Teams make up a decent amount of the field at many OC sanctioned events. They play an important role in the success of an event and often show a cohesiveness in races you don’t always see (but certainly can) see from individual club members showing up to race. A team can also be a great way of getting a collection of individuals interested in competitive cycling to join together at races, even if they don’t live near each other in the province to be able to train together frequently.

Why start a team?

Teams differ from clubs in that they are not necessarily run by a group of individuals, but could be run by as little as one person (often referred to as the manager). Teams also are not required to have a formal governance structure in place (like a club), but rather can simply be a group of like-minded people who want to get together to participate in competitive events. Depending on the level of your team, you may even receive benefits like discounts on bike products from team sponsors, free team kit and more.

Do I have to register my team?

OC teams are required to register annually with Ontario Cycling. Through this registration, we ensure teams are properly set up for the season, and should they have training activities they need coverage for, we review their activity documents to ensure safety is a focus for all team members. If your team is a legal entity, we may also be able to provide sports liability protection.

What types of teams do you allow?

Private Race Teams – A private group restricted to invited individuals with a focus on racing, with membership made up of primarily Challenge, Compete or UCI Licensed members. A Private Racing Team is generally owned and operated by either an individual or group of individuals under the guidance of a Team Manager. Private teams may choose to organize training activities (for its members only) under the OC insurance program (subject to requirements, add $75.00 to registration fee for sanctioned training activities to be covered).

Supporting Business Team – An excellent option for a private group made up of 4 or less members that is private in nature, generally run by an individual as the Team Manager. Supporting Business teams are great for athletes or small groups that are sponsored by a business and want to have that show in results and/or wear a custom cycling kit. Supporting Business Teams may choose to organize training activities (for its members only) under the OC insurance program (subject to requirements, add $75.00 to registration fee for sanctioned training activities to be covered)

Is there a minimum membership requirement for teams?

Yes. OC registered teams members are required to hold either an OC issued Challenge, Compete or UCI License membership. OC issued Community memberships are now allowed for teams as these memberships are not ideal for competitive focused athletes. For more information on setting up a team, the requirements, and some important information, we recommend reading the OC Registered Team Information Package