Rider's Guide to Cycling Canada Youth Road Racing U13-U17 2026

If you have received a dispensation to compete against riders of an older category, you may use the gearing that applies to that older category. For example, a U15 rider with a dispensation to race U17 on the road uses the U17 road rule, which has no gear limit.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I, Chapter 3 (Equipment, youth category gear restrictions).

Yes, with permission. You need a letter of permission from your provincial association and must show it at registration. All 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: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I, Chapter 1 (table of road categories).

Upgrades are only considered in exceptional circumstances, 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. It issues a letter of upgrade, valid at provincial calendar events only (or as the letter specifies, for example for particular events).

National or international events: you need written approval from Cycling Canada. Complete a Temporary Age and Ability Upgrade Form, have your provincial or territorial association approve it, and submit it to Cycling Canada at least two weeks before the competition. Approval is not guaranteed. Cycling Canada only considers a move to a higher age category when you are in the last year of eligibility of your present age category. Show the Cycling Canada letter and your licence at registration.

As a general rule the UCI does not accept upgrades at UCI events, World Cups and World Championships.

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 is approved by the Quebec federation.

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

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.

Yes. In track cycling, youth categories (U17, U15 and U13) may not use disc wheels (maximum rim depth 40 mm) or carbon wheels.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I, Chapter 3 (Equipment, track cycling).

At the Canadian Road Championships, in the U17 and U19 categories:

• Only one bike frame may be used for the road race, criterium and time trial events.
• Extension bars are not permitted.
• Disc wheels are not permitted.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I, Chapter 3 (Equipment).

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.
• Licences are presented at licence control and must be shown on demand.
• 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).

Yes, with a letter of release. A rider who belongs to an affiliated club or team and wants to join another affiliated club or team for an event must get a letter of release from the primary club or team.

The letter must name the specific event or events, or the timeframe, for which the rider may be attached to the second club or team. It is prepared on official letterhead and signed by the club president or paying agent.

A letter does not guarantee registration, because the event's own requirements may still prevent it. For events on the UCI calendar, unless the event's technical guide says otherwise, riders must race with the club or team shown on their licence.

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

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.

Participation in a race, in any capacity, means accepting the UCI Regulations and the national amendments in the Companion Guide.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Preliminary Provisions.

Dropping out: a rider must tell a commissaire that they have dropped out of the race. Fines or penalties may apply if they do not.

Criteriums: for safety, riders who are lapped are asked to leave the race. Criterium circuits are from 800 m to 3,000 m long.

Source: Cycling Canada 2026 Companion Guide, Part I (identification of riders) and Part II, Chapter 7 (Criterium).