USA Cycling/Bicycle Colorado
2024 Permitting Guidelines
2024 Race Permit Process is done online at USA Cycling
Click here for step-by-step instruction.
The following are important items you should be aware of when planning your event
Promoting Club/Race Director
Listed event organizers of a registered USA Cycling club, or licensed race director can permit events and by
doing so agree to comply with all USAC policies in addition to policies set by USAC local association, Bicycle
Colorado .
A typical USAC Club membership is $225, but it is also recommended that your club join Bicycle C olorado,
$100, to receive additional benefits USA Cycling does not offer to race directors.
Type of Permits
USAC offers a variety of permits and fees are based on the type that is most appropriate for your event.
Those event organizers/race directors that wish to include a Kids Race (under 9 yrs of age) will need to pay an
extra $25 for a special kids permit and by doing so will not need to have kids pay USAC insurance surcharge
fee or have licenses.
Insurance
By permitting your event with USAC you have access to various insurance programs that provides coverage not
only to your event but to licensed athletes with coverage white they race at your event. A list of the various
insurance programs can be found here.
A general liability policy covers events permitted by USAC. The policy limits are $2 million per occurrence with a
$4 million event aggregate. Race directors that need more coverage USAC can increase limits to $5M/7M (per
occurrence/per policy aggregate) for a flat rate of $1950.
USAC Insurance certificates will automatically be issued for the race director and each sponsoring club free of
charge if listed on the permit when first filed. If another party, such as landowners, municipalities, etc., is
required to be named as an additional insured, the cost will be $15 each. This $15 fee will apply each time your
certificate needs to be reissued, so make sure your request is complete and accurate the first time including
spelling, addresses, and the proper way to list the insured on the certificate. If a special endorsement is
required for the insurance certificate there is a $100 fee per request.
Typically, the USAC insurance for riders, $5.99, is included as part of your entry fee. There is, however, a
minimum of $300 (a flat rate for all events with 50 participants or less)
At events requiring motor referees or officials in a caravan, race directors should purchase USAC Non-
Owned/Hired Automobile Insurance ($50 per auto) and/or Motorcycle Insurance $85 per motor for the first five;
$45 per each additional over 5) . Without this, you as a race director/club are not covered if something were to
happen. If the promoting club is a member of Bicycle Colorado, we will do the Non-Owned/Hired Automobile
and/or Motorcycle Insurance paperwork and pay the fees to cover 2 motors at criteriums and up to 4 at a road
race. If additional cars/motor are needed Bicycle Colorado will then charge the race director for the remaining
cost. Non-Bicycle Colorado clubs will be responsible for doing the paperwork and paying the fees upfront when
filing for the USAC permit.
Race Announcements/Flyers
USAC requires local associations to review Road,Track,Cyclocross flyers, so Bicycle Colorado prefers you
send us your flyers prior to submitting your permit. However, if it hasn’t been by the approved by us you want to
submit your permit to USAC just watermark it Draft, and once approved and we will post it to the Bicycle
Colorado site. See Race Announcement Guidelines.
Colorado USAC permitted competitive events (Road,Track,Cyclocross,) will be listed on the calendar will have
links to their flyers, pre-registration site/ club websites posted on our website, have E-News sent to all Bicycle
Colorado members the week of the race. Additionally, Colorado USAC non-competitive permitted events (Gran
Fondos, Gravel events, Fun Rides/Tours, Camps/Clinics) will be listed on the Bicycle Colorado calendar.
Participant Licenses
The type of permit applied for determines the type of license required by a participant.
Most events will require some type of USAC license.
USAC Road, Track, Cyclocross,Mountain Bike
• USAC or Collegiate Annual License
• USAC Beginner 1-Day license: $15.00/day
(these are available on site or online during pre-registration at BikeReg to Novice (category 5 men and
women) who have never held a USAC license with a higher category in the discipline they are registering
for)
• USAC Experienced 1-Day license: $35.00/day
(may only be purchased online at USAC by former USAC members to race in categories excluded by
the Beginner license)
Collegiate Events:
• Collegiate Annual License
• 1-Day license: $15.00/day
Training Rides, Clinics, Camps:
• USAC or Collegiate Annual License
• USAC 1-Day: $15.00/day
Gran Fondos/Gravel Events:
• License is not required
Fun Rides/Tours/Charity Rides:
• License is not required
Releases
All participants must sign the USAC standard release form. However, if your pre-registration company is
BikeReg most participants will NOT need to sign a release on site. (USAC will only accept electronic signatures
from BikeReg.) Race Directors should check the BikeReg tool that lists those riders that do need to sign
waivers onsite. If USAC one-days or annual licenses need to be on site it is strongly recommended that they do
so on the USAC website using their smart phone, otherwise participants should complete the “Event Annual
and 1-Day License Application”.
Any volunteers, including promoting club members, must sign a volunteer release form.
Race directors are to keep all signed releases for a minimum of 10 years.
If an accident occurs, a First Report of Occurrence must be completed by the medical person on site and the
individual’s release form must be attached. This paperwork needs to be presented to the Chief Referee at the
end of the race.
Medical Personnel
A person who is licensed as an EMT, Paramedic or a comparable medical professional with triage experience,
must be at all competitive events to facilitate the handling of medical services and decisions during the event.
Event will be cancelled by Chief Referee if this requirement is not meet. Medical person is required to
complete a USAC First Report of Occurrence on every person he/her treats, excluding those that receive
treatment for superficial road rash.
