New USA Cycling mountain bike categories for next year
Say goodbye to Sport, Expert, Semi-pro; hello to Cat 1, 2, 3
U.S. mountain bikers will compete in new categories at USA Cycling events for 2009. The traditional categories such as Sport, Expert, Semi Pro and Pro will be replaced by license categories 1, 2, 3, and Pro — similar to that found at USA Cycling road events. The modification to the existing structure comes after analysis and dialogue by the national governing body and the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) Board of Trustees.
Olympian and four-time USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Cross Country Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, who sits on the USA Cycling Board of Directors as the NORBA athlete representative, sees the change as a positive step forward in the evolution of off-road racing in the U.S.
“Throughout the last several years, we’ve been discussing ways to improve the quality of races in the U.S. and increase competition,” Horgan-Kobelski said. “This change will result in deeper pro fields, but will also produce an extremely competitive atmosphere among amateurs. The Category 1 designation itself becomes a more prestigious field with talent indicative of up-and-coming pros. The change also simplifies things for race organizers who can now offer fewer categories, while at the same time improving their event.”
USA Cycling will apply these new categories beginning December 1, 2008 to all ages and genders of racing.
The previous structure, which consisted of five categories — Beginner, Sport, Expert, Semi-Pro and Pro — has been condensed to four categories. Like the categories they’re replacing, Categories 1, 2 and 3 will also feature age groups classes.
“This change has been discussed, studied and considered in some form for the last two years,” said Lisa Nye-Salladin, President of the NORBA Board of Trustees and mountain bike race promoter for the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association. “Ultimately, the NORBA Board of Trustees spearheaded this evolution in order to make racing more competitive and create a clear distinction between amateur and professional athletes.”
Gary Fisher, the industry representative on the NORBA Board of Trustees, was also a major proponent of the change. He references the need for a more competitive environment domestically in order to improve the United States’ level of success in the pro ranks globally.
“We want bigger pro fields in the National Calendar events so our racers can better prepare for international competition like World Cups and World Championships,” Fisher said. “Our pro fields are tiny compared to our European counterparts. We have the numbers in terms of ridership, but we’ve been referring to them as Semi-Pros.”
The change raises several topics that all USA Cycling mountain bike members should familiarize themselves with. Members currently categorized as Experts will automatically become a Category 1; Sport members will automatically be converted to a Category 2; and Beginners will automatically become a Category 3.
Members currently categorized as Semi-Pro may choose either Category 1 or Pro designation for the 2009 racing season.
For more information, check www.usacycling.org.
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