What is a CAT racing division?

[chrisanna]

Okay ladies, I live in a non-cycling community so my circle of friends wouldn't even know what this is and I've been unable to find the answer so I'm turning to you.
What are the CAT divisions 1, 2 ,3 and 4?
Does CAT just stand for "category"?
What is the Espoir division?

Chrisanna

[pedalfaster]

CAT does indeed stand for Category. Beginner men start at CAT5 (also sometimes listed as "Citizens"). Beginning women may also race CAT5/Citizen with the men. Beginner Women's class starts at CAT 4 and you upgade(to 3, 2, 1 and Pro) by racking up points racing . More info can be found at usacycling.org.

Espoirs are young riders, under 23.

Hope this helps.

p.s. I'm lucky, I ended up in a tiny little town in IN that has a strong cycling community

[chrisanna]

Thanks much!
We are going to see our first real road race over in Mason OH this weekend. This info you provided helped explain the divisions for me.
Chrisanna

[VenusdeVelo]

To race as a CAT racer, you need to have a racing license. Not true for racing as a Citizen. Sometimes CAT 5 race with Citizens, but they are separate.

[extra-vert]

Can anyone give me an idea of the type, (or experience level) of a new cat 4 racer? Or, I suppose, what it takes to consider competing in a cat 4 race?

[SheFly]

Women's racing doesn't have a Cat 5 class, so all beginners (and more experienced riders without enough upgrade points) race Cat 4 in the women's races.

Cat 4 men's racing requires an upgrade from Cat 5. To get this upgrade, a START in 10 mass start races (this means you can't count time trials, as those are individual starts) is required.

SheFly (racing Cat 4 for first season!)

[velogirl]

Cat 4 men's racing requires an upgrade from Cat 5. To get this upgrade, a START in 10 mass start races (this means you can't count time trials, as those are individual starts) is required.

SheFly (racing Cat 4 for first season!)

Actually, a FINISH is required (not just 10 mass-starts).

[SheFly]

Actually, a FINISH is required (not just 10 mass-starts).

Oops! My bad. You are correct - a finish in 10 mass start races....

SheFly

[madisongrrl]

To race as a CAT racer, you need to have a racing license. Not true for racing as a Citizen. Sometimes CAT 5 race with Citizens, but they are separate.

That depends on the race. Here in wisconsin there are two major road cycling series. Wisconsin cup and Wisport. Wisport is a cycling series that requires no cycling license and is specifically a citizens cycling series that is open to everyone. If you race Wisconsin cup you must have a usa cycling license.