RACE DAY INFO
If this is your first race, you’re in for a real treat and likely a few surprises. If you can, plan to be early and hang out in our pit zone so you can see how things work and not stress more than needed. Race day is a team event and we would love for you to plan to spend the day with us cheering on all of our team riders. The first wave of races starts at 8:00am and the last wave finishes between 5:00-6:00pm with team awards and podiums to follow. If you still have any questions after reading through this page, please reach out to a coach or talk with one of the veteran ride leaders on the team. Everyone is happy to help but there’s no substitute for your first race experience.
RACE CATEGORIES
Races are broken down by Region, Wave, & Category.
Timpanogos High School
Region 4 – Division 2
Orem High School
Region 4 – Division 2
Mountain View High School
Region 4 – Division 3
Junior Devo
Region 4 – No Divisions
Regions – There are six regions in the Utah League. All of our teams will race in the region 4 during 2024.
Divisions – There are three divisions in each region. Divisions are determined by the league based on team size. Team scores are calculated based on the division each team races in. Beginning in 2022, division 1 and 2 teams will race in the same category rather than racing separately.
Waves – These are the various starting times on race day.
Categories – High school race categories are based on the rider’s skill level. For returning racers, category placement is determined by the league using a formula and is based on your prior year results. For new racers, category placement will be determined by your head coach.
Junior devo race categories are based on grade level and the rider’s skill level. Category placement will be determined by your head coach.
Category Placement Tables for Orem Youth Cycling can be accessed below. High School & Junior Devo categories are on separate tabs.
Once category placement has been finalized by the league, a category placement list for our team will be linked here.
RACE FLYERS
The Utah League provides a race day flyer for each of the races on their website. The race flyers include information on the race course, venue, schedule, parking, volunteering, and other important league information. These are a great source of info. and there is a different one for each race. These flyers are live documents and the league may make updates to them up until just before race day.
RULES
Read the rule book! You are responsible to know the rules for race day. There is important information in there such as:
1. Having A Positive Attitude – student athletes are expected to display excellent sportsmanship and should treat all other student-athletes, coaches, spectators, and race officials with respect. The use of profanity or displays of anger are inappropriate and will not be tolerated.
2. No Banned Substances – Student athletes are subject to all USADA rules concerning the use of banned substances. This includes alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. NICA also prohibits the use of caffeine, including caffeinated sports products, soda, coffee, creatine, guarana, and tuarine. Riders may be banned from participation and our team can be penalized if these products are found in our pit zone.
Riders are not allowed to wear headphones while riding/racing.
3. Feed Zone – During the race, riders can only accept food/drinks in the feed zone. Only individuals assigned by the team are allowed to enter the feed zone. Our teams are limited on the number of individuals that can be in the feed zone during the race.
4. Outside Assistance – It is the racer’s responsibility to fix any flat tires or mechanical problems with their own equipment while on the race course. If outside assistance is required during a race a 5 minute penalty will be assessed to the rider’s time. This is well worth it if you don’t have the needed items or know how to do the repair yourself. If you switch to another wheel or complete bike during the race a 10 minute penalty is assessed. No penalties are assessed for medical assistance or when rider safety is an issue.
5. Walk Your Bike In The Pit Areas – Riding your bike in the pit area will result in a team penalty.
6. Helmets – must be worn for anyone on a bike. (This includes parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and everyone else.) If your leg is over the bike, your helmet must be on your head and buckled.
This list is not all inclusive. There are other rules you should be aware of.
TRAVEL
Parents & Student Athletes are responsible for their own travel to/from the races and lodging for the distant events. Hotels and campgrounds can fill up early. It’s a good idea to plan and book your lodging early.
Allow plenty of time for parking when you arrive at the race venue. Some of the race venues (i.e. Powder Mtn. & Moab) have rider drop-off locations near the pit areas and the parking may be a couple of miles away. It can be a long walk or a long wait to ride the shuttle from the parking area back to the race course and pit areas.
