Points earned in one category will not be applied to another category; e.g., tandem points will not count in a solo category.

Age is determined by birth year, regardless of actual age on the day of a given event. For example, in 2010 all riders born in 1960 will compete in the 50-59 age group.

IV. General Rules
(1) The Ultracycling Cup season starts January 1 and ends with the last race on the calendar.

(2) Ultracup participants must submit results within two weeks after an event using the online Event Submission Form in order to receive credit. Results will be verified by the UMCA and then automatically posted to this website.

(3) For purposes of awarding Ultracup/World Cup points and 12/24 Challenge mileage, riders must declare the category in which they will compete prior to an event. Events which are based on distance require that the competitor must complete the registered distance to receive points. Events which are based on time (i.e.: 12- and 24-hour events) require only that the competitor ride some measurable distance in order to have an average speed calculated. However, the average speed will be calculated using the time of the rider’s registered category.

(4) Registered riders will automatically receive their highest possible rankings in each division and category. There is no minimum number of events, points or mileage in order to be included in the rankings; all registered riders with a non-zero score will be ranked and are eligible for divisional awards.

(4) Rankings are automatically published on this website based on verified ride submissions.

(5) Any solo rider racing a road or recumbent bicycle is eligible for the overall male and female championships in each division. To be eligible for the overall Open and World Cup championships a rider must complete at least one event worth at least three difficulty points. To be eligible for the overall World Cup championships a rider must complete at least one event worth at least three difficulty points on each to two different continents. The championship divisions are:

• Open Ultracycling Cup
• World Cup
• Eastern 12- and 24-Hour Challenges
• Central 12- and 24-Hour Challenges
• Western 12- and 24-Hour Challenges

(6) Event organizers are not responsible for assisting riders in registering for the Ultracup, nor do they need to know which of their riders are registered. For results verification by the UMCA organizers should publish complete results on the event website within one week following the completion of any Ultracup event, including riders’ times and ride length to the nearest tenth of a mile.

(7) Event organizers conduct their events in accordance with any necessary or stated rules applicable to their events and sort out any irregularities, disqualifications, adjustments of time and so forth before publishing the results. The Ultracup will not arbitrate disputes between event organizers and participants.

(8) No substitutions or points or mileage adjustments will be made for any event which is canceled.

V. Open Divisions Ultracycling and World Cups
(1) The Ultracycling Cup and World Cup consist of a series of rides, each of which is assigned a numerical value, or difficulty points (DPs), of between 1 and 7. The exact DP for each race is included in the Event Calendar

(2)The DP are based loosely on multiples of 12 hours, i.e.:

Duration	Difficulty Points
12-hour races and double centuries	1 DP
cross-state record (125-299 miles)	1 DP
24-hour races	2 DP
cross-state record (300-474 miles)	2 DP
500-mile races (roughly 30 - 36 hours to win)	3 DP
cross-state record (475+ miles)	3 DP
1200-km randonnées (roughly 48 hours first finishers)	4 DP

Since races vary widely in terms of feet of climbing per mile, the difficulty points are then weighted to include climbing. For example ror a 12-hour / 200-mile event the difficulty points are:

(3) Registered riders earn a score for each Ultracycling Cup ride based on average speed (in miles per hour) multiplied times the difficulty points for the event. For example, an average speed of 10.7 in a 1200-km event worth 4 DPs earns 42.8 points.

(4) Registered riders are ranked based on the sum of their event points, subject to a maximum of 12 difficulty points. Riders who participate in events with a total of more than 12 DPs will be ranked on their highest possible score for 12 DPs, including pro-rated points, if necessary. However, a rider’s best three point event (necessary to be eligible for overall male or female championships) will be included in the 12 DPs, even if the rider has earned more than 12 DPs and the three point event is the slowest. For example, a rider who achieved average speeds of 16 mph in each of a series of shorter events, which totaled 9 DPs, and then averaged 12 mph on a 1200-km randonnée (4 DPs) would have a score of (16 x 9) + (12 x 3) = 180 points.

(5) To be eligible for the overall male or female championship in the Ultracycling Cup and World Cup a rider must complete at least one event worth three or more DPs.

(6) To be eligible for the overall male or female championship in the World Cup a rider must complete at least one event worth three or more DP on at least two different continents.

VI. 12- and 24-Hour Regional Challenges
(1) In each of three regions of the US three 12- and three 24-hour races are designated as the challenge series. The regions are:

• Eastern
• Central
• Western

(2) Any Ultracup racer who rides at least one 12-hour race will be ranked based on total mileage in regional 12-hour races and an Ultracup racer who rides at least one 24-hour race will be ranked based on total mileage in regional 24-hour races this year.

(3) A rider will be ranked in as many regions as the rider competes and may be ranked in both the 12- and 24-hour rankings. A rider does not need to declare that the rider is competing in a specific region or division, simply submit race results.

(4) 12-hour rankings will be separate from the 24-hour rankings and these rankings will be separate from the Open Ultracup and World Cup rankings (which are based on difficulty points times average speed).

(5) Riders will be ranked separately in the same gender/age categories as the Open Ultracup and World Cup.

VII. Recognition and Awards
Open Divisions of Ultracycling and World Cups
(1) All riders who earn at least five DPs will receive medals. The top rider in each age/gender category will receive a plaque.

(2) All riders who earn at least five DPs are eligible for prizes, which will be awarded by lottery.

VIII. Events
(1) The Ultracup events for this year are listed on the race calendar

(2) A rider who sets a new cross-state or other point-to-point record may earn Open Ultracup points, based on average speed as follows:

• Records under 125 miles = not eligible for Ultracup points
• 125-299 miles = 1 difficulty point
• 300-474 miles = 2 difficulty points
• 475 or more miles = 3 difficulty points

Questions:
E-mail Sven-Erik Olsson, the Ultracycling Cup chair, at ultracup @ ultracycling.com.