Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 MTB Race Series will be following government enforced spacing and gathering protocols. As such, the 2021 MTB season will be composed of races with single starts allowing for distancing. These events are currently only proposed and will have to comply with outdoor gathering limits in addition to other COVID-19 protocols. Events listed in the preliminary calendar will only be possible once the Province of Ontario enters Step 2 of the reopening plan, thus allowing for outdoor sports leagues and clubs to take place outside. Simply being listed in the Ontario Cycling Association 2021 Preliminary Calendar does not guarantee an event will run. We thank you for your understanding as we navigate the rules and regulations surrounding both the pandemic and our sport.

What is Cross Country?

Mountain bike racing offers many ways to have fun while challenging the individual physically and mentally. There are a wide variety of events offered in Ontario, to suit all abilities and experience levels.

These events are held on a circuit comprised of single and double-track trails, often with some gravel road sections for passing. Riders compete against each other according to their age and relative ability. Riders complete a set number of laps on the course. They may be individual or mass start events and, depending on the type of start, either the rider with the fastest time or the first rider across the finish line wins. For the 2021 season, all Ontario XC MTB events will be an individual start format to comply with Provincial Government issued distancing and gathering guidelines.

Cross country races may also be held in team relay format, where each rider on a team completes a set number of laps. Again the winning team can be determined by either the fastest team time, or the team whose rider first crosses the finish line. Chrissy Redden of Campbellville, Ontario, along with National Team riders Adam Coates, Ryder Hesjedal and Roland Green won the Gold Medal in the Team Relay at the 2001 World MTB Championships, and Canada repeated as winners in 2002.

Selecting a MTB-XC Race Category

2021 Season

This chart is designed to help riders new to the sport to pick a category as well as help all riders determine which kind of membership is required to participate in their categories. Riders who still have questions about categories after reading these charts should contact the OCA office.

Ontario Cup and Upgrade Points

MTB XC Ontario Cup Points

Upgrade Points – MTB-XC  (Currently being reviewed)

Upgrade points are based upon a mathematical formula taking into account a person’s speed vs the optimum time for their category. The predicted winning times are determined using the speed of the fastest racers, either Senior Elite men or the Senior Elite women’s fastest time is used, depending on who is relatively faster.  Expert, sport, and beginner racers are not expected to go as fast as Elite racers, so their predicted speeds are multiplied by a factor.  The predicted winning time is then determined by the dividing the distance by the speed.  The Speed ratios below are used to calculate the predicted speeds.