This document outlines the concept, structure, and implementation of events that will be a part of the 2008 U.S. Handcycling Series.

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Background

There are some big changes in store for the 2008 U.S. Handcycling Series. The changes have been made based on data from the previous nine U.S. Handcycling seasons. The “spirit” of the new structure is to create more exciting, easier to understand races for the fans, the general public, and competitors. The goals of the U.S. Handcycling Series are threefold:

1. Create a prestigious national bike racing series that recognizes elite handcyclists for their hard work and athleticism while simultaneously offering athletes a consistent, nationwide venue to develop their competition skills.

2. Create a broad network of local and regional bike races that include handcycling and are associated with a nationally-recognized racing series, in order to build a nationwide network of handcycle racers.

3. Build a complete, top-to-bottom handcycling program in the United States by expanding the nationwide web of integrated cycling events (including cycling tours and fundraising events that welcome handcyclists), and include grassroots components (in association with local organizations) at each of them.

Types of Events

National Series Races

There will be no more than 10 total events [weekends] at the National level in 2008.

There will be an unlimited number of total events [weekends] at the Regional level in 2008.

Local Series Races and Cycling Tours

There will be an unlimited number of local races and tours listed as part of the series in 2008. Any standalone handcycling, integrated cycling event (including cycling tours), or fundraising event that welcomes handcyclists is eligible to be part of the series at the local level.

Racing Categories & Classification

The category and classification system will be much different for the 2008 season. After reviewing results and comparing times from more than 100 races since 1999, U.S. Handcycling has simplified the racing structure to make it more exciting and easier to understand. In addition, there should be less [hardly any] confusion on the part of athletes as to which category or classification they should be racing in.

U.S. Handcycling may choose to classify some athletes more extensively at selected events for the purposes of selecting athletes to compete in internationally. This process is separate from any U.S. Handcycling Series scoring.

Racing and age group categories outlined in this document will be scored for all National and Regional events in the U.S. Handcycling Series. In some cases, additional categories/classes may be scored by the individual event promoters. However, prize money and points for the U.S. Handcycling Series will be awarded ONLY as outlined below. Any additional prize money, in kind prizes, primes, or other athlete benefits advertised are at the discretion of individual event promoters or LOCs. All participants in any event in the U.S. Handcycling Series must be individual members of U.S. Handcycling…no exceptions.

Scoring

The scoring system for the National series has also been simplified. National and regional events are required to distribute prize money based on this system. However, event promoters/LOCs may choose to recognize additional categories.

Points are awarded based on the number of riders per racing category and per age group category. For a race with 17 participants, the 1^st-place finisher will receive 17 points, 2^nd place receives 16 points, etc. For age group categories, points are given for the next highest-placed rider in the like age group…see examples below.

Scoring Examples

The racer highlited in RED is the same athlete. They receive 1 point for their Racing Category, and 1 point for their Age Group Category.

Scoring for Multi-day Events

For events with multiple days of racing, most events will be scored as an Omnium and pay prize money based on overall Omnium results. An Omnium is based on cumulative points rather overall time as is the practice for stage races like the Sadler’s Ultra Challenge or The Tour de France. The advantage of an Omnium is that you can allow participants to race any or all individual races. In a stage race, all participants must compete in every race to earn an overall place.

To score an Omnium, use the same system as above for each individual race and total them to get overall results for both racing and age categories. In order to avoid ties (particularly for the top three places), use a bonus system for the winner of each race by weighting different disciplines with different bonuses. The winner of a time trial should receive a 3 point bonus on top of points already earned, the winner of a road race a 2 point bonus, and the winner of a criterium a 1 point bonus. In the event of a tie for any place, the competitor with the highest finish in the time trial will be awarded the higher overall Omnium place.

Racing Rules

Handcycle racing is bicycle racing, and standard n.g.b. (USA Cycling, ACA, etc) and/or UCI rules apply, with the following exceptions:

- Categories as outlined in this document

- Scoring as outlined in this document

- Start order and category grouping. It may make sense to combine any or all categories listed in this document at the race start for purposes of scheduling. This is done at the discretion of the Chief Referee and/or U.S Handcycling representative.

- Inter-category cooperation. Racers from the different racing categories outlined in this document may work together during road races, criteriums, and circuit races, except in the final portions of the day’s race as outlined below. During the final stages, racers may only work with other racers within their same racing category (i.e. kneeseat can work only with kneeseat, etc). Racers from different categories may end up in the same group, but cannot provide assistance to one another across categories during these times:

o Criterium: The final 2 laps

o Circuit Race: The final lap

o Road Race: The final 1 mile

Note: Racers from the “minority” category will be advised to move out of the way -- particularly during the finish sprint -- in order to avoid penalty or disqualification by the chief referee.

- Criteriums. All racers finish on the overall winner’s lap, regardless of overall winner’s racing category. This may also apply to certain circuit races with short per-lap distances, at the discretion of the Chief Referee and/or U.S. Handcycling Representative.

- Lapped riders. This is not a rule exception, but a rule reiteration: Handcycle racers should read the USCF rules re: lapped riders in criteriums and circuit races on the USAcycling.org website. They will be enforced strictly, particularly at the National Championships.

- Wheels. This is a clarification: “Wheels may be made with spokes or solid construction. No wheel may contain special mechanisms to store and release energy.” The preceding is from the USCF rulebook. Therefore, in the U.S. Handcycling series, “tri-spoke” wheels and “disc wheels” are allowed…even in mass start criteriums and road races. Athletes should be aware that this is NOT the case for UCI, international racing. The UCI rules are different. Any handcyclists who will potentially compete abroad should read the following documents found on the UCI website.

http://www.uci.ch/english/about/wheels.htm

http://www.uci.ch/english/about/rules/ch01_general.pdf