Promoting a BAR Race
Races conducted within the state of Pennsylvania are eligible to run as PA BAR races, including PA race promoters who are not affiliated with a PA BAR club. When developing the PA BAR Schedule, the PCA Board applies the following selection criteria:
- Clubs previously hosting a PCA affiliated event on a particular date will be given priority to hold an event on that date in subsequent seasons.
- The PCA Board will manage the BAR schedule with the objective of arriving at zero conflicts between BAR races on a given date.
- The PCA Board has mandated that one BAR race be scheduled on any given day. This rule does not apply to junior only events. Any exceptions to this policy must be communicated to the PCA board for review.
- The PA BAR (road) application process consists of a race flier and a $50 BAR race fee.The Board’s decisions regarding BAR scheduling are final.
Promoters wishing to put on a BAR race must submit a race proposal at least eight weeks in advance of the race date. Should event standards NOT be met, the promoter/club will not be allowed to host a BAR race the following season.
Promoters wishing to schedule a PA BAR race should contact David Mitchell to ascertain available dates for the upcoming season. Promoters should also review all standards on this page which may apply.
Event Standards
The following standards apply to races run as part of the PA BAR competition. In cases where a specific race attracts less than 25 riders, the promoter may payout the required standard or 50% of the entry fees collected for that race, whichever is less. (Race promoters are responsible for ensuring that their flyers accurately convey race prizes and conditions under which stated prizes may be affected.)
Category 5 riders are not permitted in any BAR masters race. Additionally, there are new USAC rules regarding field limits for races allowing category 5 riders. Please refer to the USAC rule book.
BAR races should include an entry level race for women: Cat 4 only event; or, if only a Women’s Open race is offered, a separate payout should be offered Women’s Cat 4 racers or medals given to top finishers in the Cat 4 category.
| Race Distance Standards (All distances minimum required except for Time Trial, which has a minimum and maximum allowable.) | |||
| Category | Road/Circuit Races (Miles) | Criterium (Miles/Minutes) | Time Trial (Miles) |
| 1/2 | 50 | 35 miles / 70 min | 10 to 30 |
| 3 | 35 | 25 miles / 50 min | 10 to 30 |
| 4 | 25 | 20 miles / 40 min | 10 to 30 |
| 5 | 20 | 15 miles / 30 min | 10 to 30 |
| Women Open | 35 | 20 miles / 40 min | 10 to 30 |
| Women 4 | 25 | 15 miles / 30 min | 10 to 30 |
| Master Men (35-44) | 35 | 25 miles / 50 min | 10 to 30 |
| Master Men 45+ | 25 | 20 miles / 40 min | 10 to 30 |
Responsibilities
In addition to the usual and customary responsibilities associated with USAC race promotion, promoters sponsoring a PA BAR race assume responsibility for the following:
- All BAR races are required to use a sufficient enough camera system to place all finishers in every category.
- Ensure that complete results of the event are forwarded to USAC and the PCA BAR scorer. Results must be submitted within five (5) days of the event.
- Collect and forward to the PCA a $.50 surcharge for each rider registered to compete in the race(s) associated with your event. This surcharge should be given to the Chief Official at the conclusion of the event. It must be received by the PCA Board within one (1) week of your event date.
- All PCA BAR races must have on-line registration available to its racers.
- BAR champions for certain categories (junior boys/girls, senior men/women, masters men) receive free entry to PCA races in the class in which they won their jersey (or in the case of junior champions who are now seniors, their current category). During pre-registration, payment would be made to the promoter, who on race day would either return the check unpaid or refund in cash. If online registration is used, the refund would be cash in the amount of the entry, not including any on-line surcharges. BAR champions must preregister and wear their champion jersey to be eligible for free entry.
Promoters failing to meet these responsibilities risk loss of BAR status for the event in question, and future events.
State Championships
State Championship proposals will be accepted as early as the PCA Annual Meeting and until 30 days after the meeting. The board will make it’s decision within 30 days after the occurrence of the PCA Annual Meeting.
The board will consider proposals to host a State Championship for up to two consecutive years. (The same venue may, if desired, resubmit to host again after the second year.)
Promoters wishing to host a state championship should submit all pertinent information about the race, as outlined in the PA State Championship Application. Promoters should review all event standards which may apply; all PA championship races are contested for double PA BAR points and are therefore a significant aspect of the BAR competition. Compliance with all standards associated with a BAR race are therefore especially important for state championships.
PA State Championship Formats
Promoters of State Championship events are urged to give PA residents preferential first entry into the events. For example, up until 2 weeks before an event, only PA residents may register. At two weeks, anyone may. Promoters should designate this on their flyers.
Each Men’s PCA category shall have a separate race from other PCA categories for the State Road Race and State Criterium Race. The Men’s and Women’s PCA categories will be the only race on the course unless deemed appropriate or necessary by the head official to have other categories or races on the course at the same time.
The PA State Road Race Championship and PA State Criterium Championship Men’s Senior events will be contested by PA resident riders only, and shall consist of a field open to Men’s Categories 1, 2, and 3.
All other fields competing at the PA State Road Race Championship and PA State Criterium Championship may consist of both PA and non-PA resident riders, at the promoter’s discretion. (Placings for PA Championship Status and PA BAR points are still restricted to PA resident riders and BAR eligible riders, but race placings and associated prize lists may be determined irrespective of a rider’s residency, as established by the promoter.)
The PA State Time Trial Championship follows the standard for “other fields,” described above.
State Championship jerseys will be provided for the elite RR, Crit, and TT events for men and women. Medals and/or patches will be provided for other categories.