3/22/2014 On the cover: Mara Abbott winning stage 5 of the 2013 Giro Rosa. This win put her into the lead in general classification, with Mara eventually winning the overall. 155 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 Glossary Appendices 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 2014 USA Cycling, Inc. Copying without fee is permitted provided credit to the source is given Photo by Nicola Ianuale/Printed by DocuMart 2 Important Rule Changes for 2014 Definitions: A rider who has a racing age of 9 is now a junior instead of a youth. Youth is chronological age of 6 through racing age of 8. 1A2(c): The definition of a one-day license was tightened to make it clear that the license may only be purchased by someone who holds the lowest category for the discipline of the race. Nobody who ever held a higher category can purchase a one day. In other words, it is a beginner, trial license. 1D2: The term “Professional” was better defined for the applicable disciplines. A Pro is someone who is on a UCI- registered team. 1G7(e): Clarifies the role of the Chief Judge when the Race Director has hired a professional timing company. 1H5: Establishes the field limit of 75 for any race that includes cat 5 men, either alone or with other categories, or cat 4 women either alone or with other categories. Also clarifies that for criteriums and CX, any field limit applies to the entire number of riders on the course at one time and not just one field in the case of multiple fields on the course. 1H9(i): Clarifies that professionals may not enter races unless they were designated for professionals by the Race Director on the flyer and race permit. Deletes an old rule that said riders on UCI Continental teams can ride any race open to cat 1 riders. 1H9(j): Establishes that pros may not ride state championships unless there is a category specifically for them. 1J5(f)iii: Establishes that teams that create a National Championship design for their riders must follow the internationally approved template. 1M6(e): Establishes that the Race Director is responsible for acquisition and publication of results. 1N4: Wording added to rules of the course to make it clear that riders must stay on the designated course and that fallen barriers or tape shall not stay that responsibility. 3 5D7(o): More flexible wording added in how to handle race stoppages during a 24-hour MTB event. 7: Multiple age bracket changes based on change in class definition. A nine year old is now a junior instead of a youth. Most age groups now broken into 9-10, 11-12, replacing the older 10-12. 8F7: Penalty added for avoiding an obstacle in a CX race. 4 Table of Contents 1. General Regulations ..... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1A. Licenses ...................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1B. Rider Nationalities ....................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1C. Rider Classes ............................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1D. Rider Categories.......................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1E. Rider Upgrading and Downgrading ....... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1F. Clubs and Teams.......................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1G. Officials ....................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1H. Races .......................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1I. Bicycles .....................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1J. Rider’s Uniform .........................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1K. Racing Rule Generalities ..........Error! Bookmark not defined. 1L. Start of a Race ..........................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1M. Finish of a Race........................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1N. Conduct ....................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 1O. Protests and Hearings ..............Error! Bookmark not defined. 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 ...............................................................59 2H. Keirin ............................................................................60 2I. Time Trial .......................................................................61 2J. Individual Pursuit ..........................................................62 2K. Team Pursuit .................................................................66 2L. Team Sprint ...................................................................69 2M. Points Race ...................................................................71 2N. Madison ........................................................................73 2O. Omnium ........................................................................75 3. Road Racing ........................................................ 80 3A. Road Course ..................................................................80 3B. Riding Conduct ..............................................................81 3C. Individual Road Race .....................................................82 3D. Criterium .......................................................................85 3E. Individual Time Trial .....................................................87 3F. Team Time Trial .............................................................89 5 3G. Track Events on the Road ..............................................91 3H. Stage Racing .................................................................91 4. Cyclo-cross Racing ........................................... 103 4A. Course and obstacles .................................................. 103 4B. Equipment pits ............................................................ 105 4C. Equipment changes ..................................................... 107 4D. Starting ....................................................................... 107 4E. Duration of races ......................................................... 107 4F. Abandons..................................................................... 107 4G. Finish .......................................................................... 108 5. Mountain Bike Racing ...................................... 110 5A. Procedures common to all Mountain Bike Disciplines .. 110 5B. Course Markings .......................................................... 111 5C. Feeding and Technical Assistance ............................... 112 5D. Endurance Events ........................................................ 113 5E. Gravity Events ............................................................. 120 5F. Observed Trials............................................................ 123 5G. High School Racing...................................................... 123 6. Collegiate Racing ............................................. 126 6A. Administration ............................................................ 126 6B. Teams ......................................................................... 126 6C. Rider Eligibility ............................................................ 127 6D. Categories ................................................................... 128 6E. Rider’s Uniform ........................................................... 130 6F. Equipment ................................................................... 130 6G. Conference Events ...................................................... 131 6H. Conference Race Scoring ............................................. 133 6I. Collegiate National Team Rankings .............................. 137 6J. Varsity Teams .............................................................. 138 7. Championships ................................................. 141 7A. Organization ............................................................... 141 7B. National Championship Eligibility ................................ 141 7C. Awards .......................................................................