Rider's Guide to AusCycling Mountain Bike Racing All Ages 2026

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, Section 2:

• Cross-Country (XCO): the Olympic discipline. Course 4km to 6km (3.5km to 6km at national level, with a 9 to 18 minute target lap), no more than 15% paved or sealed road.
• Cross-Country Short Course (XCC): a course up to 800 metres long, with lap times of 1:00 to 1:30 minutes.
• Cross-Country Marathon (XCM): 60km to 160km (preferred 100km), as a single loop, point-to-point or maximum three laps.
• Cross-Country Eliminator (XCE): a course up to 1km, with riders racing in groups of four and eliminated in a format similar to four cross.
• Super D (SD): a point-to-point, predominantly descending course of at least 2.5km, mass start, eliminator or time trial.
• Cross-Country Endurance (XCEN): a multi-lap event of 1 to 24 hours, judged on laps completed.
• Cross-Country Point-to-Point (XCP) and Stage Race (XCS): point-to-point courses of 20km to 60km. Stage Relay (XCR) is a team event, traditionally one XCO lap per rider.
• Downhill (DH): a 1.5km to 3.5km point-to-point course with a race time of two to five minutes, and a maximum of 3% paved road.
• Enduro (EDR): liaison stages with a maximum allowed time, and timed special stages (predominantly descending) that add up to the overall time.
• Also covered: E-Mountain Bike, Four Cross, Observed Trials, Pump Track and Alpine Snow Bike. Four Cross, Pump Track and Alpine Snow Bike follow UCI Part IV Mountain Bike regulations.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, Annexure A and 5.13, and the General Technical Regulations, 1.03:

• All riders: a correctly fitted helmet meeting AS/NZS 2063 or equivalent, with the manufacturer's mark stating compliance. Commissaires may inspect helmets at any time. A rider at the start without the mandatory helmet is refused the start, and one who takes it off during the competition is fined $50 and disqualified.
• Cross-country: any helmet meeting AS 2063 is permitted, on race courses.
• Downhill: a full-face helmet meeting AS 2063 or equivalent on special or race stages, and the regulations specify a fixed, non-detachable mouthpiece.
• Enduro A standard (events with very technical terrain, steep mountainsides or very high-speed trails): a full-face helmet meeting AS 2063 or equivalent, with or without a detachable mouthpiece, on special stages. Any helmet meeting AS 2063 is permitted on liaison stages.
• Enduro B standard (all other enduro events): any helmet meeting AS 2063 on special stages (terrain dependent) and liaison stages.
• Enduro helmet wearing: a helmet must be worn during both liaison and special stages. A rider who dismounts and pushes the bike on a liaison stage may remove it. While riding it must be worn correctly with the straps fastened. Wearing it incorrectly on a liaison stage is a penalty from a warning to disqualification.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, 4.00, 5.13 and the General Technical Regulations, 1.02:

Downhill (all AusCycling sanctioned events)

• A full-face helmet with a fixed, non-detachable mouthpiece is mandatory.
• A long-sleeved jersey with sleeves to the wrists, of a type designed and sold for BMX racing or mountain bike downhill. Road jerseys, skinsuits and one-piece suits are not permitted. The jersey must be close fitting at the waist or tucked into the pants before the start.
• Knees must be covered by full-length trousers or by self-fastening knee or knee/shin guards designed for off-road competition. Long pants must be one-piece, tear-resistant and cover the legs to just above the shoe or ankle. Short pants must be one-piece, tear-resistant and worn with leg protection covering the entire knee and shin until just above the ankle.
• Strongly recommended: a neck brace, back and shoulder protection, full-finger gloves, elbow protectors or a long-sleeve jersey to the wrist, and goggles.

Juniors (Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17)

• In downhill, at all times on track regardless of the category entered: full-finger gloves, a full-length jersey covering the elbows, and knee pads and elbow pads.
• In enduro, the same items are mandatory during special stages. AusCycling strongly recommends all riders wear the downhill protection in enduro.

