Cyclocross Racing - Analyzing race results - Cat4 vs open Cat 1 and Pro

Oh how interesting.
CX4 in my area gets some stiff competition. Looking at results, the winner of CX4 would place 3rd in Open Cat1 and in the top 8 of Cat 1 UCI Pro's. :eek:

Maybe the difference from 5 laps to 7 will see his times fall like a rock but I doubt it.

Think he needs to cat-up or what...?

I looked at the average speeds and fastest lap times etc and the top leaders in Cat 4 are really up there in contention with the Pros and open Cat1. Other fields like 45+, 55+, womens, 35+ 3/4 all have predictably lower times, but not the infamous cat 4 sandbag class.

Wow, that's pretty bad. Around DC (MABRA series), I'd say the top Cat 4s would slot in at top 10 or so in Cat 3.

Man, I'll have to look at some of that. Sounds like he'd move up categories every few races.
From my experience, there's not just one of them.

sandbagger, sometimes our times get close in the PNW but it's due to course deterioration. I wouldn't want to see my lap times on #5, 6 and 7

If you feel so strongly about the "sandbaggers" you should talk to your represenative for usa cycling and tell them to create clear forced upgrade rules.

If you feel so strongly about the "sandbaggers" you should talk to your represenative for usa cycling and tell them to create clear forced upgrade rules.

there already are clear upgrade rules. Nobody enforces them. 2 wins or 12 points.

On facebook it sounds like one guy is actually trying to cat up to 3 but USA cycling is taking a long time to respond and make any changes. Heck, I say just register as a 3 then! Must be lonely up there at the top.

I'm nobody in 'cross, but I have been a local champ in autocross racing and just feel that its more "fun" when everyone races in the right categories. It makes for more exciting and tight racing.

On facebook it sounds like one guy is actually trying to cat up to 3 but USA cycling is taking a long time to respond and make any changes. Heck, I say just register as a 3 then! Must be lonely up there at the top.

I'm nobody in 'cross, but I have been a local champ in autocross racing and just feel that its more "fun" when everyone races in the right categories. It makes for more exciting and tight racing.


yeah, i see the same dudes at the front, the same named in the confirmed rider lists....i guess even coming in the top 10 everytime just simply doesn't bruise these delicate creatures' egos...

I know at least a few have moved to the 3's this season. The leader of the 3's started as a 4, he should be a 2 real soon. The JR leader has also moved to the 3's.
Don't if the moves were voluntary or forced.
The series does let them bring their best finish with them as they upgrade.

Me, I plan to be a 4 for my full 10 races. (Until I actually beat someone, I won't have to worry about any sandbagging comments) What to ride as a 3 will be my big concern then.

It seems around here that the mountain bikers are the sandbaggers. If you are a Cat 4 road and Cat 2 Mountain shouldn't you be in Cat 2 cyclocross? There were at least 2 cat 2's in the 4 over the weekend. A few weeks ago a cat 1 mountan biker raced the cat 4s. Why? Well he didn't have a cross bike and you can only race mountain bikes in the 4s. He won the race imagine that. I think if you are a cat 1 mountain biker and you don't have a cross bike then you are out of luck. I have not finsihed close enough to get paid so it doesn't really matter who is in my race. I just think people should follow the rules.

It seems around here that the mountain bikers are the sandbaggers. If you are a Cat 4 road and Cat 2 Mountain shouldn't you be in Cat 2 cyclocross? There were at least 2 cat 2's in the 4 over the weekend. A few weeks ago a cat 1 mountan biker raced the cat 4s. Why? Well he didn't have a cross bike and you can only race mountain bikes in the 4s. He won the race imagine that. I think if you are a cat 1 mountain biker and you don't have a cross bike then you are out of luck. I have not finsihed close enough to get paid so it doesn't really matter who is in my race. I just think people should follow the rules.

That's crazy, they won't let you race a mountain bike in the lower cat's?

I think there are still issues with the cat system in cross. People want to start off in the upper cat's and you can't really blame them. So then they need to go through the ranks to cat up. That and a lot of cross races are part of a series and so midway through the series you don't want to cat up and forfeit your series results. So in some cases I can see how this happens. It can also work the other way around, there are cat 1 road racers that would come in towards the end of a cat 4 cross field :D

I can see how guys can consistently be in top 10 but not have enough to upgrade since points don't start until 6th place (1 point). Even upgrading on experience, it looks like you need 10 qualifying races within a 12 month period. There aren't enough "qualifying" races in some areas to even do that, unless you double-up on race day.

So a guy that consistently places 7th, but only does the 7 USAC races per year in his area, can't officially upgrade...or am I interpreting the rulebook incorrectly?

BTW, this hardly describes me, mid-pack finisher...when I finish ;-(