The weather at the Redlands Cycling Classic really proved that to be true.
Racing is starting to ramp up all over the country, which provides more opportunities to officiate. A lot of you are already working events in your area, while others are just getting their race season started. Our Pro XCT series is underway as we see the start of our national-level road racing calenders kick off this month.
The Tech Director Updates are our main method of communication with you, our Officials. Please consider adding the email address: membership@usacycling.org to your contact list to avoid these updates from being routed to your spam folder. Also, try signing up for the Tech Director Update using the form below.
Officials Webinar Schedule
Below you will find the tentative schedule for our upcoming webinars, all of which have been identified by your peers as areas of interest. As additional details and start times are finalized, they will be shared in future Tech Director Updates. We understand that some topics and times may not work for everyone. Join us if you can, or watch the recorded session when it’s convenient for you. Links for the recordings will be made available in the following month’s Tech Director Update or by visiting the Officials page on our website.
April 27
6 pm MT
Go Fast, Turn Left
Hear from two of our International Track Commissaires Noreen Landis-Tyson and Zach Maino, as they host this track-specific webinar. They will dive into the updated UCI/USAC regulations that may impact track officials assigned to work a National Championship or UCI event. Fresh off their return from the Nations Cup in Milton, ON, hear the details and best practices on what they see at the international level and how to assure consistency across the events.
May 16
6 pm MT
Not for the Faint at Heart
When someone talks about officiating a mountain bike race, they generally refer to cross-country. Join National Technical Commission members Michael Donovan (IC) and Tobin Behling (ENC) as they jump headfirst into the ins and outs of working a mountain bike gravity event (downhill and dual slalom).
June 28
5 pm MT
Officiating a Stage Race
Members of the National Technical Commission, Tom Nee (IC) and Steve Eppel (IC), host a panel of chief referees from our larger stage races to share their experience. Find out how Chief Referees Ryan Fu, Jeff Poulin, and Ugur Tosun prepared for their roles in advance, as well as any challenges they faced on-site at the event.
Previous Webinar Recordings
Previous webinar recordings are made available on the Officials' webinar page, as well as USA Cycling’s YouTube channel.
MVR Renewal Reminders
Have you recently received a reminder email to renew your MVR when in fact you had already renewed it? If so, you’re not alone. Some of our communication is queued up in advance and sent out on a specific day. While your MVR renewal was coming up when the list was generated, the list doesn’t get refreshed prior to sending the email. A quick and easy way for you to check on your status is to log on to your account and use the Membership link on your account to review your MVR status. If it shows as valid, then your MVR is current and there are no additional steps for you to do. If it shows as expired, then you would use the renew link to submit your information for a current MVR.
Fun Fact: You would use this same location to check the status of your Safe Sport training and background check!
New Officials and Motor Referees
We have had quite a few people complete the requirements to become an official since January 1, as well as others who have successfully completed the Motor Referee C Course in March. Everyone is excited to start contributing to their new roles but may need some guidance on how to get started in their state or local association. If you are the officials' assigner in your area, please reach out and welcome them to the community. You may find the complete list here.
Education Opportunities
May 23-24
Para-cycling Officials Course
Several of you have already expressed an interest in attending the Para-cycling course on May 23-24 in Huntsville, Ala. This course will be held prior to the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup and taught by Catherine Gastou, an International Road, Track, and Para Commissaire from France. We are finalizing details for the course and will be sending more details soon to those who expressed an interest in attending. The dates have shifted, so be sure to make a note of the change.
Education Opportunities for Mechanics
USA Cycling has been working with a core group of race mechanics to reinstitute the mechanics class moving forward. Our plans are to conduct a class in the Fall of 2023 at the USA Cycling offices in Colorado Springs. This class will be taught by those currently working in the field and is anticipated to be 3-4 days long. Final dates are currently being arranged to avoid conflicts with other events and our instructors’ schedules. While there is no prerequisite to attend this clinic, you must have a comprehensive understanding of bicycle mechanics prior to attendance as this program is designed to adapt and build these existing skills into an advanced team and race support programs. To receive more information on the clinic as it is finalized, please fill out the form linked below. We anticipate having the final details confirmed very soon and will send information out to those who have filled out the form by that time.
Secondarily, we have worked with Elite Racing Services (ERS) to provide an apprentice program at two upcoming events, the Tour of Gila (April 25-30) in Silver City, NM, and USA Cycling Collegiate Road Nationals (May 5-7) in Albuquerque, NM. These apprenticeships are for those already working in and around racing who have not had the chance to take the class – requisite experience will be required. Successful assessment during the apprenticeship will be the equivalent of taking the class for licensing. There will be a moderate charge for apprentice expenses to attend. Those interested should reach out to Mike Wilson at mike@eliteracingservice.com.
