Cycling Ireland 2026 road racing

I always thought last year was a handicap M40 chasing M50 chasing Women, but that while there was recognition of the placing for each group, CI points were for first riders across the line i.e. first M40 meant nothing if you never made the catch from a points point of view. Yhe only real error was the gap given and that is probably more due to a wider variety of riders than the Comms were used too. It is why Club Leagues tend to get handicaps better timed than open races.

I'd have thought an easier option logistically might be a tighter handicap, although Commisaires do not always like that. C3 M50, 1 minute chased by C3 M40, 1 minute chased by C2 M50 followed by C2 M40 1 minute later. 3 minutes end to end which will get tighter as the race goes on, you can then extend those gaps based on bigger groups e.g. make the M50 to M40 C3 gap 2 minutes if a crowd of 40 M40 C3s show up. Easier on marshals and organisers, less lead cars. If ridden properly, no one should be shelled for a lap, and those that are can at least catch the next passing group for an extra lap hard training.

Gives the C3s motivation to move, and gives the M40s and M50s of either group a fair crack of the whip. Of course, as there will ever be, it will fall apart almost instantly as the same lads as always won't work in C3 and will scupper their own best hope of placing.

Must have had a filter on,thanks

Hooray, most of the new UCI rule changes will only be applied at UCI level events, so basically for us, only national championships.