Race classifications: an explainer

Understanding race classifications can be a complicated business. This explainer attempts to decode things.

The teams we focus on here at The British Continental – UCI Continental and elite racing teams – will typically race a mixture of UCI and British Cycling certified races. UCI races trump British Cycling in the race pecking order, so let’s start with UCI race classifications. 

UCI race classifications

Classifications overview

UCI races are rated with numbered codes (e.g. 1.Pro, 2.1, etc). The first part of the code denotes whether the race is a one-day race or a multi-day (stage) race.

• 1 = One day race
• 2 = Stage race

Then, the second part of the code indicates the race ranking. From highest to lowest these are:

• .UWT / .WWT (World Tour)
• .Pro
• .1
• .2

The Rutland – Melton CiCLE Classic, for example, is classified as a 1.2 race, meaning it is a one day race, category 2 race (the lowest UCI race ranking). The Tour de Yorkshire, meanwhile, is denoted as 2.Pro, a stage race ranked just below World Tour level.

Other race classifications to watch out for are:

• ‘U’ – races ending with the code U (e.g. 2.2U) are U23 races, like the U23 Giro d’Italia
• ‘NCup‘ – races with the code NCup are Nations Cup races involving national teams or ‘mixed teams’.

Key points

The tables below list the main race types and set out which teams can participate in them. In summary, the key things you need to know are:

• Men’s World Tour teams can participate in World Tour, Pro Series and category 1 races but not category 2 races
• Men’s Continental teams can participate in Pro Series races (with caveats), category 1 and category 2 races, but not World Tour races
• Men’s national teams can participate in any class of UCI race (but only if they are from the organising country for World Tour and Pro Series races)
• Men’s elite/club teams can only participate in category 2 races

• Women’s World Tour teams can participate in all of the main UCI races classes (Women’s World Tour through to category 2)
• Women’s Continental teams can also participate in all of the main UCI races classes (Women’s World Tour through to category 2)
• Women’s national teams can participate in any class of UCI race but only if they are from the organising country for World Tour races)
• Women’s elite/club teams can participate in category 1 and category 2 races

Men’s race classifications

Code	Examples	Participation
1.UWT 2.UWT	Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic Tour de France	UCI WorldTeams Invited UCI ProTeams National team of the organising country
1.Pro 2.Pro	Scheldeprijs Tour de Yorkshire	UCI WorldTeams (max 70%) UCI ProTeams UCI continental teams of the country (1) UCI cyclocross professional teams Foreign UCI continental teams (max. 2) (1) National teams of the country of the organiser
1.1 2.1	Le Samyn Tour of Antalya	UCI WorldTeams (max 50%) UCI ProTeams UCI continental teams UCI cyclocross professional teams National teams
1.2 (U) 2.2 (U)	16th Rutland – Melton CiCLE Classic Volta ao Alentejo	UCI ProTeams of the country UCI foreign UCI ProTeams (max. 2) UCI continental teams National teams Regional and club teams
1.NCup 2.NCup	Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften Tour de l’Avenir	National teams Regional and club teams (max 16%) (2) Mixed teams (3)

(1) In order to compete in a UCI ProSeries event, UCI Continental Teams must contribute to the programme for the fight against doping related to UCI ProSeries events; the teams concerned will be included in a list published on the UCI website.

(2) Only regional and club teams from the country of the organiser or border country and only if the national team of the country of the regional or club team is also taking part in the event.

(3) Mixed teams are defined as teams composed of riders from teams eligible for the race but whose team is not racing. This allows teams like the UCI’s World Cycling Centre team and regional teams to compete alongside national teams.

Women’s race classifications

Code	Examples	Participation
1.WWT 2.WWT	Strade Bianche OVO Energy Women’s Tour	UCI Women’s WorldTeams (min 8) UCI women’s continental teams UCI cyclocross professional teams National team from the country of the organiser
1.Pro 2.Pro	Prudential RideLondon Classique Healthy Ageing Tour	UCI Women’s WorldTeams (min 4) UCI women’s continental teams UCI cyclocross professional teams National teams Regional and club teams from the country of the organiser (max 2)
1.1 2.1	Brabantse Pijl Women’s Tour of Scotland	UCI Women’s WorldTeams (min 1, max 7) UCI women’s continental teams UCI cyclocross professional teams National teams Regional and club teams
1.2 2.2	Gravel and Tar la Femme Dubai Women’s Tour	UCI Women’s WorldTeams (max 3) UCI women’s continental teams UCI cyclocross professional teams National teams Regional and club teams Mixed teams

(4) Only national or class 2 events from the country of the paying agent of the team or from the country of one of the main sponsors of the team and with a maximum of two national or class 2 events per year. Teams must seek for the agreement of the UCI at least three months before the race.

British Cycling race classifications

British Cycling races sit underneath UCI-level races in the race hierarchy.

The key race classifications at this level – for men and for women – are:

• National A
• National B
• Regional A
• Regional B
• Regional C and Regional C+

The main focus for British Continental teams is National A races, although many also ride some National B and other levels of race too.

Links

UCI Road Race Regulations (Part II – Road Races)

British Cycling road racing licence categories 

Acknowledgements

Feature photo: David Hares / www.davidhares.co.uk