Cycling Ireland proposes significant changes to category grading system

Cycling Ireland has released a discussion document ahead of its AGM next month. It outlines a number of proposals aimed at progressing riders through the lower senior grades faster, and increasing numbers in the higher senior categories.

With 360 A1/A2 riders racing this year, Cycling Ireland believes there is a need to increase this combined total by around 200 riders. It has suggested a possible amnesty whereby any A3 rider could upgrade to A2.

Also under consideration is the upgrading for 2013 any A2 or A3 with more than 5 points after the 2012 season to A1 and A2 respectively.

It is also proposed that A4 be regarded as a novice category, with any rider competing at that level for two or more full years to date to be upgraded to A3 for next year.

Further possible measures to improve movement through the grades include the following:

• Amending points distribution and thresholds for upgrading.
• Mandatory upgrading of, say, top 100 at each grade at year-end.
• Downgrading only for those on zero points on request during a defined period and no downgrading from A3 to A4.

A number of measures aimed at improving safety at events will also have an impact on the A4 category.

For example, it is proposed that no riders receive an A4 licence unless they have taken part in four non-open races, with this to be verified by a club official.

Also under consideration are measures that will see no A4 licences issued to unattached members and no one-day licences issued for A4 races.

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Some of the figures outlined in the discussion paper make for very interesting reading.

For example, there were just 134 A1 licence holders this year; a figure that has not increased as cycling has gained in popularity in recent years.

In the A2 category, the number of licence holders has fallen by ten per cent since 2009, with 226 A2s racing on Irish roads this year.

Similarly, the A3 category has also declined; with 723 licence holders this year, compared with 849 back in 2009.

It is in the A4 category and at ‘club competition’ level that the growth in cycling in recent years is clearly being witnessed. There were 875 A4s this year, compared with 660 in 2008.

In 2012 there were 2,077 club competition licence holders, an increase on the previous couple of seasons.

The remainder of Cycling Ireland members, around 10,000 in all, are non-racing cyclists.

The proposals around grading should make for some good debate at Cycling Ireland’s AGM on November 3rd. It takes place from 11am in the Clonmel Park Hotel, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Current Situation – Category Numbers

Current Situation – Points Distribution

Field Sizes (2012 Races)