The Beginners Guide To Race Categories
Over the last year or so, pretty well everybody in my extended family has asked me to explain racing categories to them. Once you understand the system they're fairly simple, so today I'll go over the basics of race categories. As of yet, I've only been exposed to age-based and skill based. I'm sure there are more out there somewhere, but I'll only be covering age and skill today.
I'll start with age-based racing. This one is pretty simple, there are age brackets, whatever bracket you fall into, you race with those people. There are pros and cons to this system. I always liked provincials because it was the only age-based racing in Manitoba. It gave me an opportunity to race against people who were a lot better than me, and at least in 2017, I'd say I did a decent job keeping up. The big downside to age-based racing was apparent to me the second race I did (like the second ever). I was about two weeks into cycling, yet to get a proper set of kit, going up against someone who was on a pro team, and I'm pretty sure placed top 10 in the National TT championships. One of us was beaten by half an hour, I'll leave you to guess who was who.
Despite the potential for a large disparity in fitness, I like age-based racing when it comes to any sort of title, it gives you a chance to race against some different people and allows the younger kids who would otherwise be racing cat 5 a better shot at a podium finish. Finishing on the podium is always a good feeling.
Now on to categorized racing. I'm writing it as if there is I'm telling the story of a person making it to world tour (the highest level). Keep in mind this is a process that will take even the most talented, gifted cyclists years to achieve, and the examples of what happens at each level are just generalizations.
If you're absolutely brand new to racing (or coming from a long break) you're often allowed to purchase either a one day licence or a citizen licence. This allows you to race with the lowest category of riders. What is that category you may be asking? Category 5 (Cat 5 for short). If you're just doing local races and have no intentions of getting faster over the season, a citizen licence is the way to go, since (in Manitoba) it costs less than the full UCI Cat 5 licence.
So you start winning some races and get a bit more competitive, and move up to cat 4. At this point, your races speed up a bit (roughly 36kph to 38kph on the flats). You'll probably spend more time on the front in your first race because, well, the other riders are smarter, they'll let you ride the front and attack when they feel strong. You'll start learning to sit in and put down the power a bit more strategically, eventually you start winning races again, you're getting bigger better prizes than cat 5, so you move up again.
You're now a cat 3 racer. You'll probably want to join a club if you haven't already, and you start travelling to a race or two. The other races will start getting more aggressive, you start to learn a bit more about team tactics, and go even faster still (roughly 40kph on the flats) and a bit longer, think 90km races. I'd argue that this is the point where genetics start to play a bigger role. Some people won't be able to make it past here regardless of training but feel free to disagree with me on that. Let's just say the odds are in your favour and you keep winning races.
You start racing in cat 2. If you're still in your younger years, you start looking around for a team to join, the kind with big sponsors and cool kits. They bring you to even bigger races, and you'll start doing more international races with your team. The races are getting really hard, average speed on the flats is up to 42kph, and the races can last hours, but the payouts are getting much more substantial. Sadly most of your races will be P/1/2, so you're racing with all the pros. If that happens, your races will be faster yet, think 45kph average on the flats. At this point, doing well in races isn't enough, you need a letter signed by you certified coach in order to move up, so you get a coach, keep training, and he gives you the letter saying you can move up.
The next year you move up to cat 1 and sign for a continental team. You get a free bike and don't need to pay for anything. Your schedule is packed with training and racing, so you'll likely start looking for some side income, possibly a blog (why do you think I started so early?) At this point you'll start seriously looking for national titles, be in the pool of people who might go to the Olympics, and if you start doing really well in races, your team may even pay you.
If you manage to move up from here, a minimum wage is imposed. I think it's around $18-20,000usd a year for men, not sure if there is one for women (my numbers may be wrong, I either way, women deserve to get paid too). You're officially a pro. You start rubbing elbows with the likes of Peter Sagan and Chris Froome on occasion. The racing gets faster, but people will stop taking unnecessary risks, which is a pleasant change from the last few years of racing, don't think about it too much though because when these races get spicy, the riders will go absolutely ballistic. Moving up from here is more about who you know than how good of a rider you are, but one day you meet the right person and the next year...
You're World Tour. Minimum wage goes up to something you can support a family with, and you're in contention for big races like Paris-Roubaix, the Giro D'Italia, or the Tour Down Under (you thought I was going to say Tour de France didn't you, well, you're in contention for that too). You've officially made it to the top level of racing. Although you need to work hard to stay where you are, you start making a point of enjoying your life a bit more, you've made it.
Now before you go and set out on your dream of winning the Tour (Down Under), I'd recommend reading Draft Animals by Phil Gaimon, that'll give you an idea of the sheer amount of work and sacrifices it takes to get up to the World Tour. Ask a cyclist friend if you want to read it, I know at least 5 people who own this book, there are 2 copies in my house right now.
While I'm recommending you buy stuff (I also just recommended borrow, either way though), I've designed a T-shirt that I'll be selling for $25cad. I'm going to wait until I have 25 people who want them before I order them, there's a picture below so you know what they look like. If you want one, shoot me a message on facebook or send an email to kelseygoescycling@gmail.com All proceeds go towards funding my race fees and post-race pizzas.
