About Road Racing
Road Racing is massed-start cycle racing on roads or circuits. First rider over the finish line wins, with anything from twenty to almost 200 competitors, depending on the event. In the UK, events range from short Youth and Juvenile (under16) races of 20km or less, through club level events for adults of between 40km and 100km, to Elite-level one day races of 200km or more. The majority of adult racing takes place on public roads, though there are an increasing number of circuit events, either on roads closed to other traffic or on specially constructed circuits, some which are shared with other sports like motor racing and kart racing, others are purpose built for cycling. All under-16 racing takes place on traffic-free closed circuits.
Road Races
The classic Road Race is a test of stamina, fitness and tactical acumen. Team tactics often come into play. Riders often have particular strengths: some can climb hills and mountains very quickly; others have a devastating turn of speed or sprint; other have the ability to ride very well against the clock in Time Trials (which often form part of multi day or stage races). The art is to restrict your rival's gains in the areas where they are strong and maximise your gains in your preferred terrain.
Stage Races
Some Road Races are contested over several days and several stages. These "Stage" Races or Tours often feature prizes for each stage winner, plus others for the best sprinter in the race, the best climber (aka King of the Mountains), the leading team and, of course, the overall winner, who is the rider with the best aggregate time. The Tour de France is the world's most prestigious Stage Race and lasts for three weeks.
Road & Circuit Racing: Categories, Points, Rankings and Event Classifications
Road racing in this country is done under the British Cycling Federation rules and organisation. Events are classified depending on how difficult they are likely to be, although this really only comes down to the length and type of rider that can enter. Riders require a race licence (which can be purchased from the BCF) to be able to compete. Senior riders start with a 4th category licence, and gain points by doing well in races. The higher the category the race the more points are awarded.
So all you need to know is the race category, how many points are awarded for each final placing, and how many points you need to go up to the next licence category. Once your 'CAT' goes up, the BCF send you your new licence and you can start entering in harder and harder races.
The Premier Calendar is the pinacle of road racing in this country, and achievable by anyone with the dedication and fitness to gain the race points and an Elite Cat Licence.
Senior Riders - Licence Categories
4th Category
- A new junior or senior licence holder.
3rd Category
- Awarded after gaining 10 points in any one season. Note: 3rd cat licence holders never drop down to 4th cat
2nd Category
- Awarded after gaining 40 points in any one season.
- Riders need to gain 25 points in any one season to maintain a 2nd cat licence.
1st Category
- Awarded after gaining 200 points during any one season.
- Riders need to gain 100 points in any one season to maintain a 1st cat licence.
Elite Category
- Awarded after gaining 300 points during the previous season.
- Or at the end of the year being listed in the top 10 Senior Mens National Cros or MTB rankings.
Event Classification System
Races are divided into two main categories: National and Regional. From these categories they are then sub-divided as follows.
National A
Eligibility: Open to Senior male Elite, 1st and 2nd category riders.
- Single Day Event: minimum135 km if terrain is demanding; maximum of 200 km on flatter terrain.
- Road Stage of Stage Race: minimum 80 km.
- Circuit Race: minimum time 60 minutes, and maximum 90 minutes.
- The main prize list shall be a minimum of £2,000. Prize money shall be paid to riders placed at least 1st to 20th, in accordance with the following structure:
Note: Only one National A event shall be held on the same day in the UK.
National B
Eligibility: open to Senior male Elite, 1st 2nd & 3rd category, Junior male 1st & 2nd category and Senior female Elite riders.
- Single Day Event: minimum120 km if terrain is demanding.
- Circuit Race: minimum time 60 minutes.
Regional A
Eligibility: open to Senior and Junior male 2nd, 3rd and 4th category and Senior and Junior female riders of all categories
- Single Day Event: minimum 80 km.
- Circuit Race: minimum time 50 minutes.
Regional B
Eligibility: open to Senior and Junior male 3rd and 4th category riders and Senior and Junior female riders of all categories
- Single Day Event: maximum 90 km.
- Circuit Race: minimum time 40 minutes.
Regional C & Regional C+
Eligibility: open to Senior and Junior riders of all categories, to be run as a handicap event, or other appropriate format .
- The minimum time shall be 60 minutes, and the maximum 90 minutes
Notes: Where the circuit is too small to allow for a handicap event which meets the minimum time requirement, the organiser may choose to use an alternative format, provided that the chosen format reasonably caters for the widest possible range of ability. Time Trials shall be run as Regional C+ or Regional C events.
Go Race
Eligibility: open to 4th category riders, British Cycling members without racing licences and non-members.
- The maximum time for a Go-Race event shall be 90 minutes
Licence Points Explained - Road & Circuit Racing
Further information on the points system is available at www.britishcycling.org.ukPoints are awarded on the basis of the result gained and the level (i.e. status) of the event, according to the table below. These points go towards a rider's licence category and towards their National and Regional rankings and the National and Regional rankings of their club or Team.
Points Band
1
2
3
4
5
Position
Nat A Road
Nat B Road
Nat A Circuit
Reg A Road
Nat B Circuit
Reg B Road
Reg A Circuit
Reg C+
Reg B Circuit
1
100
60
30
15
10
2
85
52
25
12
8
3
75
45
21
10
7
4
66
40
17
8
6
5
58
35
14
6
5
6
51
31
12
5
4
7
45
27
10
4
3
8
39
23
8
3
2
9
34
20
7
2
1
10
29
17
6
1
1
11
25
15
5
12
21
13
4
13
18
11
3
14
15
9
2
15
12
7
1
16
10
6
17
8
5
18
6
3
19
4
2
20
2
1
