2010 USA Cycling Rulebook now available online

Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 15, 2009) – The 2010 USA Cycling Rule Book is now available online. To view the different portions of the book, click here, or download the complete rulebook here. USA Cycling’s various boards of trustees met in October which resulted in several new rules or changes to existing ones being written into the rulebook for the 2010 racing season. The most significant changes are outlined below.

MOUNTAIN BIKE

The 2010 rule book defines technical assistance zones for mountain bike races and specifies which races these zones are permitted in:

6D1. Feed/Technical Assistance Zones are permitted in the following events: Ultra-Endurance Events (Marathon, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour events), UCI Cross Country (XCO) events (UCI classes only), Cross Country National Championships for the UCI classes (Pro men, Pro women, Junior 17-18 men, and Junior 17-18 women). Note that when the category 1 junior 15-16 year old juniors are on the course at the same time as the category 1 junior 17-18 riders, they will also have access to Technical Assistance Zones.

6D2. Authorised technical assistance during a race consists of repairs to or the replacement of any part of the bicycle other than the frame. Bike changes are not permitted and the rider must cross the finishing line with the same handlebar number plate that he had at the start.

It was also decided that Stars-and-Stripes jerseys will no longer be awarded in the “competition” classes at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships. Competition class winners will, beginning in 2010, receive medals only. Along with the aforementioned change came a restructure of the masters categories for Mountain Bike Nationals with the men’s 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70+, and the women 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60+ fields being moved out of the “competition” class and into the “championship” class.

Other noteworthy results from the mountain bike trustee meeting include a single-speed class being added to the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships; the junior 15-18 field being split in two (15-16 and 17-18) for national championship cross country and downhill contests; and non UCI-class competitions at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships being opened to permanent residents as well as U.S. citizens.

The National Collegiate Cycling Association wrote several amendments to its rules, including a new statute regarding the use of aerodynamic equipment. The following rules will be effective for the 2010 racing season for road categories B, C, D, and E, and will apply to all collegiate cycling categories in 2011.  

7J1(a) Bicycles used in competition in all Collegiate Road Events must conform with the current UCI and USAC regulations for mass-start legal bicycles.

7J1(b) No handlebar extensions, including "aero bars," or other forms of bars offering forearm support shall be allowed.

7J2(a)Wheels used in competition in all Collegiate Road Events must conform with UCI mass-start legal regulations. The UCI maintains a website with the information of approved wheels.

7J3(a) Helmets worn at Collegiate Road Events must meet USAC regulations for mass-start legal, and be worn in accordance with USAC rules.

As more and more collegiate cycling conferences are holding cyclo-cross and track seasons, a new rule has also been established requiring riders to participate in their conference’s cyclo-cross and track events in order to race in the respective collegiate national championship events.

7L7(c)To compete at Collegiate Track National Championships, a Rider must produce documented evidence of completion of one USAC track race. To race in the points race a rider must hold a Collegiate Cycling License and be at least a Track Category 3 or a Collegiate Track Category A. Additionally, a Rider must have competed in one Conference Race if their Conference held a Track Season.

7L9(b) To compete at Collegiate Cyclo-cross National Championships, a Rider must hold a Collegiate Cycling License and be at least USAC Cyclo-cross Category 3 or Collegiate Cyclo-cross Category A. Additionally, a Rider must have competed in one Conference Race if their Conference held a Cyclo-cross Season.

TRACK

The trustees that govern road, track, and cyclo-cross racing voted to allow a rider only one warning in all rounds of a track competition (e.g. sprints) before that rider is disqualified.

Another track-related change is the distance of the men’s Madison event at the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships; It has been raised to 50 kilometers. Additionally, a women’s 25 kilometer Madison event will be added to the program with a minimum field size of ten teams.

Gear restrictions will no longer apply to juniors age 16 and younger in the following events at Championship events: team sprint, Madison, keirin, and team pursuit.

Beginning with the 2010/2011 Cyclo-cross season, all riders lapped in an event will receive a final placing, regardless of when they were lapped.

Another new cyclo-cross-related regulation now specifies that feeding is not permitted in USA Cycling-sanctioned cyclo-cross races unless specifically authorized by a chief referee.

A new rule was established dictating that riders who have been dropped off the back of a field may not lead a breakaway group seeking to lap the field.   

3D4.Riders who have lost contact with the field, and are then caught by a breakaway from the field, may not lead [disqualification]. Riders off the front of the field may not accept assistance from riders who have lost contact with the back of the field [disqualification for accepting such assistance]. Lapped riders may rejoin and race with the field.

Also, the rule book now clarifies the manner in which a rider may return to a criterium after being granted a free lap.  The rider must re-enter the race before the final eight kilometers of racing.

Another result of trustee voting allows promoters to restrict time trial competitors to mass-start bicycles in one or more classes, provided that the restriction is stated in the race announcement and technical guide. This includes time trials in stage races.

Concerning prize breakdowns in stage races, the following now applies:

IL3(e) In stage races, the prizes for each individual stage and for final individual general classification (g.c.) are treated separately, so that the required number of places and prize breakdown for stage 1 is based on the dollar value of prizes for stage 1 and similarly for each stage; likewise the number of g.c. places and breakdown is governed by the total amount of the g.c. prize list. These rules will not be applied to team classifications or special classification (mountains etc.).

In USA Cycling-sanctioned stage races, the regulations surrounding time bonuses have been changed to reflect UCI rules. The new rule is as follows:

43C(b)Time bonuses may only be awarded for mass start stages. If bonuses are awarded they shall be (for first, second and third place):

Finish stage: 10” – 6” – 4”

Half stage: 6” – 4” – 2”

Intermediate Sprints: 3” – 2” – 1”

These bonuses are doubled for stage races with a duration of more than 14 days.

No bonuses for intermediate sprints may be awarded during stages or half-stages unless a bonus is also awarded at the finish.

Additionally, the manner in which teams may enter a road race event has been clarified. Each team is limited to only one entry. Individuals who normally race for a specific team, but are not included on that team’s roster for an event, are not permitted to enter as individuals or on composite teams. This clarification is stated as follows:

IJ5(a)Races that have team entry, or are team-limited events, are covered by the following general rules concerning entry:

Each racing team or club may enter only one team.

When a racing team or club has entered a team, additional team/club members may not enter as individuals, guest riders on other teams, or on a mixed team.

By entering, each team implicitly agrees that it is racing on its own behalf, and not in the interest of another team.

IJ5(b) When entries are received from closely related entities, (e.g. two racing teams from the same club, a racing team and the general ridership of the same club, or two teams with a common sponsor), the Chief Referee/race jury will decide whether to permit both entries. The basis for the decision will be whether the teams can be expected to race as separate entities. Criteria to be used include:

separate management and support;

geographical separation (in the case of multiple club teams or shared sponsors);

skill level and experience (club professional teams versus general club riders, or professional teams versus regional development teams);

major or minor sponsorship (in the case of shared sponsors).

IJ5(c)Teams may petition USA Cycling to establish that they are sufficiently distinct entities for the season, rather than on a race-by-race basis. Such a decision is still subject to review based on personnel changes or conduct at races.

IJ5(d) Entry having been accepted, teams must still ride in a manner consistent with their being a distinct entity. Riding in the interest of a related team is subject to discipline, up to disqualification.

PARA-CYCLING

The USA Cycling rule book now spells out that Para-cycling national championships for cyclists with disabilities may be held in conjunction with other national championships. Classifications of para-cycling riders and regulations of competition will follow the Functional Classification System outlined by the UCI.