All disciplines

• Jerseys must cover the shoulders while riding (this does not apply to MTB Freestyle).
• Non-essential items of clothing, or items designed to influence performance such as compression garments, are forbidden.
• Enduro riders are strongly recommended to carry a backpack, waterproof jacket, emergency blanket, tubes or puncture repair kit, multi tool, first aid kit, map, food and fluids, eye protection and emergency contacts.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, 1.00, 1.01 and 3.09:

• Technical guide: it should be available from the date entries open and outlines the basic format, provisional timetable and protection rules for each event.
• Briefing: a rider briefing must take place before the race and attendance is compulsory. It covers changes to the rules, course, timetable, course marking, feed stations and assistance locations.
• Excuses: non-attendance is not accepted as an excuse for any rule violation, and failing to attend may mean you are not permitted to start.
• Registered riders only: everyone on course during an event must be a registered participant and must have the event number plate attached at all times.
• No practice during races: no practice is permitted on the course while a race is being conducted.
• Practice on the race course is only permitted (where possible) as follows: XCO at least 24 hours prior to the event; XCM at least 12 hours prior (offering no practice is appropriate); XCC and XCE at least one hour prior; XCEN and Super D at least 4 hours prior. For XCP and XCS a practice session should be provided, though offering none is appropriate.
• Enduro: training outside official times is disqualification, and illegal shuttling is also disqualification.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, 3.01, 3.11 and 3.12:

• Staging: riders are staged no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled start, then a rider briefing is given on the start line that must be audible to all riders.
• Countdown: announcements are made at 5, 4, 3, 2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds and 15 seconds before the start. The Start Commissaire then starts the race between 15 and 0 seconds, with no countdown announcement under 15 seconds. Mass starts use an audible device such as a starting gun or whistle.
• On the line: every rider must have at least one foot on the ground and may not lean on fences, other infrastructure, other competitors or bystanders.
• Distance: riders must complete the entire distance or as directed by race officials.
• Finish: a rider finishes when the leading edge of the front wheel crosses an imaginary vertical plane rising from the finish line drawn on the course surface.
• Course: a national level XCO course is 3.5km to 6km with a target lap time of 9 to 18 minutes, 99% rideable, with no more than 15% sealed or paved road.
• Target winning times: Elite and Expert 1:20 to 2:00; U23 1:15 to 1:30; Masters 1 to 4 1:15 to 1:30; Masters 5 to 7+ 1:00 to 1:15; Under 19 and Under 17 1:00 to 1:15; Under 15 0:45 to 1:00. The PCP may change the number of laps for weather.
• Environment: riders must ride only on the official course and leave no waste or litter.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, 3.12, 3.13 and Section 5:

Cross-country and related events

• Riders may receive technical assistance only in the designated technical zone(s) (3.13.01).
• Riders may not receive technical assistance of any kind while on the race course (3.13.02). Breaching this leads to disqualification or relegation (3.13.03).
• A rider may only change bikes between races (3.12.07).
• Riders must finish with their bicycle at hand (3.12.02).
• The responsibility for following the official course lies with the rider. Shortcuts or omitting a circuit are not permitted. A rider who leaves the course must return at the same point they left, and the PCP decides whether any advantage was gained if they did not (3.12.04 and 3.12.05).
• Riders must act in a sporting manner and not wilfully obstruct a fellow competitor. Anyone walking or running the course must give way to riders still riding (3.12.06).

Enduro

• Outside technical assistance is only allowed in the technical assistance zone, where riders may also collect and drop equipment or food (5.15.01).
• Illegal outside assistance is disqualification (Section 9).
• Each rider must be self-sufficient for the whole race, and food stashes are not permitted (5.13.01).
• Any rider who comes across an injured rider must stop to render assistance, unless the injured rider indicates they do not need it, and should ask the next rider to pass to notify the next marshal point of the incident, its location and perceived severity (5.15.02). The regulations state that no person should ever feel penalised or discouraged from stopping to assist another injured rider.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, 3.01.03 and 3.14:

• Zones: State/Territory level events and above must have a designated, managed feed zone. It must be at least 40 metres long, on a slight incline or flat ground with a slow, clear entry and exit, and where possible on the right side of the course. The technical zone must be at least 20 metres long, ideally on the same side.
• Feeders: only one allocated feeder per rider (teams may also use one feeder per rider), and every feeder needs an allocated feed zone pass. Feeders stay behind the second line until their rider is within sight of the zone, and stay stationary for the whole feed.
• Handing over: items may only be passed by hand. Feeders may not throw items or place them in or on the rider's bicycle. Support personnel must not pour or spray liquid on riders, although a rider may be handed a bottle (lid optionally removed) to tip on themselves to cool down.
• Riders: may only travel forward in the feed and technical areas. Eyewear may only be exchanged in the technical zone. No technical equipment may be stored in the feed zone.
• Contact: contact between a mechanic or feeder and the rider is permitted only in the technical zone.
• Pit lane: if a pit lane is used, riders may not use it to gain an advantage, and may be disqualified for taking it for no valid reason.
• Short course: a feed or technical assistance zone is not allowed in XCC.
• Breaches: failure to comply may result in relegation or disqualification.
• Glass: no glass containers of any kind are permitted on or near the race course.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, 3.15 and 3.16:

