Who's moving up?

..or maybe all of those really fast Cat 1 racers will have to start getting handicaps... like strapping weights to their bikes or something... win too many races and they start adding weight... sort of like what some of the Sport Car series groups do... :rofl:
 
Norm, I sent you the wrong link. Here's the correct one for pro team licensing:

http://www.usacycling.org/forms/proxct/09ProMTB-TeamMembership.pdf

Basically, if you want to be tabulated in the series standings for the Pro XC Tour starting this year, you need to be a member of a licensed pro team. Privateers can start their own teams by paying for the team license ($250) in addition to their pro racing license.

This pro team requirement is ONLY for the Pro XCT right now, and any licensed pro racer can still show up and race pro at those races, they just won't be included in the overall series awards unless they're a member of a pro team. This does not affect any non-Pro XCT races, including the national championships.

But anyone who's traveling across the country to race all the Pro XCT races will either be a part of a pro team, or pay the $250 to get their own team license.
 
jbogner said:
Norm, I sent you the wrong link. Here's the correct one for pro team licensing:

http://www.usacycling.org/forms/proxct/09ProMTB-TeamMembership.pdf

Basically, if you want to be tabulated in the series standings for the Pro XC Tour starting this year, you need to be a member of a licensed pro team. Privateers can start their own teams by paying for the team license ($250) in addition to their pro racing license.

This pro team requirement is ONLY for the Pro XCT right now, and any licensed pro racer can still show up and race pro at those races, they just won't be included in the overall series awards unless they're a member of a pro team. This does not affect any non-Pro XCT races, including the national championships.

But anyone who's traveling across the country to race all the Pro XCT races will either be a part of a pro team, or pay the $250 to get their own team license.
Click to expand...

Just curious, what is the purpose of this??
 
There's a desire among the pro teams and pro racers to elevate the Pro XCT beyond the level of local and regional "pro" racers, and require a greater commitment on the part of those participating. The change is purely being driven by the top teams and top riders themselves, and the issues around it were discussed at length at the promoters/team summit last fall. It's one more step in demanding greater commitment from pro racers. I've heard Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Gary Fisher argue vehemently for it- this is something that all the top US XC Pros support and are advocating for.

Also note that after the window for semipro upgrading closes this year, upgrading from Cat 1 to Pro will become MUCH, MUCH tougher. The new rulebook:

"Category 1 riders may be eligible to be upgraded to Pro after achieving a combination of these minimum race results: two top-three category 1 (rider ability) finishes according to finish time (including all classes in category 1) at USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar Category 1, 2 or 3 events; or three top-five Category 1 (rider ability) finishes according to finish time (including all age classes in category 1) at USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar Category 1,2 or 3 events. AMBC, USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar Category 4 (XCO) events and international events may also be considered."

So to get a Pro license upgrade in the future, you will have to go out to the national calendar races, and be not just the fastest in your age class, but in the top 3 fastest overall Cat 1's.
 
jbogner said:
So to get a Pro license upgrade in the future, you will have to go out to the national calendar races, and be not just the fastest in your age class, but in the top 3 fastest overall Cat 1's.
Click to expand...

I'd say this makes sense... and it would be interesting if they apply the same rules to DH...
 
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