Rider's Guide to Cycling Canada Mountain Bike Racing U13-Masters 2026

Masters age groups (men and women): A 35-44, B 45-54, C 55-64, D 65+.

Masters status is for athletes aged 35 or older as of 31 December of the season who elect it. A rider turning 35 must choose Elite or Master for the whole season, when applying for the licence each year. Elite is ages 23 to 34; a rider aged 35 or older can ask for an Elite licence to race the Elite calendar.

• Masters licence holders need their provincial association's approval to race Elite at provincial competitions, and Cycling Canada's approval for national competitions. At events on the UCI calendar, Masters riders cannot enter an Elite event.
• A Master licence holder who wants to race Elite at provincial events but Master at national and international events takes a Master licence and asks the provincial association for an upgrade letter.
• A Master athlete licensed as Elite cannot compete as a Master at National Championships.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part IV, Chapter 1; Cycling Canada Licence Memo, 1 December 2025.

Yes. A rider may be recognized in four different sub-categories within mountain biking: one for cross-country, one for downhill, one for 4X, and one for enduro. The licence must reflect all the sub-categories.

Enduro also recognizes U17 men and U17 women categories.

For Elite downhill, 4X and enduro (men and women) there is no U23 category.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part IV, Chapter 1; Cycling Canada Licence Memo, 1 December 2025.

Permanent ability upgrades: you can receive a permanent upgrade in an ability sub-category at any time during the season, most often when you have accumulated enough points. The upgrading criteria are set and administered by your provincial or territorial association. Submit your licence to it for updating; if the update is delayed, it may issue a temporary confirmation letter valid for a maximum of two weeks.

Temporary age or ability upgrades: you can be granted a temporary upgrade to a higher or more difficult category with a letter of endorsement, but only in exceptional circumstances and with the support of an approved NCCP coach and your provincial or territorial association. Your licence must always show your correct UCI age category.

• Provincial events: apply in writing to your provincial or territorial association, which issues a letter valid at provincial calendar events only (or as the letter specifies).
• National or international events: you need written approval from Cycling Canada. Submit a Temporary Age and Ability Upgrade Form, approved by your provincial or territorial association, at least two weeks before the competition. Cycling Canada only considers a move to a higher age category in the last year of eligibility of your present category.

Source: Cycling Canada Licence Memo, 1 December 2025 (issuing of 2026 licences).

The Companion Guide sets these XCO race durations.

C1, C2 and C3 events, including Canada Cup competitions:

By category and ability class (event duration):

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part IV, Chapter 2 (XCO race characteristics).

Screws or other homemade methods of studding or spiking a tire are not permitted.

Studded tires are permitted on fatbikes in cross-country style competitions under these conditions:

• Studs may stand a maximum of 3 mm proud of the tire tread.
• The tire must be a pre-studded factory fatbike tire, or use aftermarket studs designed specifically for bicycle use.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part IV, Chapter 1 (Conduct of riders).

At XCO events a double feed and technical assistance zone is preferred; if that is not possible, two feed and technical assistance zones are needed. Where technical assistance is done at the same place as feeding, riders must pull into the box and stop riding. Also:

• Riders can receive feed and water in the technical area as long as they are stopped (one foot down).
• The areas should be chalked out or otherwise identifiable. Feeders must stay behind the first line and step into the feeding area only when their rider arrives.
• A passing lane lets riders who do not want a feed ride straight through.
• Signs should mark the start and end of each feed or technical zone.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part IV, Chapter 2 (Feeding and technical assistance).

The competitor. You are responsible for following the official course and completing the correct number of laps, and you bear sole responsibility for any error on course.

Course marking: the use of chicken wire is prohibited, and similar mesh products need approval from the President of the Commissaire Panel.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part IV (Mountain Bike Races), Chapters 1 and 2.

In Canada, licences are issued by the province or territory where the rider has their principal residence. A rider must take out a licence in their province or territory of residence.

An electronic (digital) licence is acceptable within Canada. Digital licences have been issued to all provincial and territorial association members since 2020. If you want a hard licence, you can have your provincial or territorial association print it for a fee, or have it printed and mailed for a fee charged to you.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I, Chapter 1; Cycling Canada Licence Memo, 1 December 2025.

At the Canadian Championships:

• All athletes must hold a valid UCI/CC international licence. Domestic licences, from other countries or within Canada, are not permitted.
• No one-day event licences are sold.
• There is no registration on race day.
• You must enter the event class shown on your licence, in line with UCI regulations.
• You are not registered until you have completed the application form, signed the waiver, paid, and had your licence validated by the designated commissaire.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I, Chapter 2 (Canadian Championships).

They can. The Cycling Canada Companion Guide applies to all sanctioned events in Canada, but provincial and territorial associations may add to or change its requirements for regional policy, safety, participation or operational reasons. For provincially sanctioned events, where the two differ, the provincial or territorial rules take precedence.

For Canada Cup mountain bike classifications and regulations, the Companion Guide points to a separate Canada Cup series regulations document.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Preliminary Provisions and Part IV, Chapter 9.