• 80% rule: applied at the discretion of the Technical Delegate or PCP, who must tell riders at the rider briefing before the start whether it applies. When it is enforced at National Level XCO events, any rider falling outside 80% of the leading time is removed from the course.
• Lapped riders (XCO): must remove themselves from the course when a commissaire instructs them to.
• Withdrawing: riders who pull out due to injury, mechanical failure or otherwise must tell the race officials. A rider who withdraws before being verified by the commissaires as a lapped rider or an official finisher is classed as Did Not Finish and loses all benefits, such as placing, competition points and ranking points. A rider who presents to the finish commissaire on withdrawal does not lose these benefits.
• Short course (XCC) times: Open Men race 20 minutes + 3 laps (maximum 25 minutes total); Open Women and Junior Men/Women race 15 minutes + 3 laps (maximum 20 minutes total). The PCP can alter these.
• XCC removals: lapped riders, and riders who will in high likelihood soon be lapped, must be removed from the course, at the PCP's decision (or their delegate's).
• XCC finish: the timers blow a whistle and display "3" laps to go at the end of the timed part, then "2" and "1", ringing a bell for the last lap. All riders still racing when the winner finishes are recorded in the order they cross the line, and lapped or pulled-out riders have their lap count recorded.
• Rest: there should be at least 4 hours of rest between an XCO and an XCC event.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, Section 9 (EDR infringements and penalties) and Section 5:

• Missed start: up to 5 minutes late is a 1 minute penalty, 5+ minutes late is a 5 minute penalty, and 30+ minutes late is disqualification (DSQ).
• Other start violation (pushing into the queue, delaying the start, jumping the start): 5 seconds.
• Not obeying course marking, altering the course, illegal outside assistance, illegal shuttling, training outside official times: DSQ.
• Unintentional course cutting: 30 seconds.
• Missing back or helmet number (where given): 30 seconds.
• Food stashing or using unauthorised food supplies: 4 minutes.
• Environmental disrespect: from 1 minute to DSQ. Disposing of a goggle tear-off on the trail is DSQ.
• Helmet worn incorrectly on a liaison stage: from a warning to DSQ. Riders must wear a helmet at all times in competition, but may remove it on a liaison stage if they dismount and push.
• Replacing a marked frame, fork or wheel: a rider can use only one frame, fork and pair of wheels during a race. Replacing a marked part without the Commissaires' approval is DSQ. With approval, a 5 minute penalty applies (5.14.07) and the part must be re-marked before the rider rejoins. The Section 9 table lists this penalty as both 5 and 3 minutes.
• Leaving the course to return to the technical assistance zone: needs approval from race officials first and incurs a 3 minute penalty.
• Rendering assistance: a rider who stops to help an injured rider must be awarded a time for that stage of no more than 10% more than the winning time of that stage in their category.

From the 2026 AusCycling Mountain Bike Technical Regulations, Section 7:

• Who: E-Mountain Bike events are open to riders aged 19 and over and include Masters categories.
• Formats: cross-country and Enduro formats only, with the details set in each event's technical guide.
• Motor: an engine of maximum 250 watts, assisting up to 25km/h, with pedalling assistance only. Start-up assistance of up to 6km/h without pedalling is allowed. Bikes must be commercially available and of mid (crank) motor format only.
• Wheels and gearing: wheels at least 26 inches, and a maximum gearing roll out of 9.0 metres.
• Cut-off: assistance must cut off when the rider stops pedalling forward, with a cut-off distance of no more than two metres.
• Weight: the drive unit's maximum weight is 3.1kg, and the battery's maximum weight is 4.5kg and must conform with UN3480.
• Battery: riders can only use the battery in place on their bike and cannot carry an additional battery during the competition.