Below are the results of the 2026 OVCX Category Wave Start Survey, conducted the week of 8/28-9/4/2026, and sent to the 350+ OVCX email list of 2025 registered riders. We had 92 respondents (a great result %).

A summary of the results is below, including anonymized “Parting Shots”.

If you want to get real nerdy, you can slice and filter these responses by category, gender, age using the OVCX 2026 Category / Start Survey Dashboard.

Questions, comments, concerns? Email board@ovcx.com.

The Intro

We have a few questions to help us tweak the 2026 OVCX series to the riders that will race it.

>> Specifically, we are looking to adjust how CATEGORIES are started within WAVES, and how they are reported back to USAC. <<

Things that are NOT changing:

• The RACE DAY / WAVE SCHEDULE is NOT changing for the 2026 OVCX Series. 
• the CATEGORIES for the OVCX Series are NOT changing for the 2026 OVCX Series

Things that may change:

• How categories are started INSIDE of each wave (gap? no gap?)
• How we report results – and you receive upgrade points / ranking points – from USAC

>> We will adjust according to the MAJORITY we receive in this poll, and what is sustainable for the VOLUNTEER race directors and leadership of the OVCX. Not everyone will be happy – but dangit, we’re tryin! <<

92 Responses, Charted

Open-ended “Parting Shots”, Anonymized and Sorted by Theme

Category Starts / Category Scoring

Two years ago Masters (Cat 3) categories were scored separately, and this was fantastic for me as a racer. Last year Masters (Cat 3) categories were scored by wave, and this was utterly *demoralizing*. I literally did not want to race cross last year because my main motivation (competing against people my own age and race category) became meaningless. If my wave includes 15 year-olds on development teams and 25 year olds in the prime of their athletic conditioning, and if we’re all scored in that wave (podium trinkets for old folks be damned), well, that just plain sucks. What motivates me in racing is *improving* year over year, and the best indicator of improvement is not podiums or OVCX series points, but *upgrade* points. I was on the path to Cat 2 in 2024 because masters were scored separately. I went massively backwards in 2025 because masters were scored against everyone. I’ve got no beef with the devo teams or the open categories—I love seeing people grow and thrive in this sport. But competing against them is silly. Being scored with them is silly. There’s nothing worse than finishing 19/21 in the wave but being “on the podium” in the 50+. It’s so lame. Being 2/12 in the 40+ or 50+? That’s a significant difference, and I really, really hope we get back to that.

I am submitting my answer based on my junior rider’s Opinion, who has plans to race at Nationals for the 3rd year in a row. He wants a better call up.

It does not matter to me how the wave goes out as long as the OVCX points are separated by sub-category within the wave. Also, I like the later race time for the cat 4 50+ wave, but I’m also not a morning person and I don’t have kids that are racing ;-).

Having the wave scored does not create point scarcity as implied in the survey. Larger waves scored would mean points go deeper in the placements. [OVCX note: it does, at the size of most of the categories we currently have. Two 8 person races have 6 places receiving poinst. One 16 person race has 4 placing with points. USAC Policy VIII]

The last question is leading. I don’t care about upgrade points, but I do want to only race against the category I signed up for

The kids don’t have bikereg accounts. For my riders you’re missing out on two opinions by limiting one reply per email, [Junior 1] and [Junior 2] both want as many points as possible, where as I don’t care about points.

Please make sure singlespeed and men’s age group 1/2/3 start together.

For me personally there is little disadvantage to having the gaps, and for others there is considerable advantage, so I am in favor of the gaps, but only provided that the officials can actually place everybody correctly. Several seasons ago (maybe even a decade ago?) this was a problem for riders finishing towards the back of the race. Lapped riders were not being properly accounted for and as a result placements (not of the podium finishers, but of others) were inaccurate. Riders who had been lapped were scored as finishing ahead of the people who had lapped them. So if using starting gaps causes inaccurate results for any racers (not just podium finishers) then I am very much against it. Everyone is out there racing hard and the people finishing towards the back of the race are just as deserving of accurate results and placements as the top finishers. Otherwise I am in favor. On another topic, please continue to post a print-out sheet of results at the race, rather than having it be only online. Posting it on a sheet of paper makes it readily and easily available to everyone.

I had just sent an email to you. Was unaware of this at the time. Wave 4 has been so anemic the split start is terrible. It really stinks to drive a long distance and have nobody to race against. I cannot see the upgrade point desire for Masters in this race unless they are a 3 and they have another race they can get points from. Once a 1 or 2, upgrade points matter little in CX. And if an elite can’t beat out an elderly person for any upgrade points they want, they need to try harder! Hopefully there is a turn in the tide of attendance at some point, but for now, being able to actually race more people would be awesome. It is kind of depressing when there isn’t even a whole starting row for a race… Fingers crossed on a lot of what has happened since COVID reversing with the whole scene!

Upgrading / Sandbaggers (Riders that Have Upgrade Points, but Haven’t Upgraded)

We just need to make sure folks are upgrading when appropriate, particularly in the Masters categories. There are several Cat 4 Masters that have plenty of points and win/podium consistently that should be upgrading. This results in uneven fields. If this continues it may be better to just have a single 1/2/3/4 Masters wave,

The only thing I have noticed is that some riders are staying down a category despite the fact that they have more points than the mandatory upgrade that USA Cycling sets. There is one this weekend in Cat 4 at Lionhearts who currently is already at 20 upgrade points and 15 is mandatory and he is signed up in Cat 4. I noticed a few like that last year towards the end of the season in Cat 4 as well. If that is something that comes down to time for a volunteer to monitor, I would be happy to do that. Otherwise, the schedule is good to me.

