My goal for the 2010 cross season was to get enough USA Cycling points to get my Category 3 upgrade. As the rules are written, a Cat 4 cross rider needs to complete 10 races, or get 10 upgrade points within a year. Points are earned based on the placing and the number of riders in the field. The UASC rules for cross can be found
here.
Here's how it played out:
- Brewery Ommegang - second place finish scored me 4 points.
- Day 1 of the Providence Cross Fest - 10th place result 0 points
- TCC Mansfield Hollow Cross - fourth place finish earned me 2 more points
Day One @ Downeast CX race in Maine - another fourth place and 2 more points
- Day Two @ Downeast CX race - finished on the podium in second place for 4 more points
Since my total points was now up to 12, I requested my USAC upgrade on the website and it was granted. I picked up a sticker for my license at the Northampton Mass Cycle-Smart International Day 2 race. This was my third time racing in the Cat 3 field, but was my first cross race as a Cat 3. I had little expectations since the previous day I had ridden an 82 mile off road adventure, and at this race and the field was huge. Starting from the back of about 150 riders, I finished 99th.
