2010-2011 Rules TBRA Cyclo-Cross Series & State Championships

Article I.           The TBRA Series Competition. The TBRA Cyclo-Cross Racing Series Competition is divided by racers in the following categories.

Men’s Pro/ CX 1/ CX 2
Men’s CX 3
Men’s CX 4
Men’s Masters 35-44
Men’s Masters 45+
Juniors 10-14
Juniors 15-18
Juniors 10-14 (female)
Juniors 15-18 (female) 
Women’s Pro/ CX 1/ CX 2/ CX 3
Women’s CX 4
Single Speed

1          Eligibility of Participants.

1.1       Any rider with a valid USA Cycling racing license is eligible to compete in one or more of the TBRA Cyclo-Cross Series competitions that the rider qualifies for based on age, gender, and category. Riders purchasing one-day licenses will not have their results scored.

1.2       Eligible riders must declare in what class (category or age group) they are competing for mixed class race events. A rider who falls within the parameters of two classes for the same single race event must choose the class in which they wish to attempt to accumulate points at the time of registration.

1.3       Riders can not accumulate points for more than one class in a single race event. Riders may choose to race in two separate classes at a given event and attempt to accumulate points in both classes separately.

1.4       Riders participating in age-based categories, such as the Junior 10-14, Junior 15-18, Men’s Masters 35-44, and Men’s Masters 45+ will be categorized by subtracting the participant’s year of birth from the year the TBRA cyclo-cross series ends. For example, for the 2010-2011 season, the ending year is 2011. If a participant was born in 1966, the equation would be: 2011-1966 = 45. That participant’s racing age for the entire TBRA cyclo-cross season would be 45.

2          Requirements of TBRA Points Series Races.

Any rule referring to TBRA series or points series races, apply only to those races, all other races are not governed by those rules. However, USAC Cyclo-cross rules apply to all races

2.1       Event must be USAC approved and follow all rules for cyclo-cross discussed in the USA Cycling Rulebook.

2.2       Event must be promoted by a TBRA-member club in good standing. (Note: If an

independent entity wishes to promote a TBRA race, then that Promoter must partner with a TBRA club.)

2.3       Event must start or finish in the state of Tennessee. However, pending board approval on a case by case basis, races that are in close proximity to the TN border may be approved for TBRA series races.

2.4       Event must take place on a Saturday, Sunday, and/or National Holiday.

2.5       Event promoter(s) must pay a $1.00 per rider/per day fee to TBRA for every participant, excluding Juniors. In addition it is strongly recommended that Juniors be charged a race entry fee of $1.00 only. This fee applies to both points series races and non series races.

2.6       The TBRA Cyclo-cross Director shall select events to be included in the TBRA Cyclo-cross Series. This selection shall be conducted in consultation with event promoters and the TBRA Board. Events will be selected upon consideration of factors including, but not limited to: geographical location, course design, scheduling, and overall event quality. [Note: As the recognized Local Association for Tennessee, all cyclocross events must submit event permit application in consultation with the TBRA Cyclocross Director –including events that are not part of the TBRA Cyclocross Points Series.]

2.6.1    For local race series that are selected to be included in the TBRA Cyclo-cross Series, the number of local race series events that shall be eligible for TBRA points shall not exceed half (50%) of the total number of events in that local race series.

2.6.2    The TBRA Cyclo-cross Series shall include no more than one TBRA Series event per calendar day.

2.7       Promoters wishing to participate in the TBRA Cyclo-cross Points Series must submit their race dates to the director of cyclo-cross racing no later than the first day of August prior to the start of the cyclo-cross season. Event dates received after the first day of August will not be included in the Series.

2.8       In addition to USAC requirements, full race information must be available for placing on the website no less than 45 days before an event.

2.9       TBRA Points Series races must include all TBRA Cyclo-cross Categories. This means all points series events must have races for each TBRA cyclo-cross category. However, categories can be combined into one race. Example: (Mens CX 3, Women CX 1, 2, 3).

2.10     Awards will be given to all TBRA CX categories at a minimum 3 places in all TBRA points series races (Awards will be determined by the race promoter i.e.: Medals, etc). This includes races where categories are combined

2.11     Competitors must race in USAC Cyclocross categories, the designated single speed division, and/or age groups (i.e. Junior, Master, etc.). Beginners will be assigned to participate in the CX 4 category races. Upgrades and downgrades will be available per USA Cycling guidelines and standards.