Stay cool internet ;)
I'll start with age-based racing. This one is pretty simple, there are age brackets, whatever bracket you fall into, you race with those people. There are pros and cons to this system. I always liked provincials because it was the only age-based racing in Manitoba. It gave me an opportunity to race against people who were a lot better than me, and at least in 2017, I'd say I did a decent job keeping up. The big downside to age-based racing was apparent to me the second race I did (like the second ever). I was about two weeks into cycling, yet to get a proper set of kit, going up against someone who was on a pro team, and I'm pretty sure placed top 10 in the National TT championships. One of us was beaten by half an hour, I'll leave you to guess who was who.
 |
| Not actually the time trial, and I was third we just don't know how to podium |
Despite the potential for a large disparity in fitness, I like age-based racing when it comes to any sort of title, it gives you a chance to race against some different people and allows the younger kids who would otherwise be racing cat 5 a better shot at a podium finish. Finishing on the podium is always a good feeling.
Now on to categorized racing. I'm writing it as if there is I'm telling the story of a person making it to world tour (the highest level). Keep in mind this is a process that will take even the most talented, gifted cyclists years to achieve, and the examples of what happens at each level are just generalizations.
If you're absolutely brand new to racing (or coming from a long break) you're often allowed to purchase either a one day licence or a citizen licence. This allows you to race with the lowest category of riders. What is that category you may be asking? Category 5 (Cat 5 for short). If you're just doing local races and have no intentions of getting faster over the season, a citizen licence is the way to go, since (in Manitoba) it costs less than the full UCI Cat 5 licence.
So you start winning some races and get a bit more competitive, and move up to cat 4. At this point, your races speed up a bit (roughly 36kph to 38kph on the flats). You'll probably spend more time on the front in your first race because, well, the other riders are smarter, they'll let you ride the front and attack when they feel strong. You'll start learning to sit in and put down the power a bit more strategically, eventually you start winning races again, you're getting bigger better prizes than cat 5, so you move up again.
You're now a cat 3 racer. You'll probably want to join a club if you haven't already, and you start travelling to a race or two. The other races will start getting more aggressive, you start to learn a bit more about team tactics, and go even faster still (roughly 40kph on the flats) and a bit longer, think 90km races. I'd argue that this is the point where genetics start to play a bigger role. Some people won't be able to make it past here regardless of training but feel free to disagree with me on that. Let's just say the odds are in your favour and you keep winning races.
You start racing in cat 2. If you're still in your younger years, you start looking around for a team to join, the kind with big sponsors and cool kits. They bring you to even bigger races, and you'll start doing more international races with your team. The races are getting really hard, average speed on the flats is up to 42kph, and the races can last hours, but the payouts are getting much more substantial. Sadly most of your races will be P/1/2, so you're racing with all the pros. If that happens, your races will be faster yet, think 45kph average on the flats. At this point, doing well in races isn't enough, you need a letter signed by you certified coach in order to move up, so you get a coach, keep training, and he gives you the letter saying you can move up.
 |
The next year you move up to cat 1 and sign for a continental team. You get a free bike and don't need to pay for anything. Your schedule is packed with training and racing, so you'll likely start looking for some side income, possibly a blog (why do you think I started so early?) At this point you'll start seriously looking for national titles, be in the pool of people who might go to the Olympics, and if you start doing really well in races, your team may even pay you.
If you manage to move up from here, a minimum wage is imposed. I think it's around $18-20,000usd a year for men, not sure if there is one for women (my numbers may be wrong, I either way, women deserve to get paid too). You're officially a pro. You start rubbing elbows with the likes of Peter Sagan and Chris Froome on occasion. The racing gets faster, but people will stop taking unnecessary risks, which is a pleasant change from the last few years of racing, don't think about it too much though because when these races get spicy, the riders will go absolutely ballistic. Moving up from here is more about who you know than how good of a rider you are, but one day you meet the right person and the next year...
You're World Tour. Minimum wage goes up to something you can support a family with, and you're in contention for big races like Paris-Roubaix, the Giro D'Italia, or the Tour Down Under (you thought I was going to say Tour de France didn't you, well, you're in contention for that too). You've officially made it to the top level of racing. Although you need to work hard to stay where you are, you start making a point of enjoying your life a bit more, you've made it.
Now before you go and set out on your dream of winning the Tour (Down Under), I'd recommend reading Draft Animals by Phil Gaimon, that'll give you an idea of the sheer amount of work and sacrifices it takes to get up to the World Tour. Ask a cyclist friend if you want to read it, I know at least 5 people who own this book, there are 2 copies in my house right now.
While I'm recommending you buy stuff (I also just recommended borrow, either way though), I've designed a T-shirt that I'll be selling for $25cad. I'm going to wait until I have 25 people who want them before I order them, there's a picture below so you know what they look like. If you want one, shoot me a message on facebook or send an email to kelseygoescycling@gmail.com All proceeds go towards funding my race fees and post-race pizzas.Stay cool internet ;)
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