Reorganising the championship weekends are just two of the large number of changes to Irish road racing. All of them kick in for next season, some will be felt before then. For example, road racers need to get their licence applications in very promptly (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Changes to Cycling Ireland road racing for 2018
Cycling Ireland is making significant changes to road racing categories and how the scene works generally. Many, but not all, were agreed at the recent annual meeting.
We've put together a list of the main changes, many of them will impact all road race cyclists from next season.
Cycling Ireland road racing changes
You must have a physical licence to race so you need to renew early.
For open road racing the one day licence has been scrapped so you need to ensure you have renewed in good time before the first race of the year in March.
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Cycling Ireland will begin posting licences in the first week of January and the system is now open for renewals so there is plenty of time to get it sorted.
The turnaround time for postage can take up to two weeks. If you do not have your licence at race sign-on, you will be refused entry by the commissaires.
Under new rules, if you don’t have a licence and back numbers on race day you cannot take part in open road races.
One day licences are still available for off-road cross country, downhill, Enduro, cyclocross, TTs, BMX and leisure events all year round barring national and provincial championships. They are not available for any Track events.
If you receive enough points to upgrade during the season and are waiting on the new licence and back numbers to arrive, you can show the licence on the Cycling Ireland app on race day as proof.
If you turn 30 years in the calendar year or you are already in your thirties and wish to take part in some Masters 30 championships, you must ensure you select M30 when you renew your membership.
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You may still take part in senior championships where no equivalent M30 championship takes place.
Make sure you have a UCI category of Elite selected with M30 to take part in senior champs.
If you turn 40 years old in the calendar year or have yet to switch from senior, make sure you select M40 when you renew your Cycling Ireland membership to take part in any M40 championships.
If you wish to ride the Rás, International Track GP or any Elite UCI events you may do so with the combination of M40 and Elite UCI category.
M50 and M60 licences are automatically selected for you once you reach the qualifying age.
There are no specific Masters women’s rider categories. However, once a female rider turns 40 years old in the calendar year she is eligible for the Masters women prize in the national road race and TT championships
M40, M50 and M60 licence holders are not eligible for the A3 Senior championships. Only riders with senior or M30 rider categories can take part.
The Road Racing season cannot start before the first Saturday in March
Established race date protection will be confined to events within the same province
National cyclocross championships will be rotated throughout the provinces in the order of Leinster in 2018, Munster in 2019, Connacht in 2020 and Ulster in 2021.
The minimum entry for Senior Female National Championships is reduced to six.
There is a recommendation from Cycling Ireland that all four provincial road race championships will take place on the same day in 2018 - August 26th.
There have been some changes to the upgrade thresholds for the full competition categories and for championships.
- A4s require 13 points to be upgraded to A3. Those on 13 points or more from 2017 will be automatically upgraded for 2018.
- A3s require 15 points to be upgraded to A2
- A2s require 15 points to be upgraded to A1. A2’s with less than 15 points at the end of a season will carry forward 50 per cent of their total into the following season.
- A1s may apply to the National Grading Officer for downgrade to A2 with 5 points if they fail to meet a minimum of 6 points as an A1.
- Championship bundles have been amended. The June championships are now senior men's road race, senior women's road race, junior men's road race, junior women's road race.
- The TT championships - also to be held the same weekend in June, are now paracycling, senior women's TT, senior men's TT, junior men's TT, junior women's TT.
- Masters road race championships and TT championships will move to the other championship bundle weekend, with the A3s.
- A4 races are limited to a maximum of 110 riders
- First year junior graded as A3. If they obtain 60 points – May be upgraded to A2
- Second year juniors will start season as A3 even if upgraded to A2 as 1st year junior
- Second year juniors obtaining 30 points may be upgraded to A2.
- Second year junior then 1st year senior will be A3 with zero points even if upgraded to A2 as 2nd year junior
- Second year Juniors with 50 points or more may apply for a higher grade as 1st year senior
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