2.12     Races with arbitrary categories in which riders assign themselves (e.g. A, B, C) will not be assigned points.

2.13 Courses:

2.13.1 Courses must meet the minimum standards of the "Rules of Cyclo-cross Racing" listed in the USAC rule book. In particular, course length, course width [including start & finish requirements and minimum width standards] and barrier height.

2.13.2  All TBRA race promoters must submit a description of their course design (s) and basic map detailing: location, terrain used, course markings, and length of course to the director of cyclo-cross racing prior to the event. (2008 rule) All TBRA race promoters shall have their designated chief official approve the race course prior to each event. If a course does not meet USAC requirements it will no be included in the following TBRA series unless the Cyclo-cross Director is assured that the course will meet those requirements.

2.13.3 Course marking: Courses must be clearly marked. All turns, inside and out to be marked at a minimum with, wooden stakes and caution tape (or similar marking tape), Straights should be marked at a minimum with, survey flags unless it is obvious i.e.: roadway, gravel road, dirt lane etc. If one side of the course is bordered by woods, fence, hedge row, mown path through fields, etc., only the side with no border must be marked at a minimum with survey flags. Where the course passes itself in straights or otherwise, it is to be marked with, at a minimum wooden stakes and caution tape (or similar marking tape) the entire length of the straight to avoid riders cutting the course.

2.14     Official assignments must be approved by the TBRA Cyclo-cross Director.

 2.15     While not required, it is suggested that race promoters follow a standard race schedule for TBRA series races. Please see the end of this document for the suggested schedule.

2.16     Event promoters must provide each rider with one racing number to be worn by the rider on the side (ribcage) facing the finish judge.

2.17     Event promoters must provide the TBRA Points Director with event results including at a minimum each scored rider's name as it appears on his/her license, license number, and team or club name within one (1) week of the close of the event in order to keep the website current.

2.18     The TBRA cyclo-cross season will commence no earlier than the first weekend in September of a given year and will end no later than the final weekend in February of the following year.

2.19     Events of promoters who are unable to adhere to, or who on race day do not correctly apply these requirements will be placed on probation and if the events are not run in accordance with these rules the following year, then they will not be allowed to promote TBRA events.

3 Awarding TBRA Points.

3.1       TBRA points are awarded to the top riders in each race at TBRA events pursuant to the points schedule set out in the appendix to these rules.

3.2       When a single race event combines two or more TBRA classes, a rider who qualifies for the award of points based upon their finish position will receive points applied to his/her applicable, and, in the case of a rider who qualifies for two or more TBRA classes, elected class.

3.3       Points for the 2010-2011 TBRA Cyclo-Cross Series will be awarded according to the 2010 TBRA Point Series Scale Division I structure.

3.3.1    Field Points: In addition to points for placing in a race, field points will be added to a riders finish points according to the TBRA Points Series Scale.

3.4       Scoring of the competition and interim results.

3.4.1    Current point scores for riders in each category/class will be maintained on the website.

3.4.2    Riders with protests concerning events, scoring, and/or tabulation of scores should direct protests to the TBRA Cyclo-Cross Race Director no later than 10 days after an event in question or in the case of a scoring question, 10 days before the final awards are made. (NOTE: This protest period does not alter or apply to the rules governing protests pertaining to race results as announced at the event venue by the officials; this paragraph applies only to information and points posted on the website.)

3.5 Winners and Awards.

3.5.1    Each category of competition will be scored on total point accumulation for a maximum of ten (10) events during the TBRA racing season with first place being the largest accumulator of TBRA Series points down to last place being the rider with the least amount of scored points in his or her category.

3.5.2    Riders must complete in at least five (5) races to be considered in the TBRA points competition.

3.5.3    In the event of a tie, USCF rules on Individual Points Classification in stage races shall apply.

3.5.4    Winners of each category will be provided a champion’s race jersey.

3.5.5    Second and third place riders in each category will receive awards of varying nature.

3.5.6    The TBRA Championship and jersey can only be awarded to a rider who is eligible under the provisions of the competition.

3.5.7    All awards will be distributed at the annual TBRA Night of Champions (annual awards banquet) held in the fall.

Article II. TBRA Tennessee State Championships.

1        A Tennessee State Championship jersey will be awarded to the highest placing Tennessee licensed rider in the designated State Championship event for each category and age group competition recognized by TBRA.

2.   State Championships to be held in the month of January, unless the director of cyclo-cross racing approves the race for an alternate month.

Addendum:

Race Schedules:

Both schedules below maximize the number of times a rider can race in a single day.

In the fall, a CX3 rider whose racing age is 35 or older could potentially race three races in one day. This gives the rider more racing for their time and travel and increases the revenue generated to the promoter.