Originally Posted by
aicabsolut
The rules say that you can never get a downgrade to Cat 5. So, if you took time off as a 4, you would return as a 4. If you took a break at any higher category (e.g., 3), you could request a downgrade when you return to racing if you think it's necessary. I don't think that there is any automatic downgrading provided there is some record of your previous road license.
I was a 2 before taking years off for job/family. When I next bought a license, I had the old number but it came back as cat 4.
A buddy who was a 1, who didn't take quite as many years off as me, his new license came back as cat 3. No idea of the logic behind either of those. Truth be told, both of us were cat 4 or worse in fitness.