For commissaires officiating Cycling Canada and provincial road races in the 2026 season. Covers panel appointments, finish line and timing, the Technical Delegate, vehicles, sanctions, uniforms and courses.
Cycling Canada's 2026 Companion Guide describes a National, Elite National or UCI International Commissaire as an expert serving cycling who ensures races are held in the best possible conditions and acts as an ambassador of Cycling Canada and the UCI at races held under its auspices.
A commissaire ensures the smooth running of races in ethical and sporting terms by making sure National and UCI rules are applied uniformly before, during and after the race. Because some parts of the job go beyond the rules, Elite National and International Commissaires must be able to command respect in any situation and act as mediator between everyone involved in cycling.
Commissaires are at the centre of the sporting action in all cycling disciplines and provide an essential service to the cycling community.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf
Criterium:
Individual time trial:
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (2.2.022bis, 2.4.009, 2.7.016, 2.7.017, 2.7.021, 2.7.022)
For national level competitions, the CCOC decides the number and status of commissaires to be appointed. The CC Officials Committee appoints all members of the Commissaires Panel for nationally sanctioned competitions and international races unless the UCI appoints them. Where applicable, the committee may delegate the appointment of some panel members to the relevant provincial body.
Commissaires are assigned according to the Cycling Canada Commissaire Assignment policies. Wherever possible, assigned commissaires live in the same region as the race, to minimize costs for the organizer. The amounts and modes of payment for commissaires assigned by the CCOC are set in the honorarium and expenses policy.
At Cycling Canada events, a commissaire designated by Cycling Canada or the provincial sport organization is subject to Cycling Canada's Code of Conduct and Complaints & Discipline Policy.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (1.1.065, 1.2.116, 1.2.125)
Timekeeping: in Canada there is no timekeeper licence. The commissaire licence is designed to fill that function as well.
Photo finish: at national Road and BMX competitions a photo finish is obligatory, but an electronic timing strip is not mandatory.
Finish line staffing:
The Finish Line Commissaire's decision on the finish order is final in the event of a protest.
Banners: for competitions not on the International Calendar, a banner may be used for any finish, for the passing of an intermediate classification point, and at the top of mountain passes in road races.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (1.2.101, 1.2.102, 1.2.104, Annex 6)
The CCOC may appoint a Technical Delegate to any competition on the National Calendar. Under the 2026 Companion Guide, the Technical Delegate:
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (1.1.087, 2.2.029, 2.2.090 to 2.2.092)
Field size: the maximum number of riders starting a road race on the national or a provincial calendar is 176. There is no minimum.
Youth road categories (age as of 31 December of the year of competition):
In Canada, Masters categories start at age 35.
A rider may race in a category other than their own with a letter of permission from their Provincial Association, shown at registration. Upgrading must be approved by the Provincial Association for provincial races and by Cycling Canada for nationally sanctioned competitions. In Quebec, a rider from another province cannot race in a different age category unless they have a letter from Cycling Canada or the upgrade has been approved by the Quebec federation.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (2.2.002, 1.1.036, 1.1.037)
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (2.2.028bis, 2.2.032, 2.2.035, 2.3.016)
Sanctions and warnings: for national level competitions, sanctions and warnings given by the commissaires are noted in the communiqué of the commissaires' panel and sent to Cycling Canada. For provincial level competitions they are sent to the relevant provincial sport organization. For nationally sanctioned competitions, infringements are sanctioned by Cycling Canada. For races on the national and provincial calendars, the fines are those in column 3 of the fine table, and there is no deduction of UCI ranking points.
Dropping out: a rider must tell a commissaire that they have dropped out of the race, and fines or penalties may apply. In a stage race, a rider who drops out may not compete in another race during the competition they abandoned. For races below the international level the rider faces a 15 day suspension and a fine of C$100 to C$200.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (2.12.001, 2.12.003, 2.12.006, 2.12.008, 1.3.080, 2.6.026)
Uniform: all commissaires who are at least National Commissaires in their discipline wear the current national official uniform at recognized national or international competitions. They may wear special uniforms supplied by an organizer only if the CCOC has approved this in advance through the national office. This does not apply to UCI International Commissaires appointed to international competitions. The UCI logo and Cycling Canada logos may not appear on any provincial commissaire uniform.
Language: a bilingual commissaire must be present at National Championships. All instructions to riders before and during a race, and at the Team Managers' meeting, must be given in both official languages if requested.
Age: a commissaire can stay active as a Provincial or National Commissaire after age 70 at the discretion of the provincial sport organization or the CCOC respectively.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (1.1.064, 1.1.074, 1.1.074bis, 1.2.116)
Only National level Commissaires or higher are authorized to deliver Commissaire Courses. The 2026 Companion Guide notes that the course conductor pathway is currently under review.
Provincial commissaire courses are coordinated and implemented by the provincial authority responsible for commissaires. Instructional and refresher courses for all officials are prepared and administered by the Cycling Canada Officials Committee.
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf (Appendix 1)
According to Appendix 1 of Cycling Canada's 2026 Companion Guide:
Cycling Canada Officials Committee (CCOC)
Provincial authority responsible for commissaires
Source: https://cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Companion-Guide-2026_EN-FOR-CCOC-REVIEW.pdf