Collegiate Categories and Upgrade Requirements

  
  


Collegiate categories and upgrade requirements generally follow the same guidelines as non-collegiate categories and upgrades. The most accurate, up to date information can always be found in the rulebook, but we've outlined much of the information below.

Riders in a Collegiate Race are eligible for USA Cycling upgrade points, so long as that Race meets all upgrade requirements, including field size and distance, specified by USA Cycling (see below and/or rulebook). Each Rider must request upgrades through his or her USA Cycling account online and provide proof of category at registration. Upgrade requests go through a Rider’s Conference Director or the Collegiate Manager [7H1d].

Some conferences have additional requirements. Always check with your conference director before upgrading.

 
Road
Track
Mountain Bike
Cyclocross



Road

Overview:


Collegiate Category Correlative USA Cycling Road Category Available for USA Cycling Road Upgrades… Collegiate Road Upgrade Requirements for this category are the same as…
From To From To
A Pro, 1, 2, 3 3 2 4 3
B 3, 4 4 3 5 4
C 4, 5 5 4 N/A N/A
D 5 5 4 N/A N/A
E 5 N/A N/A N/A N/A
 

Upgrade Requirements:


Category Requirements
C, D, E to B
  • Finished 10 massed-start races
  • Or, holding a USAC Road license, Category 4 or higher
B to A
  • 20 upgrade points
  • Or, experience in 25 qualifying races (with a minimum of 10 top ten finishes with fields of 30 riders or more or 20 pack finishes with fields over 50)
  • Or, 30 upgrade points in 12 months is an automatic upgrade
  • Or, holding a USAC Road license, Category 3 or higher
 

Qualifying Distances for each category:


To qualify for upgrade points, races must meet distance standards. Races shorter than the minimum distance do not qualify for upgrading. However, if a road race is less than the road race minimum but above the criterium minimum, it will count for upgrading using the criterium points schedule.
 
Category RR Criteriums and Circuit Races
C, D, E to B 15 mi 10 mi/20 min
B to A 25 mi 15 mi/30 min

Upgrade Points awarded for Criteriums and Circuit Races:


                                                                                                                                            
  Number of Starters
Placing 5-10 11-20 21-50 50+
1 3 4 5 7
2 2 3 4 5
3 1 2 3 4
4   1 2 3
5     1 2
6       1

Upgrade Points awarded for Road Races:

                                                                                                                                                                         
  Number of Starters
Placing 5-10 11-20 21-50 50+
1 3 7 8 10
2 2 5 6 8
3 1 4 5 7
4   3 4 6
5   2 3 5
6   1 2 4
7     1 3
8       2
9       1
 
 
 
 

Track

Overview:


Collegiate Category Correlative USA Cycling Track Category Available for USA Cycling Track Upgrades… CollegiateTrack Upgrade Requirements for this category are the same as…
From To From To
A Pro, 1, 2, 3 3 2 4 3
B 3, 4 4 3 5 4
C 4, 5 5 4 N/A N/A
D 5 5 4 N/A N/A
E 5 N/A N/A N/A N/A
 

Upgrade Requirements:


Category Requirements
C, D, E to B
  • Complete a Velodrome Class
  • Or, complete 4 race days
  • Or, holding a USAC Track license, Category 4 or higher
B to A
  • 5 race days and 20 upgrade points
  • Or, holding a USAC Track license, Category 3 or higher
 
Place Points
1 7
2 5
3 3
4 2
5 1




Mountain Bike

Overview:


Collegiate Category Correlative USA Cycling MTB Category Available for USA Cycling MTB Upgrades… Collegiate MTB Upgrade Requirements are the same as…*
From To From To
A Pro, 1 N/A N/A 2 1
B 1, 2 2 1 3 2
C 2, 3 3 2 N/A N/A
D 3 3 2 N/A N/A
E 3 N/A N/A N/A N/A
 

Upgrade Requirements:


  • Riders may advance as quickly as they wish up to Category B.
  • Category C racers must move to Category B after placing in the top five in five races.
  • Category B riders may move up to Category A after two top five finishes.
  • Category B riders must advance to Category A after placing five top five finishes.



Cyclo-cross

Overview:


Collegiate Category Correlative USA Cycling CX Category Available for USA Cycling CX Upgrades… CollegiateRoad Upgrade Requirements for this category are the same as…*
From To From To
A Pro, 1, 2, 3 3 2 4 3
B 3, 4 4 3 N/A N/A
C 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A
D 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A
E 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A
 

Upgrade Requirements:


Category Requirements
B, C, D, or E to A
  • 10 upgrade points
  • Or, holding a USAC Cyclo-cross license, Category 3 or higher
 
 

Upgrade Points awardedfor Cyclo-cross Races:

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

 
  Number of Starters
Placing 5-10 11-20 21-50 50+
1 3 4 5 7
2 2 3 4 5
3 1 2 3 4
4   1 2 3
5     1 2
6        
 
Cyclo-cross categories may also be upgraded by conversion from a rider’s earned road or mountain bike (endurance) category. If during the season, a rider upgrades his or her road category or XC category, the cyclo-cross category can be upgraded to match his or her road or XC category by request of the rider or by request of the administrator.

Collegiate CX Category Based on Road or XC Category
Road Category MTB XC Category CX Category
USAC 1, 2 USAC 1 or Collegiate A Collegiate A
USAC 3, 4 or Collegiate A or B USAC 2 or Collegiate B Collegiate B
USAC 5 or Collegiate C, D, or E USAC 3 or Collegiate C, D, or E Colleciate C, D, or E

 
 


This Article Published July 20, 2011 For more information contact:
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