What are Categories?

Categories are used to separate racers into appropriate groupings so that everyone is racing against folks who are approximately the same skill and fitness level. This keeps the races more competitive and more fun! If you are new to cyclocross you will automatically be placed in the Category 5 race. From there you may move to more advanced categories in one of two ways. You may upgrade your category voluntarily by submitting a petition to USA Cycling. Or, you may be automatically upgraded based on the number of points that you have accumulated on your USA Cycling account. Category upgrades are handled by USA Cycling so make sure you are familiar with their rules and regulations.

‍USA Cycling points are NOT the same as GA CX Series points.

What Category Should you race?

Standard Categories

Standard Category racers will be given both GA CX Series points and USA Cycling Category upgrade points. Except for single speed racers who will not be given USA Cycling Category upgrade points.

• Category 5 | This is the beginner category for women and men. The genders are scored separately but race at the same time.
• Category 4 | Men and women in Category 4 will race together but are scored separately. This race is comparable to a road cycling Category 3 race or a MTB Category 2.
• Master's 35+ Categories 4-5 | This is a beginner "senior" category that is intended to be less competitive than the standard Category 4 and Category 5 races. You may only race in this category if you are categorized by USA Cycling as a 5 or 4 AND you are older than 35. Sandbagging will not be tolerated.
• Category 3 | The Category 3 men and women will race at the same time as the Category 1 and 2 men and women (respectively) but are scored separately. This race is very competitive since it is run at the same time as the highest level of racers. Folks may prefer to remain in Category 3 if they think they are in the running to win the overall Category 3 Series with GA CX Series points. However, the Category 1 and 2 racers get cash prizes rather than medals, so Category 3 men and women may find it advantageous to upgrade quickly from Category 3 to 2 in order that they are eligible for prize money.
• Category 1 and 2 | This is the highest level of cyclocross competition and the only one for which cash prizes are given. For each the men's and women's races Categories 1 and 2 fields are combined and not scored separately. The men's and women's Category 1 and 2 racers will be on course at the same time as their respective Category 3 counterparts, but scored separately from the Category 3 field.‍
• Men and Women's Single Speed | If you have one cog in the back and one cog in the front then this category is for you! No age limits, no separation other than by gender.

Juniors Categories

Juniors racers will be given GA CX Series points.

• Juniors 10-14 | This race is for boys and girls (scored separately) 10-14 who prefer racing by age group rather than by standard categorization. It is a less competitive environment than the standard category races and is intended to be a fun introduction to cyclocross racing for kids.
• Juniors 15-18 | This race is for boys and girls (scored separately) 15-18 who prefer racing by age group rather than by standard categorization. It is a competitive race where young racers hone their skills before jumping into the standard category races. Often, kids will race in the Junior 15-18 category as well as competing in the standard Category 5 or 4 race later in the day.

Master's Categories

Master's races will be awarded GA CX Series points but not USA Cycling Category upgrade points.

• Master's 40+ | This is a race for men over 40 who are used to a competitive environment yet prefer to race other people of the same age.
• Women Master's 40+ | This race is for women over 40 who prefer to race folks in their same age group rather than entering the standard category races.
• Master's 50+ | This race is for men over 50 who prefer to race folks in the 50-60 age group rather than entering the standard categorized races.
• Master's 60+ | This race is for men over 60 who prefer to race by age group rather than by category.

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Non-Collegiate Race Day

8:30 AM

• Juniors 10-14 Boys; 30 minutes
• Juniors 10-14 Girls; 30 minutes
• Juniors 15-18 Boys; 30 minutes
• Juniors 15-18 Girls ; 30 minutes

9:15 AM

• Men Category 5; 30 minutes
• Women Category 5; 30 minutes

10:00 AM

• Masters 40+ Mixed Gender All Categories; 45 minutes
• Masters 50+ Mixed Gender All Categories; 45 minutes
• Masters 60+ Mixed Gender All Categories; 45 minutes

11:00 AM

• Men Category 4; 40 minutes
• Women Category 4; 40 minutes

12:00 PM

• Kid's race (FREE)

12:15 PM

• Women Category 1-2; 45 minutes
• Women Category 3; 45 minutes

1:15 PM

• Men Category 1-2; 60 minutes
• Men Category 3; 60 minutes

2:30 PM

• Maters 35+ Categories 4-5; 35 minutes
• Masters 40+ Women Only; 35 minutes

3:20 PM

• Men Single Speed; 35 minutes
• Women Single Speed; 35 minutes

Collegiate Race Day

8:00 AM

• Collegiate Men Category C and D; 30 minutes
• Collegiate Women Category B and C; 30 minutes

