Hi Guys and Gals! This thread is an edited version of the post that I made last year, and hopefully it should answer any questions that some of our newer members may have about what racing is like with McGill Cycling. If I’ve missed anything, feel free to ask questions below - somebody else is surely thinking the same thing.
What races will we be attending as a team this year?
Firstly, you should know that the MCT participates in two different race conferences: the ECCC and the FQSC. ECCC races are collegiate-specific races in the USA which we are graciously allowed to participate in, while FQSC races are located in Quebec and open to the whole wide world. ECCC races also take place over the entire weekend with three or four events, while FQSC races are typically one-day affairs. Normally, ECCC weekends are the most popular events with the team, and luckily this year the calendar is much more reasonable travel-wise for us Canadians than it has been in the past. The full ECCC calendar can be viewed here and although these plans are still tentative we are currently planning to attend at least the following four race weekends:
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[]March 22 - 23: Bard Campus Crit and Uncle Sam Road Race. In mid state New York and with enough rest time after SC this weekend is sure to be a good start the season.
[]March 29: EDIT: Queen’s Criterium. See below.
[]April 5-6: Army Cycling Weekend: A really really beautiful race and one of my most exciting events in previous years. The crit is really cool, located right on the historic campus, and though I don’t know what the circuit race course will be this year, chances are it will be somewhere between bumpy and very hilly.
[]April 12 - 13: UNH and University Vermont: Two of the most dominant teams in the ECCC are combining forces this year to host one race weekend. The course for the circuit race is worth checking out on the ECCC website: of note, it finishes on a 1.2 mile climb which averages 10% and maxes out at 30%(practice on Sassafras in SC!)
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After the weekend of April 12th, racing starts up in Quebec with the Contrecoeur circuit race. We’ll make decisions as a team at that point about what events we want to attend, though a highlight of the summer season for my last two years has been the entirely awesome Charlevoix stage race, so hopefully there’s a group that wants to do that this year. Surely it’s about time for nice weather this year…
What do I need to race with MCT?
First you must have paid us your team membership fee. Second, you need some sort of licence that says you’re allowed to race. You have two options for this: either a day-license or an annual license. Provided you live in Quebec, an annual license can be purchased from the FQSC here for $120 dollars. We are having a small delay currently getting MCT registered with the FQSC, so if you intend to purchase an annual license I would recommend waiting just a bit longer - we’ll keep you updated. If you can reasonably claim to live elsewhere (i.e. a first-year living in residence), it may be more cost-effective to buy a licence from your home province or country (especially if you are american!). This can get a bit complicated however, so do at your own risk and email me if you have any questions.
One day licenses are purchased at the races themselves, and are valid for one day only (i.e. you will need two to race for a weekend at the ECCC). Do note the restriction that day-licensed riders can only race in Intro or D categories, so be aware of that. ECCC day-licenses are 15USD. Day licenses are also available at the majority of FQSC races, but not all. If my memory is correct I believe they are usually $20.
How much does a weekend cost? Traditionally, MCT has arranged travel and lodging at ECCC weekends in return for $50 from each racer, and for free if you can provide a car. In addition to this you are responsible for your race entry fees, which add up to $55 dollars if you choose to race all three races at an ECCC weekend (which you should). That being said, the team budget is looking very healthy this year and once we go over our numbers after South Carolina and the first few race weekends, the MCT may very well be able to cover more of the costs associated with racing.
Isn’t racing scary and dangerous? It can be, but it’s also incredibly thrilling and satisfying, even when you’re struggling just to finish mid pack. In my opinion and that of a number of others that I’ve talked to, the ECCC races are the absolute best way learn how to race. The atmosphere is very friendly, and unlike FQSC racing, which has only two categories for the men, the ECCC has enough categories that you can almost certainly be racing with people of comparable abilities. You also get to race three times in the weekend, which is awesome.
If you want to read more about the mechanics of racing, this blog has a bounty of good information. At the end of the day though there’s no replacement for actually strapping on the shoes and jumping into a race.
So what category should I race in?
These are the following categories for a male ECCC racer:
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[]Intro: Good for riders with moderate to no pack riding experience. Races are very short, and experienced riders are in the pack giving advice and making sure everybody is safe. As much a learning experience as a race, and totally non-pressure.
[]D: A level of fitness that does not demand a particularly high level of training, but comfort riding in a group is required.
[]C: The highest level I would recommend for a first-time racer. Level of fitness will almost certainly require regular focused training, but if you have the fitness the pack is a bit safer than Men’s D because people are much more experienced.
[]B: Phil.
[*]A: Dennis.
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Womens’ racing in the ECCC has four categories with the addition of D this year: C/D and A/B (These are all seperate categories but they often race together). The categories roughly correspond to the mens’.
In the FQSC, Men can choose between racing Senior 3 and Senior 1/2. Senior 1/2 corresponds roughly to Men’s A and high B, and Senior 3 to the lower categories. Women in Quebec only have the choice between Senior 1 and 2.
What’s that crit thing you mentioned earlier?
There are several types of races that we do. The shortest group race is a criterium, which is held on very small circuits, often just several city blocks. They are normally measured in time, not distance, and race lengths range from 30-70 minutes, depending on the category. Bike handling and nerves of steel are crucial for these events, because cornering is such a big part of the race.
A circuit race is held on a much larger circuit, often 10-20 km, which is repeated several times. In the ECCC total race distances range from 35-90km depending on categories. These often feature hills and other excitements, but steady pack riding is more important than the extreme corning important for crits.
There are also Time Trials, both individual and team. These races are just you against the clock, no drafting allowed off of opponents. Start times are staggered, and if you’re doing it right these events are extraordinarily painful. The ECCC TTs are often very short, less then 10 minutes, but you can find longer TTs in Quebec if you’re interested. It should be noted that only mass-start legal equipment is permitted for ECCC TTs.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten many things, so let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing a lot of you at races this spring and I hope all our newer members decide to give it a try.