Mountain Bike Category System

 

What category do I race in?
All categories in MTB racing are age based until you get to the age of 19. To work out which category you belong in, see the table below. As an example, if you are 14 now, but have a birthday later in the year, then you are classed as a 15 year old and would race in the Youth category:

Juvenile
To qualify for the Juvenile category, a rider must be at least 12 years old or be in their 13th or 14th year.

Youth
Riders in their 15th and 16th year will race in the Youth category.

Junior
Riders in their 17th and 18th year will race in the Junior category.

Senior / Expert / Elite
When a rider reaches his or her 19th year then the Senior or Sport category is the appropriate aged based category until they are in their 29th year. See below for how riders can attain Expert or Elite status.

Master
The Master category is relevant to riders aged 30 to 39.

Veteran
The Veteran category is for riders aged 40 to 49.

Grand Veteran
The Grand veteran category is for riders aged over 50.

How do I qualify to a higher category?
Qualification from Senior/Sport/Junior to Expert or Expert to Elite is gained through your "End of Year" ranking points in 2008, i.e. your top eight results.

Female Cross-Country and Downhill riders should apply directly to British Cycling if a category change is required.

Criteria

Male Downhill (must have achieved by the November 30th 2008)

Elite
Top 30 ranked riders will remain Elite. 

Elite riders ranked outside of the top 30 will retain their status if three World Cup finals have been achieved in one season.
Top 5 Expert riders will be promoted to Elite
1st placed Junior rider will be promoted to Elite. Can be extended to top 5 on discretion.
Dispensation will only be considered for riders who have been injured for a minimum 8 week period during the months from April to September.  A letter from a GP or specialist must be provided. 

Expert
Any Elite riders ranked below 30
Expert riders ranked 6-50
Top 25 ranked Senior riders
Top 15 ranked Junior riders (optional, dependent upon age)
1st placed Veteran & top 3 Masters (optional, but Vets and Masters riding out of Cat will be offered Expert)
Dispensation will only be considered for riders who have been injured for a minimum 8 week period during the months from April to September.  A letter from a GP or Specialist must be provided.

 

Senior
Juniors moving up an age group, but outside the top 15
Entry level riders of senior category age
Riders ranked outside the top 50 Experts
Non licensed riders of Senior category age

Male Cross-Country (must have achieved by the November 30th 2008)

Elite
Top 50 Elite Ranked riders stay elite
Top 5 Experts are promoted to elite
Top 2 Juniors are promoted to elite, or top 5 dependent upon age & ability

Expert
Elite riders ranked below 50
Expert riders outside the top 5 remain expert.
Junior category riders ranked 3-5 are promoted, dependent upon age & ability
Sport category riders ranked in the top 15

Master category rider ranked in the top 3

Male & Female Four-Cross

Elite
Riders must remain within the top 20 NPS standings
1st place Junior rider. Optional and dependant upon age
Top 3 Senior NPS standings 
The winner of a 2008 Senior NPS event

Senior
Elite riders ranked outside the top 20
Junior riders moving up to Senior 
Master age riders wishing to progress to Elite