8:40 AM

• Juniors 10-14 Boys; 30 minutes
• Juniors 10-14 Girls; 30 minutes
• Juniors 15-18 Boys; 30 minutes
• Juniors 15-18 Girls ; 30 minutes

9:20 AM

• Men Category 5; 30 minutes
• Women Category 5; 30 minutes

10:00 AM

• Collegiate Men Category B; 45 minutes
• Collegiate Women Category A; 45 minutes

11:00 AM

• Masters Men 40+ All Categories; 45 minutes
• Masters Men 50+ All Categories; 45 minutes
• Masters Men 60+ All Categories; 45 minutes

12:00 PM

• Collegiate Men Category A; 45 minutes
• Men Category 4; 45 minutes
• Women Category 4; 45 minutes

1:00 PM

• Kid's race (FREE)

1:15 PM

• Women Category 1-2; 45 minutes
• Women Category 3; 45 minutes

2:15 PM

• Men Category 1-2; 60 minutes
• Men Category 3; 60 minutes

3:20 PM

• Men Single Speed; 35 minutes
• Women Single Speed; 35 minutes
• Maters Men 35+ Categories 4-5; 35 minutes
• Masters Women 40+ ; 35 minutes

Race Payout

For all categories except Men's Cat 1/2 and Women's Cat 1/2/3 each race has trophies three places deep.

For the Men's Cat 1/2 and Women's Cat 1/2 races the prize payout depends on how many people enter the race. Dollar amounts are listed in the order of payout for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. places.

• 5 or fewer | $85 -- $65 -- $45
• 6 racers | $85 -- $65 -- $45
• 7 racers | $85 -- $65 -- $45 -- $30
• 8 racers | $85 -- $65 -- $45 -- $30
• 9 racers | $85 -- $65 -- $45 -- $30 -- $25
• 10 racers | $85 -- $65 -- $45 -- $30 -- $25
• 11 racers | $90 -- $70 -- $50 -- $30 -- $25 -- $20
• 12 racers | $90 -- $70 -- $50 -- $30 -- $25 -- $20
• 13 racers | $95 -- $75 -- $55 -- $35 -- $25 -- $20 -- $15
• 14 racers | $95 -- $75 -- $55 -- $35 -- $25 -- $20 -- $15
• 15 racers | $100 -- $80 -- $60 -- $40 -- $30 -- $25 -- $20 -- $15
• 16 racers | $100 -- $80 -- $60 -- $40 -- $30 -- $25 -- $20 -- $15
• 17 racers | $100 -- $80 -- $60 -- $40 -- $30 -- $25 -- $20 -- $15
• 18+ racers | $100 -- $85 -- $65 -- $45 -- $35 -- $30 -- $25 -- $20 -- $15

OVERALL Series Prizes:

For all categories except Men's Cat 1/2 and Women's Cat 1/2 the series has prizes or medals three places deep.

• ‍Men CX1/CX2 | Cash $400 -- $300 -- $200 -- $150 -- $100‍
• Women CX1/CX2 | Cash $400 -- $300 -- $200 -- $150 -- $100‍

Points will be awarded to all finishers in each race.

The USAC official’s results will be used to determine the series points. No Changes will be made to the USAC results. You must dispute the results within 20 minutes of the results posting at the race. Please note that every rider completing the race will receive points dependent on length of race.

Points do not carry over in the event that a racer upgrades categories mid season. As in, if a Men’s CX3 upgrades to the Men’s CX1/2 race the points will not carry over. If a Woman’s CX2 upgrades to Woman’s CX1 her points will still remain since she is racing in the same race.

In the event of a tie in the points standings, the rider with the higher place at the State Championship race will break the tie. In the event that neither rider rode the state championship, the rider with the higher placing at the finale will break the tie.

You must be present at the Series finale awards ceremony to claim your series award.

The Results coordinator will keep the official points series standings on the series web site. Any rule interpretations or rule changes are at the Executive and Technical director’s discretion.

The individual final series standings will be the total accumulated points over the entire series(field points + place points), MINUS the lowest points scored at any one race (drop race).

Racers' final points total is the sum of their field points and place points.

Field Points

Racers will receive 1 point for each racer that finishes behind them in their category. Example: if you beat 5 people you get 5 field points. Every racer starting the race will be used in the calculation of field points.