I greatly appreciate everything OVCX leadership has done, past and present, to put on these races and keep the OVCX series fun and challenging. A few years ago USAC upgraded me to Cat3 simply because I did well in a few non-OVCX races and earned upgrade points. I don’t recall ever earning upgrade points from cat4 to 3 having participated in an OVCX race. As a result, most of my competitors are stuck in cat 4 50+ (and now 60+), and some are/were faster than me and they should be in Cat3 now. Is there a way for OVCX to upgrade these riders to Cat3. I prefer the 45 min races in Cat 3 vs 30min cat4, but we have so few 40/50/60 racers in cat3 – maybe discontinue Cat 4 masters and combine them into the cat3 masters race? …just a thought. Thanks for all you do!

OVCX Series / Awards / Results

I feel like the best 7 out of 12 for series point is a little high. Would be curious to see how many actually race 7. My guess less than 20% . So make it top 6 and then if you get to 7 or 8 then you can throw out the lowest two. This change may keep more interest towards end of year and finale

I don’t understand why the waves happen the way they do. I was a Novice male last year, but being Cat 4 this year is a totally different time, separated by Elites—doesn’t really make sense. It would be great to have a more logical flow like the UCI weekends. Also, winning the series is strange—no awards the same year? I finished in the top 3 for Novice last year but awards weren’t given at the final race, and I have no idea when/if I’m actually getting an award at all—you all have our emails through registration, it would be great to get some sort of communication about final results, a congrats maybe, and info about what/when to expect (if anything) for placing in the series. I appreciate all you all do! It’s a super fun series and we’re lucky to have so much racing around here. Also, sort of random, but Upper and Lower Milcrest Parks in Norwood might be a place to scout for another race. It’s got a little bit of a strange setup, but some neat features and a very different venue from the others we race at.

Actual trophies or medals for getting on podiums.

Race Day Wave Schedule

[OVCX note: we specifically weren’t asking about that because it’s set for 2026, but we welcome feedback and ideas for future seasons!)]

Please consider a dedicated 1/2/3/4 masters field, similar to other series and eliminate the entire Cat 4 start. Then, OVCX could do an open 4/5 race, an Open Cat 3 race, and lump all of the masters together.

I have a schedule suggestion, that I will send in a follow-up email. Take it as you wish.

Please keep the schedule the same

I don’t think Masters should be on the same course with Cat 1/2’s. They lap us and officials change the rules from race to race. You might get pulled or you might not. Leave the Masters on the course to finish our race to eliminate the confusion.

I have a lot of thoughts but the consistent issues I hear about are: -women can’t race twice -women can’t get their own course time but there’s a masters cat 4 carve out at every level and a 4/5 singlespeed field. -cat 3s feel slighted with the morning race especially if they raced the old calendar and expected to be rewarded with a better time slot by upgrading -elites can’t race singlespeed -the current schedule encourages everyone to clear out by 2:30

I don’t race on Sundays, more Saturday options would mean more involvement for myself and my family. Thanks!

Go back to pre 2020 schedule

I don’t have any answers…. I just race. I do like getting on the podium : ) I’d be up for 50 or 60 plus woman’s cat 4/5 category!

Better delineation at age groups / wave. Being race age 70 now going off with 40+ racers and getting “in the way” in (hopefully) later laps takes a bit away from the race. I understand fully that a senior master wave would be difficult. OVCX has always done a good job with these difficult situations. I really have nothing to complain about and only praise for the series management and each race director. Thanks guys!!

Racing in elite wave, it would be nice to have an option to possibly race single speed as well. But can’t do this since races are held in the same wave.

I don’t have much to say about the normal race day schedule, but I do have a comment about UCI weekends. I understand there are additional constraints those days, but please figure out a way to leave a time to preride for men cat 2. Usually, I get a preride lap in the gap between races an hour before my race. Often during UCI weekends, course inspection takes place in that gap and we are not permitted on course. Two hours earlier, the course is still rerouted for juniors. Three hours before is too much. For the regular race day schedule, I don’t have strong opinions about changes to the waves. I only race nationals when they are in Louisville and don’t care about points.

Saying Thanks (You are Welcome!)

Thanks for the effort you all are putting in to keep cross going in our region. I really appreciate it!

Thanks for doing this

Thanks for all the hard work, finding consensus is difficult!

This response if for my 15-18 Daughter who has plans to race at Nationals for her 4th year. Nationals call ups.

I am so thankful for this series, it’s a highlight of my year getting to do some cross. Short track gravel is where it’s at, and I am hopeful and willing to help more folks get into this sport.

Love the series, great job!

thank you !

Thanks for all you do for the community.

You guys are awesome.

Thanks! Looking forward to the season.

Do what’s best for the youth looking to move up in the sport. Thanks for caring about CX.

Better prizes for podiums. Recognize series winners with series awards at the last race.

Appreciate the nature of this survey, regardless of the outcome!