USA Cycling released the 2016-17 Professional Cyclo-Cross Calendar (Pro CX) Monday along with an updated points structure for the season.
The Pro CX is an annual series of cyclo-cross races sanctioned by USA Cycling. Made up of 24 UCI-inscripted Category 1 and Category 2 races, the Pro CX features the premier cyclo-cross events in America and uses an overall ranking system to determine the best individual male and female ‘cross racers over the course of the season.
“The growth of cyclo-cross in America is extremely encouraging for our sport,” said USA Cycling CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall. “The revised 2016-17 Pro CX is designed to identify the top ‘cross athletes and create a cohesive domestic calendar for fans and teams alike. We look forward to shining a brighter light on the calendar and bringing cyclo-cross to the forefront of the American cycling scene this fall.”
The 2016-17 season kicks off on Sept. 10-11 at the Rochester Cyclo-Cross Weekend in Rochester, N.Y., and concludes with the Highlander ‘Cross Cup in Waco, Texas, on Dec. 17-18. The Pro CX will be contested among the elite men and women and features 11 races for U23 men and four races for junior men.
According to USA Cycling, based on feedback from the racing community and the USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Sports Committee, a revised points schedule and tabulation method will be implemented for the upcoming season. The new structure offers triple points for Category 1 events and limits points to a rider’s top eight Category 1 and Category 2 results.
Riders also have the option to earn points from up to three Cyclo-Cross National Calendar (CXNC) events. The CXNC recognizes top domestic events and provides them with the opportunity to achieve UCI recognition. Those races that seek UCI inscription and inclusion on the Pro CX must first be part of the CXNC for at least one year. Race Directors interested in participating in the CXNC have until Aug. 8 to apply for consideration for that calendar.
The new system aims to address concerns expressed by riders that the extensive number of events included on the Pro CX calendar made attending all of the races in order to contend for the overall title difficult, according to USA Cycling.
2016-2017 Points Structure
| PRO CX Place | Men’s Elite/Women’s Elite C1 | Men’s Elite/Women’s Elite C2 | Men’s Elite/Women’s Elite CXNC |
| 1 | 105 | 35 | 15 |
| 2 | 90 | 30 | 10 |
| 3 | 78 | 26 | 8 |
| 4 | 69 | 23 | 7 |
| 5 | 60 | 20 | 6 |
| 6 | 54 | 18 | 5 |
| 7 | 48 | 16 | 4 |
| 8 | 42 | 14 | 3 |
| 9 | 36 | 12 | 2 |
| 10 | 33 | 11 | 1 |
| 11 | 30 | 10 | x |
| 12 | 27 | 9 | x |
| 13 | 24 | 8 | x |
| 14 | 21 | 7 | x |
| 15 | 18 | 6 | x |
| 16 | 15 | 5 | x |
| 17 | 12 | 4 | x |
| 18 | 9 | 3 | x |
| 19 | 6 | 2 | x |
| 20 | 3 | 1 | x |
For more information, contact VP of National Events Micah Rice at mrice@USACycling.org.