KNOW YOUR SCHEDULE
It is your responsibility to know when and where you are supposed to be when it comes to your preparation and race start time. To assist you, the team will post a race roster/start sheet in our pit zone at each of the races.
RACE PLATES – A Utah League race plate and jersey number will be issued at the first race. These will be located at the check-in table in our pit zone. You will use the same race plate and jersey number for all races. After your race, return your race plates back to your folder in the file box. If you lose your race plate and/or jersey number, it can be replaced on the day of the race for $10.00.
1. READY TO RIDE – About 1 hour before your start time, check-in with our race plate coordinator. This is when you need to begin to get ready to ride which includes getting dressed in your team kit, helmet, shoes, and having your race plates pinned on; as well as having all of your bike, race equipment, hydration, and nutrition ready. Give yourself about 20 minutes to complete this task.
2. WARM-UP – Warm ups are approximately 15-20 minutes long. A coach will take you to the warm area. Following your warm up, plan on heading immediately to staging.
3. STAGING – This is the time you are allowed to arrive at the appropriate staging area. League officials will begin staging you 15 minutes prior to the start time. Staging is based on call-up position. Refer to the race flyer for more info.
4. START – This is the time your race actually starts.
TEAM PIT ZONE
Student athletes, families, and friends are all welcome to hang out in our pit area. Please be considerate of others by doing the following.
- Keep all of your equipment/personal belongings in a duffle bag or backpack and placed out of the way. Please place your bag on the shelves or hang your gear with your bike on one of the a-frame bike storage stands.
- Please label all of your equipment with a Sharpie or name tag.
- Clean-up after yourself especially after eating.
- Be mindful of teammates that are preparing for or coming back from races.
The team will provide food for all riders including water and snacks to keep you fueled before races as well as lunch. Please arrive at the pit zone having eaten a full and healthy breakfast.
VOLUNTEER
The most important thing you can do on race day is to support your student athlete. The second most important thing you can do is volunteer. Please sign-up for a time when your student athlete is not racing.
The expectation is that every parent/guardian will volunteer with the league at least once per student each season. It take between 150-200 league volunteers to make each race happen. Information about the various positions that need to be filled and links to the sign-up sheets can be found on the league’s website. When you sign-up, make sure to indicate which high school you are from so we get credit for your time.
Our team needs your help too. Please see our volunteer page for various positions we need help with.
WEATHER
Be sure to check the weather and come prepared for anything.
PRE-RACE MAINTENANCE
Please do not leave the maintenance of your bike until the day of the race. It adds stress and chaos to an already crazy day.
To ensure your bike is race ready, we recommend you complete the items listed below. If you need help with any of these items, you need to plan in advance to get the service work done.
1. CLEAN BIKE – It will perform better, gives you a chance to inspect for wear and damage, and you can’t really properly tune a bike when it’s not clean.
2. LUBE CHAIN – We don’t want any broken chains.
3. TIRES – Inspect the tires, check your sealant, and check your tire pressure. Ensure that your tires hold the correct pressure. Replenish your sealant or fix/replace tubes.
4. BRAKES – Inspect your brakes, including the brake pads. There are several signs your brakes and/or pads need attention and maintenance. The most common are a gritty scraping sound, or too much play in the levers.
5. BOLTS – Double check all of your bolts and ensure they are tightened properly. Water bottle cage, pedals, stem, seat post clamp, seat binder, headset, etc.
6. WHEELS – Spin the wheels to ensure they’re straight and true. Squeeze your spokes to double check each spoke is properly tensioned and isn’t broken. Make sure your brake rotors are straight and aren’t dragging on your pads.
7. TUNE-UP – Last but not least, if your bike isn’t shifting smoothly you more than likely need a tune-up. If a tune-up is necessary, schedule it with the bike shop well in advance of the races. At the very least ensure the shop can get it back to you before you leave for the race. We will have mechanics present for MINOR adjustments on race day. Major repairs will be charged a fee for parts and labor (if it’s even possible to fix it at the race.)