Series Rules Page
Helmets are required of competitors
and non-competitors any time they are on their bike.
2021 Paul and Sue's Gratitudes Tour Texas Cup XC Mtn. Bike Series
USA Cycling Rules
All races in the 2021 Texas Cup XC Mountain Bike Series are USA Cycling sanctioned and as such follow USAC rules.
USA Cycling rules
Racing Age
Racing age is the year that the event is held minus the racers birth year. Another way to understand it is whatever age you will be on December 31st of the year in which the series championship is happening.
Example: Racer is currently 31 years old but has a birthday in October and will be turning 32 at that point in time. Their "racing age" is 32 because that is how old they will be on December 31st.
Helmets - Always!
Helmets are required of competitors
and non-competitors any time they are on their bike.
Series Points
Points will be calculated for Junior, Cat 3, Cat 2, Cat 1 and PRO/Cat 1.
Series Number Plates
Season long race plates are back following the success of the 2020/21 launch. TMBRA will use one standard plate for the 2021 Spring and Fall cross-country (XC) as well as the 2022 marathon (XCM) race series. Every race participant is required to utilize a season plate for race scoring and timing for each unique race category in which they will compete (ex. Singlespeed 2/3 and Cat 2 40-44).
It will be the responsibility of the racer to bring their race number plate to each race they compete. Plates cost $10 for next available number or $25 for a custom number (custom numbers available Jan-mid February only). If a racer forgets their number plate they may purchase a one-time use, temporary plate at onsite registration for $3. If they loose their number they will purchase a replacement plate for $10 (either online through BikeReg or at onsite race registration). Pre-season race plate orders can be placed through this website or can be purchased through BikeReg as part of the race registration process.
Pro/Category 1, Category 2 and Masters
The best 4 of the 5 races will count to determine the overall standings. Racers must compete in a minimum of 3 events to qualify for overall series awards.
Category 3 & 14/12/10 Under Juniors
The best 3 of the 5 races will count to determine the overall standings . Racers must compete in a minimum of 2 events to qualify for overall series awards.
Points are tallied based on the riders' finish order at each individual 2021 Texas Cup XC Mountain Bike Series race. Points are tabulated only on cross-country events.
Points are awarded in the following manner:
Place
|
Points
|
|
Place
|
Points
|
1st
|
60
|
|
16th
|
19
|
2nd
|
55
|
|
17th
|
17
|
3rd
|
51
|
|
18th
|
15
|
4th
|
47
|
|
19th
|
13
|
5th
|
44
|
|
20th
|
11
|
6th
|
41
|
|
21st
|
10
|
7th
|
38
|
|
22nd
|
9
|
8th
|
35
|
|
23rd
|
8
|
9th
|
33
|
|
24th
|
7
|
10th
|
31
|
|
25th
|
6
|
11th
|
29
|
|
26th
|
5
|
12th
|
27
|
|
27th
|
4
|
13th
|
25
|
|
28th
|
3
|
14th
|
23
|
|
29th
|
2
|
15th
|
21
|
|
30th
|
1
|
If a tie exists for an overall class at the end of the series, the following rules will be used in the following order until the tie is broken:
1) Number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ... until tie is broken in all races that are used for series points.
2) Head-to-Head results in all common races.
3) Best result in most recent race (dropped or not)
During the series a rider may upgrade categories, however points earned in one category or class (age group) will not be transferred to another.
Categories/Classes
2021 Texas Cup XC Mountain Bike Series categories/classes:
PRO/Cat 1 |
Cat 2 |
|
Cat 3 |
Junior |
Men
PRO/Cat 1 |
Men 15-18 |
|
Men 15-18 |
Junior Men 1-10 |
Men 15-18 |
Men 19-29 |
|
Men 19-29 |
Junior Men 11-12 |
Men 19-39 |
Men 30-39 |
|
Men 30-39 |
Junior Men 13-14 |
Men 40-49 |
Men 40-49 |
|
Men 40-49 |
|
Men 50-59 |
Men 50+ |
|
Men 50-59 |
Junior Women 1-10 |
|
|
|
Men 60+ |
Junior Women 11-12 |
|
|
|
|
Junior Women 13-14
|
Women
PRO/Cat 1
|
|
|
|
|
Women 15-18 |
Women 15-18
|
|
Women 15-18
|
|
Women 19-39
|
Women 19-39
|
|
Women 19-39
|
|
Women 40-49
|
Women 40+
|
|
Women 40-49
|
|
|
|
|
Women 50+
|
|
MastersOpen |
|
|
|
|
Men 60-69 |
SingleSpeed |
|
|
|
Men 70+ |
Single Speed Open |
|
|
|
|
Single Speed 2/3 |
|
|
|
Women 50-59
Women 60+
|
|
|
|
|
Courses
Courses vary according to the geography of the area, and the amount of single track available. In general Pro/Cat 1 races will last 2 - 2.5 hours; Cat 2: 1.5 - 2 hours and Cat 3: 1 to 1.5 hours. Cat 1 Men and Women 40 and older will race the “Cat 2” distance but start with the Cat 1. Master Open classes will race the "Cat 2" distance but start with the Cat 1. Single Speed Open will start with the Cat 1 and do the Cat 1 distance. Single Speed 2/3 will start with Cat 2 and do the Cat 2 distance. Junior 13-14 will start with Cat 3 and do the Cat 3 distance. Most race courses offer modified distances for 12 & U and 10 & U. Please refer to each races informational flyer for further details on course distance.
