This is only intended as a guide, full rules are available on the website.

Scottish Cross-Country (SXC) is a series of six off-road mountain bike races, run from March to September. One of the races will include the Scottish Championships. The Series include races for age categories from age 12 through to Super-Vet (60+). Each round also includes racing for U8 and U10 age groups.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Race day schedule can be found at the bottom of the page.

You must wear a helmet, and have bar plugs fitted to your bike. Other than that, you can enter using almost any bike, as long as it doesn’t have an engine!

Results will be usually be available by the end of the event and online by the end of the day, check them as most timing errors can be sorted out quickly once we’re aware.

Toilets are available at all venues, please use them! Any rider found urinating in public will be instantly disqualified.

The wearing of GoPros or similar video cameras is not permitted on race day on the course. The use of drones in the vicinity of the race is forbidden at any time,

ENTERING THE RACE
Entry is online only using the British Cycling website and is available until the Wednesday night before the race, closing at 5 mins to midnight. This helps us make the sign-on process as smooth as possible.

The exception to this is the Scottish Championships round where entries close 2 weeks before the race. See the Enter Online page of the SXC website.

We are only accepting on-the-day entries for Taster, U10 and U8 categories.

We are unable to refund entries but we can transfer them where possible so please contact us (info@sxc.co.uk)

Licences - riders in the Elite/Expert categories must have a current British Cycling race licence. All other categories can race without a licence, but if you want to gain British Ranking points, you will need one. If you have a licence please bring it to show at sign-on this is good practice for British Races where they are essential.

THE COURSE
The main course is usually between 4 and 5km in length, and a lap should take between 15-25 minutes. The main course is generally made up of a mixture of firetrack, singletrack, steep climbs and challenging descents. As the event caters for everyone up to Elite riders, there will be some technically difficult sections but wherever possible we will provide a less technically-daunting (but slightly longer) option

The Female Taster and U12 categories use a slightly shortened version of the main course, with the most challenging features generally bypassed.

The U8 and U10 categories use a separate course altogether, designed to be safe and fun for everyone while still able to challenge the capable riders in this age group.

All races take place on Sunday, but the main course is open for practice from Saturday afternoon. We aim to have this ready for 1pm but the chief commissaire has to give us the green light to do so.

Saturday practice will not be marshalled or covered by First Aid - you are responsible for yourself, so please ride accordingly.

The course is also available for practice prior to each race. Available practice time will be advertised on the race day timetable. We strongly recommend that you ride the course and decide what sections are within your capabilities. Remember, you can run sections if you feel safer but you are not permitted to dismount and walk/run down an optional A-line.

We aim to post the number of laps each category will be racing for on our Facebook page by the Saturday evening. This will also be advertised at registration on race day.

RACE DAY

On race day, park up there will be parking sign-posted at each venue and there may be a small charge. Please park where marshals ask you to park - we need permission from landowners to stage our events and they can be sensitive about where you park!

Look for the big, blue SXC sign-on tent. Sign-on is open from 9.00am where you will receive your race number and timing chip. Please don’t ask to sign on before 9.00am as we are very busy setting up! If possible, please bring the correct change for on the day entries.

You will have the opportunity to practice the course ahead of your race, but please make your way to the start area (which may not be next to sign on!) 15 minutes before the start of your race to allow time for briefing and gridding by the race officials. See Race Day Timetable for full details.

During the race, if you hear the shout ‘Rider left!’ or ‘Rider right!’ from behind, you should allow the approaching faster rider to pass you on the side in question as soon as safely possible, though you are not expected to stop or put your foot down. Equally, if you are about to overtake another rider, a clear call of ‘Rider left!’ or ‘Rider right!’ alerts the rider in front of your approach and you should wait for them to allow overtaking. Remember, everyone is racing for a place in their own category and they deserve your courtesy, so please be polite! Anyone being overly aggressive or using foul language will be disqualified. See the Rules for full details on overtaking.

When you finish your race, please move clear of the finish line promptly as other riders will still be coming through behind you and may not be finished. Remove your number board and timing chip (someone will be there to help) to the buckets at the finishing area. Please don’t go home with a chip or a number board! They’re expensive and we know who has each one.

After the dust settles, relax and enjoy that post-race glow, visit our catering and sponsorship partners in the event village and please attend the podium presentation ceremony which will take place as soon as possible after each race.

PRIZE CEREMONY

Riders must be present at the podium ceremony to collect medals and prizes.

Medals and prizes cannot be collected by anyone other than the prize winner.

No medals or prizes will be posted after the event.

This year we have managed to secure 6 prize sponsors who will award additional prizes to the following categories: Elite/Expert Male & Female, Junior Male & Female, Youth Male & Female.

PITS (feed/technical zone)

If your race covers multiple laps, you should take your water bottles (and a helper!) to the Feed/Technical Zone, often known as ‘the pits’. This is generally near the Start/Finish area, and is marked on the course map.

In the pits or ‘feed zone’ you may receive food or drink from your helper, or you may stop and pick these up yourself. You are allowed outside assistance in this area with any mechanicals and you are also allowed to carry out a wheel change if a puncture occurs.

You are not allowed to do a bike, frame or fork change.

There will be a a line drawn on the ground in the pits and your helper is not allowed to cross this and encroach on the course. This is for everyone’s safety. Each rider is allowed one pit helper who must wear a pit band.

You are not allowed to ride or push your bike the wrong way round the course to the pits. If you have passed the pits and then have an issue you must continue round the course or you will be disqualified. Furthermore you are not allowed to receive any assistance from any other rider or spectator outside of the pits. You may fix your bike yourself with anything you are carrying, but if you accept tools or help from anyone else outside the pits you will be disqualified.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

We will post links to any photos on our Facebook page. Professional photographers, please drop us an email if you are coming - we’d suggest you come to the marshals’ briefing. All photographers and spectators must ensure their own and racers’ safety at all times or be asked to leave. Do not stand or walk where possible inside the taped course and remember the marshals are there for everyone’s safety so please listen to their advice and do as they ask.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

We really hope you have a great time! A whole team of volunteers has put in a whole load of work to make these events happen and more than anything we want you to enjoy them!

For further information, follow the links on this site or email info@sxc.org.uk with any other queries.

RACE DAY TIMETABLE

MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ON THE DAY!

9.00	Sign on opens for all races (except U8’s & U10’s)
9.30	Course open for practise
10.15	Course Closed. Gridding for U12’s and Female Taster
10.30	U12 race start
10.35	Female taster race start
11.00	Gridding for all other morning races
11.15	Morning Races (Youth, Juvenile, Super Vets, Male Taster Female Sport and Female Vets)
11.30	Sign on for the U8’s & U10’s open
12.30	Sign on for the U8’s & U10’s closes
13.00	U8’s & U10’s races
13.15	Main course open for practise
13.45	Course closed, gridding for afternoon races
14.00	Afternoon Races (Junior, Elite/Expert, Male Sport, Male Vets, Grand Vets)
14.30	Podiums for all morning races and U8’s & U10’s
16.15	Podiums for afternoon races

RACE DURATION RANGES

(taken from British Cycling 2019 Handbook)

Racing Guide (updated 2019- please read)

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