Entry Fees
USAC and Bicycle Colorado recommends charging fees that are fair and reasonable to the rider. Bicycle Colorado
encourages race directors to allow juniors a reduced entry fee, in an effort to keep juniors racing. Bicycle Colorado
encourages gender equity in prize lists.
Event Fees
The following fees must be charged and are typically included as part of the entry fee.
USAC Rider Insurance Surcharge
$5.99 for all types of events
Bicycle Colorado Event Director Support Package
Bicycle Colorado charges a fee to Bicycle Colorado Event Organizers putting on road, CX, or track events.
There are two tiers (basic- $1/rider and premium-$2/rider) that comes with different benefits as described in
Bicycle Colorado Event Director Support Package.
Bicycle Colorado will email a post event invoice to Bicycle Colorado event race director which will indicate fees
due to Bicycle Colorado. USAC will inform the race director fees owed to them after the event.
If a Road,Track or Cyclocross event is not promoted by a Bicycle Colorado club, or if it’s another dicipline, then
that race director is responsible for calculating and sending all required materials to USAC directly.
Other USAC surcharges that can be collected are as follows, assuming it is clearly stated on race
announcement and has been distributed at least 30 days before your pre-registered deadline.
• Late or Post Entry surcharge: at the discretion of the race director
Officials’ Fees
Those races recognized as a Bicycle Colorado/USAC event shall pay officials as indicated in the chart below.
Additionally, officials need to be provided with reasonable/necessary travel, lunch/liquid refreshments
and are required to be paid at the conclusion of the event.
• 2024 IRS Mileage Rate: 67 cents per mile
• Single Day Per Diem: $15
• Housing if Overnight is required
• Multiple Day Per Diem when overnight stay required: $ 35
• Site Visit: $50 plus mileage
• Site Visit Per Diem if overnight needed: $25
• Cancellation Fee if officials have already traveled to event: actual expenses & at least half day fees
Race directors promoting events that are not affiliated with Bicycle Colorado, will be paid per USA Schedule of
Fees
Race Category
Chief Referee
Chief Judge
All Events
Full Day: $200
Half Day: $120
Full Day: $140
Half Day: $ 85
Full Day: Between 5 and 8 hours.
Half Day: 4 hours or less
Overtime: $20 per hour in increments of 15 minutes
Race Groups and Distance
The following Race Groups are those typically offered to the Bicycle Colorado Community,
Road Event (minutes and distance shown are minimums)
Cyclocross Events (minutes shown are minimums)
Rocky Mountain Road CUP
The Rocky Mountain Road Cup is a point’s competition for the road season. Annual Bicycle Colorado members
compete in selected Road CUP events gaining points for both Individual and team awards. Bicycle Colorado
member clubs/organizers, in good standings, may apply for CUP designation for their event.
To be a Rocky Mountain Road CUP race all categories must be run, however, certain combinations are
allowable. See the Rocky Mountain Road Cup Policy on the Bicycle Colorado website for more details
concerning these combinations and other CUP requirements.
Colorado Cross CUP
The Colorado Cross Cup is points competition during cyclocross season. Annual Bicycle Colorado members
compete in selected cyclocross CUP events gaining points for both an Individual and team awards.
To be a Colorado Cross CUP race all categories must be run, however, certain combinations are allowable. See
the Colorado Cross CUP Policy on the Bicycle Colorado website for more details concerning these combinations
and other CUP requirements.
February ‘24
RACE GROUPS
CRIT
(MINUTES)
RR
(MILES)
RACE GROUPS
CRIT
(MINUTES)
RR
(MILES)
RACE
GROUPS
CRIT
(MINUTES)
RR
(MILES)
SM Pro-1-2
60
75
SW Pro-1-2
45
50
JM 9-10
20
10
SM 3
50
50
SW 3
45
40
JM 11-12
20
10
SM 4
40
35
SW 4
40
25
JM 13-14
40
25
MM 40+ 1-2-3
50
50
MW 40+
45
40
JM 15-16
30
25
MM 40+ 3
45
50
MW 50+
40
25
JM 17-18
30
25
MM 40+ 4
40
35
MW 60+
40
25
JW 9-10
20
10
MM 50+ 1-2-3
45
50
MW 70+
40
25
JW 11-12
20
10
MM 50+ 4
40
35
Women Novice (cat 5)
JW 13-14
20
25
MM 60+
40
35
JW 15-16
30
25
MM 70+
40
35
JW 17-18
30
25
Men Novice (cat5)
Men 60+
40
35
Men 70+
40
35
Beginner Men 5
CATEGORY
CX
(MINUTES)
CATEGORY
CX
(MINUTES)
CATEGORY
CX
(MINUTES)
SM Open
55
SW Open
50
JM 9-10
20
SM 3
45
SW 3
40
JM 11-12
20
SM 4
40
SW 4
40
JM 13-14
30
Men Novice (cat 5)
40
Women Novice (cat 5)
40
JM 15-16
30
MM 40+
55
MW 40+
40
JM 17-18
30
MM 40+ 3
45
MW 50+
40
JW 9-10
20
MM 40+ 4
40
SS Men
45
JW 11-12
20
MM 50+
40
SS Women
40
JW 13-14
30
MM 50+ 4
40
SS 4-5
40
JW 15-16
30
MM 60+
40
JW 17-18
30
Pre-J Race (under 9) are
encouraged during break time for officials
when on a closed course
Pre-J Race (under 9) are
encouraged during break
time for officials
when on a closed course