Is a change coming?

There’s been a lot of chatter on various forums and blogs about a possible restructuring of the mountain bike categories by USA Cycling. Basically, the proposed new structure would resemble the road system, with the added elimination of the semi-pro class in mountain biking. This is all in the name of making mountain biking more competitive, as I understand it.

While the exact nature of this proposed new structure isn’t clear, a blanket copy of the road system applied to mountain biking would be a disaster. Moreover, it would do nothing to make mountain bike racing more competitive. I honestly think it would make things worse. Just look at the master-35+ and master 45+ categories in road racing. These two groups are often “played” by cat 1 and cat 2 racers looking for an easy payout. I hardly call that competitive. What is needed is an enforcement of the upgrade rule and not allowing racers to “race down”. If any system needs to be adjusted, it is the road system. I think the master 35+ and 45+ groups should be eliminated and separate 40+ groups should be added to cat 4 and cat 3. Cat 1 and 2 racers will only be allowed to race in their respective groups and not “race down”. Cat 5 will remain a beginner group for people to gain road experience.

It would look like this:
Cat-1
Cat-2
Cat-3
Cat-3 (40+)
Cat-4
Cat-4 (40+)
Cat-5

What I like about the current mtb system is it is broken down by age group within each class. A 40 year-old sport racer will not race against a 20-year-old in the same group. This can’t be said for the road system where a 40+ year-old cat 4 can race against a 20 year-old. If that 40 year-old cat 4 races in the master’s group, he will more than likely be up against a sandbagging cat 1 or 2. That’s not completive.

I’m not saying there isn’t room to make adjustments to the mountain bike system, but using the road system isn’t the answer.