Roll Call
Roll call will begin 7 minutes prior to the first group start in each major wave.
Example: C1 starts begin at 9AM. Pro/C1 Men are the first group to start so roll call would begin for them at 8:53AM.
Roll call will be:
1) Series ranking for those that have pre-registered.
2) Registration order for those that have pre-registered.
3) Registration order for those that have registered on-site.
For the 2nd race of the series and onward, there will also be a call up at the start line for the top 10 contenders in the series for groups that have 15 or greater starters in them.
Example: At Race XYZ, the C1 Mens group has 12 starters so there would not be a top 10 call up. C2 Women 40+ has 16 starters so the top 10 series contenders will be called up to a front row spot.
Staging Order
Classes (age groups) will be ordered within a start wave taking the following into consideration.
1) Average speed of the top 3 racers from previous races
2) Logistical considerations of the course being run
Staggers (time intervals) are used between each Class (age group) start to space them apart. For larger groups this can be as much as 3-5 minutes and smaller groups 1-2 minutes. Small classes may be combined together. Stagger times fluctuate from race to race based on the length and/or speed of a course.
Check your Results
Check your results after your race to ensure they are correct. This includes spelling, team names, USAC license. If you have a concern please see a race official and let them know. Once a race in the series has concluded the results are considered final for the series and race results posting.
USA Cycling - Mountain Biking License Requirements
All Pro, and Category 1 racers are required to hold a valid USA
Cycling - Mountain Biking annual license.
Category 2 and 3 racers have the option to race with a USA Cycling Annual License OR One-Day License. One Day Licenses cost an additional $10 per race and can be purchased during the pre or onsite registration process.
USAC annual licenses can be purchased online at http://www.usacycling.org/buy-a-license.htm Racers need to bring their USAC license & legal ID for race registration. All racers are required to complete and sign a USAC-Mountain Bike standard athlete’s release.
Minors must have parent signature as well
Race Prizes and Awards
Category 1
C1 Classes (age groups) include C1 Women 15-49, C1 Men 15-59, Masters Men Open, Master Women Open and Single Speed Open
50% of entry fee (based on pre-registration price) X number of racers from the C1 classes divided by the total number of C1 classes with athletes competing and finishing that race. That dollar amount is paid out 5 places deep for each Class. Each Class with have equal payout. (see payout depth chart below for percentage per place)
Purse Bolster Fund: 25% of entry fee (based on pre-registration price) X number of racers in C1 Classes
Pro/C1 Women and Pro/C1 Men Groups
75% of entry fee (based on pre-registration price) X number of racers from the Pro/C1 Women and Pro/C1 Men PLUS Purse Bolster Fund.
This is paid out to the top 4 Women and top 6 Men. There will be equal payout for the top 4 Women and Men. (see payout depth chart below for percentage per place).
CLICK HERE for the Payout Depth Chart
Category 2
Trophies, plaques, medals or professionally produced awards for the top 3 places, ribbons for 4th - 10th. Schwag to the top 5 places. The total value of the Cat 2 Schwag awarded will be a minimum of $100 MSRP per class (age group)
Category 3
Trophies, plaques, medals or professionally produced awards for the top 3 places, ribbons for 4th - 10th. Schwag raffle to all Cat 3 racers. The total value of the Cat 3 Schwag raffled will be a minimum of $800.
Series Awards
Each race in the series will forward the TMBRA treasurer $1 per racer that will be utilized for series overall awards that will be presented to the top ten finishers, in each category/class who qualify with the minimum number of races at final race of the 2021 series. The Series Awards ceremony happens after each categories Race awards.
|