NCL Cup Rules
The NCL Cup Series is organized by the National Cycling League, Inc., under the regulations of USA Cycling, and according to the following special regulations specific to NCL races.
Summary
- Each NCL Cup Series event is made up of a women’s race and a men’s race.
- Ten (10) teams will be invited to compete in the 2023 NCL Cup Series.
- Each team must be made up of a women’s and men’s division. Teams that do not have both women’s and men’s divisions may merge with another women’s/men’s team for the purposes of competing in the NCL Cup Series.
- Each NCL Cup event is made up of three segments: pre-race qualifier, a women’s race and a men’s race.
- Points are awarded based on results in each segment of the event.
- All invited teams must commit to competing in all NCL Cup events.
- All teams must have a minimum of four (4) and a maximum of five (5) riders per gender.
- Teams competing with five (5) riders may also have one (1) alternate or substitute riders per gender respectively. Teams only competing with four (4) riders must start all four and may not have any alternate or substitute riders.
Scoring
A new, real-time scoring system will award points after each lap, with bonus points on the final lap of each race. This innovative and engaging format will encourage nonstop action, while the latest technology platform will share athlete performance data via wearable technology and enable NCL races to simultaneously exist in both the real and virtual worlds.
Each event is worth an equal number of points for the women and men with points allocated as follows:
- Qualifier: 10%
- Race Laps: 60% (all laps of the race except the final lap)
- Final Lap: 30%
The total number of points available at each event may vary, based on race distance, number of laps, etc. But the percentages will remain the same. The team with the most combined points between the women’s and men’s divisions is determined to be the winner of the event. Points are broken down as follows:
- The qualifier format may vary from venue to venue, and may include a virtual (metaverse) race, street sprints, or another format.
- The winner of each race (women’s and men’s) is determined by the team that accumulates the most points among its riders during the race.
- The winner of the event is determined by the team with highest combined number of points between the men’s and women’s divisions, including the qualifier and all lap points.
Substitutions
Substitutions are allowed for strategic, mechanical, or physical reasons. A designated Team Pit, monitored by officials, is set up to allow riders to exit and enter the race, per the rules.
Teams competing with five (5) riders may also have one (1) alternate or substitute riders per gender, respectively. Teams only competing with four (4) riders must start all four and may not have any alternate of substitute riders.
