Grading Policy

CYCLING NSW GRADING POLICY

Grading of members, since inception, has been a contentious issue creating heartache for many a handicapper over the years. The following hopefully will provide club officials and members some clarity with regards to policy and practical application of gradings. It is more prevalent to U19’s and above, however the basic principles remain the same for grading of younger riders.

The Cycling NSW Management Committee at its August 2000 meeting adopted the following Cycling NSW Grading Policy.

Cycling NSW Grading Policy:

Clubs must update their club ranking’s to the Cycling NSW Handicapper quarterly (due to Cycling NSW office by the first week of each calendar quarter). The Handicapper will only accept Club Grades or Handicaps. I.e.; results are not required.

Ranking's submitted to the Cycling NSW more than two weeks late will mean "Open" entries from that club’s members may not be accepted.

New or returning Competitors cannot compete in "Opens" unless their club has ranked them. Entries will be returned to the Member unless club ranking is received.

The Cycling NSW Handicapper retains the right to regrade competitors as required by the event.

CycNSW use a handicap (or grade) method to grade all NSW club riders. They (CycNSW) have created a fictional 100k road race handicap with the first starters receiving a 34 minute start on the scratch (back) markers. This is a simple and easy to understand concept which should assist the proper grading of races at the State level.

The following marks are a general guide to NSW handicapped race depending on the race entries and those positions will be decided by the CNSW handicappers

NSW A grade - Scratch, 2min,

NSW B grade - 4min, 6min,

NSW C grade - 8min, 10min,

NSW D grade - 12min, 14min, 16min

NSW E grade - 18min, 20min, 22min

NSW F grade - 24min, 26min, 28min

NSW G grade - 30min, 32min, 34min

Practical Application:

Clubs are to ensure that all club riders are ranked and submitted to the Federation Handicapper quarterly. (I.e. 31/12, 31/3, 30/6, 30/9)

Member’s ranking to reflect the grade the member would ride if all club members for his/her particular division had entered; not the grade the rider most recently raced as this could be distorted due to many riders fulfilling commitments elsewhere.

Upon receipt of the Club ranking’s by the Handicapper each calendar quarter, the Handicapper will review each member’s ranking against current State ranking’s and adjust where appropriate. The Handicapper will forward any ranking amendments to the Federation Office for the immediate updating of its database records
Riders cannot elect to ride in a higher grade than their ranking; elevation must be earned through consistency and results. The Handicapper monitors a member’s performance over a season or two using the following points system based on open/major events held.

Type Of Race	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4th	5th	6th
Criterium	5	3	2	1
Road Open	8	6	4	2	1
Championship/Classic/International Event	10	7	5	3	2	1

"A" grade is reserved for the Elite (proven) riders. Riders will be expected to earn their placing in this grade based on the above points system.
Commissaires do not have authority to change rankings without conferring with the Handicapper. The rider is to compete in the grade stated. The Commissaire will include any issues concerning rankings in his report, which will be forwarded to the Handicapper for review and comment.
U19’s moving into the Men's/Women's ranks will automatically be ranked in B Grade unless they have proven performances in National Titles and /or International events the previous season.

Members wishing a review of their State Grading can do so by letter or email attaching detailed results supporting their request. Member's rankings will not be reviewed unless this information is attached.

A list of the NSW grades as at 16/7/08 can be viewed by downloading the spreadsheet from here If your club or age is listed incorrectly on this sheet, please contact brian.crawford@cycling.org.au. Please note that your grade will only change if you enter an event.