The Ontario Cycling Association, through it clubs and organizers, offers different levels of racing/activities to be enjoyed by all cyclists.
Riders new to the sport of cycling will benefit by joining an OCA affiliated club, as many of these clubs offer Learn-to-Race programs. Joining a club also allows you to socialize with members of your local cycling community. Learn tactics, training secrets and great places to ride by interacting with your fellow club members. For more information about OCA affiliated clubs please click here.
A weekly series can offer some of the same benefits of a club. Riders hone their skills by competing weekly on the same course all year long (weather permitting). The OCA has numerous MTB and Road Weekly Series spread throughout the province. Check the calendar for a series near you.
Once you have become comfortable with your bike handling skills it is time to move up to longer courses, bigger field sizes and tougher competition. Citizen and/or Regional Events offer this next level of competition. Citizen event race categories are created by the organizers. They also require no official to be assigned to the event by the OCA, however the event still must adhere to OCA standards. Regional event categories (based on age and/or ability) are determined by the OCA. Also there is at least one official assigned to the event by the OCA. These events are attended more by riders in the local area, however if the event has a good "word-of-mouth" reputation, riders will travel greater distances to compete. All Cyclo-Cross events (except Provincial Championships) are classified at this level.
From the rigours of Citizen/Regional racing, the next level up is the Ontario Cup. Ontario has eight Road Ontario Cups, six cross-country (XC) Ontario Cups and six downhill (DH) Ontario Cups. Ontario Cups are located throughout the province, attracting riders from around Ontario, Quebec and the United States. As with Regional events, categories are predetermined by the OCA based on age and/or ability. For those who feel they are not ready for the increased level of competition, these event always offer Beginner/Novice entry type categories. The OCA recognizes Ontario Cup Series Champions in the highest ability level for each age category. For a breakdown of series categories please consult the OCA Handbook.
The Ontario Cup Series traditionally ends with a Provincial Championship. The Provincials offer the opportunity to compete against the best riders in the province. Riders have been known to make a 10+ hour drive to compete at the event. The race follows the same format as an Ontario Cup (categories are separated by age and/or ability) with the overall series awards presented after the medal presentations.
The OCA offers different types of membership for different levels of events. Please check Membership Participation section of our website to determine which membership best meets your needs.
