Learning to win – Holding off on upgrading might pay dividends later
(Originally published in Velonews) by Kendra Wenzel

Points, field sizes, race experience, stickers on your license and phone calls to the district rep — you’ll deal with it all if you are progressing through the racing category ranks. For some, the upgrade from Category IV to Cat. III, for instance, may come in as few as three or four races. For others the struggle to break out of the same category may take years. It may seem straightforward that a racer would want to progress from category to category as quickly as possible. Sometimes, however, there are reasons to hold off on that call to the district rep and wait for a better time to upgrade, or even remain in a certain category longer.

The reason? Learning to win.

A winning experience

Learning to win is the process of mastering one’s way around the pack, moving swiftly, confidently and with strategic timing to prime positions for attacking, sprinting and cornering in the company of competitors of similar ability. It also involves living and feeling the experience of what it’s like to place or win. Crossing the line first, standing on the podium, collecting a prize, and garnering praise are all part of the winning experience and motivation for the future.

Finding your way to victory also reinforces your belief that you do have the ability to sprint, climb or time trial, for instance. Learning to win means going out on top of one category with confidence before upgrading to the challenge of the next one. For those who have the upgrade points in line but have never stood on the podium, learning to win can mean potentially holding yourself back from the next category in the short term in order to perform better when you finally do arrive there.

Going the distance

The biggest jump most male racers will need to prepare for is usually the change from Cat. III to Cat. II. While upgrading from Cat. IV to Cat. III can be equally challenging for some, the increase in race distances and intensity between Cats. IV and III aren’t usually as great as from Cat. III to the combined pro/I-II races. For women this jump usually occurs going from Cat. IV to Cat. III, when they join the combined I-II-III races. These differences will also depend on the size of the district a rider competes in.

Although a rider may have nearly enough points to upgrade, it may not mean that this rider is ready to consistently ride the increased distances and intensities in the next category. The overall training benefits that one gets from racing are likely to be higher when a racer stays in his current category and can finish races strongly and spend considerable time at racing intensities, rather than rushing to the next category where he may be dropped and unable to finish races.

At the same time, those riders who are winning easily, even in the Cat. IIIs, are encouraged to upgrade sooner rather than later to Cat. II. And while the upgrade from Cat. II to Cat. I is mostly a distinction on paper, other than in the biggest of races, those riders wanting to race a Cat. I-only event, such as elite nationals, should go for their upgrades as early as possible in order to avoid the stress of trying to obtain a last-minute upgrade in order to attend.

Timing

When is it finally time to upgrade, if you have been waiting? Timing isn’t quite as important in women’s racing, since the categories are so often combined. For the male rider looking to make the big jump into Cat. II, often the best time is in the final races of the summer season. Usually by this time the stronger pro/I-IIs are winding down their seasons and the racing isn’t as tense as earlier in the season, making for a friendlier entrance to the upper ranks.

Intimidation is a great factor in hindering performance when a rider first upgrades. Having a feeling of belonging and deserving can greatly affect the confidence a rider displays when moving in the pack, going for a wheel or making a jump or attack. Coming in at the last part of the year or waiting through another winter of base training can help a rider slide into his or her new category with confidence.

Staying put

While there are riders who race only to participate and could care less about the outcome of the race, I’ve never met one who didn’t like at least the chance to win. Categorized racing isn’t only a ladder for reaching the top, but also a chance for more than the very best to win. Just like an age-group runner or a C League softball player, remaining in the Cat. IV’s or Cat. III’s can be a way for many riders who wouldn’t otherwise taste victory. For those riders who don’t have the time to train themselves into more difficult competition, Cat. III isn’t just a stop on the way to Cat. I, it’s a career category. Automatic-upgrade requirements eventually prevent sandbagging, so for many working riders, being a career Cat. III is a legitimate competition level.

Upgrading dilemmas due to experience and distances are more of an issue in road racing than in mountain biking, cyclo-cross and track racing, where in most amateur categories the categorization is either automatic or left to the choice of the competitor. But when opportunities do allow for a rider to remain in a category once he or she has begun improving, the same benefits of learning to win can apply.

And finally, never forget that cycling is a team sport. If you have already reached the required amount of points needed to upgrade and have teammates in the same category still needing points, you may consider sticking around for a race or two to help your teammate earn the required points as well. Learning to be a good teammate is as valuable as learning to win yourself.