Place Points

Points based on placing will be awarded in each category for the following places:

30 MINUTE RACE

• 1st Place | 30
• 2nd Place | 27
• 3rd Place | 24
• 4th Place | 21
• 5th Place | 19
• 6th Place | 17
• 7th Place | 15
• 8th Place | 13
• 9th Place | 12
• 10th Place | 11
• 11th Place | 10
• 12th Place | 9
• 13th Place | 8
• 14th Place | 7
• 15th Place | 6
• 16th+ Place | 1
• DNF | 0

35 and 40 MINUTE RACE

• 1st Place | 50
• 2nd Place | 45
• 3rd Place | 40
• 4th Place | 35
• 5th Place | 32
• 6th Place | 28
• 7th Place | 25
• 8th Place | 22
• 9th Place | 20
• 10th Place | 18
• 11th Place | 17
• 12th Place | 15
• 13th Place | 13
• 14th Place | 12
• 15th Place | 10
• 16th+ Place | 3
• DNF | 0

45 MINUTE RACE

• 1st Place | 60
• 2nd Place | 54
• 3rd Place | 48
• 4th Place | 42
• 5th Place | 38
• 6th Place | 34
• 7th Place | 30
• 8th Place | 26
• 9th Place | 24
• 10th Place | 22
• 11th Place | 20
• 12th Place | 18
• 13th Place | 16
• 14th Place | 14
• 15th Place | 12
• 16th+ Place | 5
• DNF | 0

60 MINUTE RACE

• 1st Place | 120
• 2nd Place | 108
• 3rd Place | 96
• 4th Place | 84
• 5th Place | 76
• 6th Place | 68
• 7th Place | 60
• 8th Place | 52
• 9th Place | 48
• 10th Place | 44
• 11th Place | 42
• 12th Place | 40
• 13th Place | 38
• 14th Place | 36
• 15th Place | 34
• 16th+ Place | 19
• DNF | 0

Team Competition Points

Team points will be determined from the highest points earning 7 team finishes at each race.

No changing teams during series

An individual will not have points counted towards the team if they fail to put the team name on the registration form or write it illegibly.

Not a rule, but it would be helpful if all team members filled out the team affiliation the same way!!!!!

There will be no drop race for team points.

Ties will be broken by the team’s points total from the Finale. Any remaining ties will be broken by the highest placing team member at the State Championship.

Individual Rider and Bike Rules

All races are held under USAC permit.

All races are required to hold a USAC License or purchase a one-day License (available day of race). One-day licenses can be purchased onsite and are valid for a single day of racing. One-day licenses may only be used for races open to the lowest category of racer for that discipline (Single Speed, CX 5 women and CX 5 men). Experienced racer one-day licenses may be purchased online prior to the event.

All riders must fully complete and sign the standard USAC waiver of liability at each prior to beginning each race or riding on the course. A racer’s failure to do so will result in loss of all series points earned up to that event.

All racers must wear an ANSI or SNELL approved helmet while using their bike before, during, and after a race.

No bar-ends are allowed on mountain bikes per USAC rules.

Racers may ride any type of bicycle legal for mass start events per the USA Cycling rules (cyclocross, road, mtn. bike, fixed gear etc.). No e-bikes per USA Cycling rules. All bikes must be human powered only.

Single Speed Rules: Riders must have a single cog in the rear. There should be no way to change between front chainrings.

All USA Cycling rules apply.

Categories

If a racer requires a category upgrade to race the appropriate category it is their responsibility to obtain the upgrade prior to the race. To obtain an upgrade see usacycling.org. Sometimes upgrades can be done at races but it is the racer’s responsibility to make sure the appropriate officials will be at the race to upgrade them.

Racing Age

Racing age for the 2022-2023 season is determined by the rider's age on December 31, 2023.

How to determine your “Cyclocross Racing Age.” This can be very confusing. The simplest way to answer the question is, what is your age in years on December 31, 2023? That number is your cyclocross racing age. It is usually USA Cycling racing age +1.

Timing

All races will be passive chip timed. Each rider will have lap time data for their course. The cost for each rider's chip will be $5. A replacement chip will be $10 per chip with a $5 return discount. Please remember your bib and chip for each race day. It is very difficult to change bibs and chips.

King and Queen of the Mountain

Each race will have a timed hilly section to compete for the season overall KOM or QOM award. The section will be labeled with a start sign and finish sign. A racers fastest section time per event will be added together for a series overall. Top three places overall will receive payout and a special medal. Two hundred fifty dollars three deep for both KOM and QOM. All categories racing against each other by gender.

Season Pass

For 2022 we will be offering a season pass where racers who commit to a whole season of Georgia Cross will get one entry free. The pass is for one category and is not transferable or refundable.  Racers can register here:

http://www.bikereg.com/georgia-cyclocross-series