Here is a sneak peek at the new competitive MTB course for this year’s event. Competitive and non-competitive mtb racers will have seperate courses.

1.     Purpose

The purpose of the Texas Ultra-Cup Challenge is to provide an affordable series of Texas based races that are
“Self Crew-able”, not requiring an expensive follow vehicle entourage. The multi lap format allows a Family Friendly Pit Area venue, with camping. A race series, which will bring a unique adventurously fun experience filled with camaraderie to the Texas Ultra Community, ultimately crowning the best ultra-distance racers in this Texas Ultra Cup Challenge.  After the three events, winners will be determined for each Division and Category as well as overall Champions, every racer completing all 3 races will earn a Texas Ultra Cup Award. A series challenge is appealing in that a racer may win just by remaining healthy and racing consistently.

These are the hosting events for the Texas Ultra-Cup Challenge.  A racer must compete in all three events in order to qualify for the Texas Ultra-Cup Challenge Award.

• Bessie’s Creek – April 14-15, 2012 – Brookshire, TX                         www.bessiescreek24.com
• 24 Hours in the Canyon – June 2-3, 2012 – Palo Duro Canyon, TX  www.24hoursinthecanyon.org
• The Texas Time Trials – September 27-29, 2012 – Glen Rose, TX   www.tt24t.com

2.     Division

The different division of races that a participant can compete in

• 6 Hour ( No Teams)
• 12 Hour
• 24 Hour
• Open (could include a combination of any Division and or the Tejas 500)

A racer does not have to declare which division he (or she) is racing in, they are assumed to be racing in the division raced at the first Event until they switch by racing in a different division (which would then place them in the Open division.

3.     Category

The different bicycle design being used by the racer:

• Human Powered Vehicle (an enclosed bicycle/tricycle)
• Recumbent (bicycle/tricycle)
• Single-Speed/Fixie (gearing to be chose by the rider)
• Upright AKA Diamond-Frame (fully geared road, mountain bike, hybrid, cyclocross)

There will be a 1^st place male and female winner for each category of bicycle in each separate division.

Switching categories between races is allowed, however:

Points from all three races will count towards the overall champion of each division only

Points from the majority category will be used towards that category placement

Example:  A racer races all three races in the 12 hour division, racing a recumbent at both Bessie’s Creek and the Texas Time Trials (placing 3^rd overall at each of those) and races a mountain bike at the Canyon (placing 25^th overall).  This would give the racer 28 Points towards the 12 hour overall champion, or 26 points toward the 12 hour recumbent category.

4.     Champions

For the Solo racers, there will be an overall champion for each division, regardless of the category of bicycle raced.  The overall division champions forfeit their 1^st place category placement. There will be no duplication of Awards.

There will also Team (two/four person: male/female/mixed-gender) and Tandem (male/female/mixed-gender) overall champions for each division.

5.     Race Placement

The position the racer finished overall in the race, regardless of Category being raced.  Example: In the 6 hour race, if a HPV finishes with 140 miles, a single-speed with 135 miles and an upright finishes with 130 miles (each winning their division in the race) then the upright’s placement in the overall is 3^rd.  Points will be awarded based on this placement.

• Male/Female:  There are two separate and distinct competitions, the placements of the male and female riders do not affect each other.
• Mountain bike –vs- road bike:  Since the 24 Hours in the Canyon has two separate courses there will be separate placements awarded depending on which course is raced.  It will be possible for two riders to end up being awarded points for the same placement.  Example:  The road cyclist races 120 miles in 6 hours, placing 3^rd overall on the road.  The mountain biker races 90 miles in 6 hours, placing 3^rd on the trails.  Both racers would get the points for a 3^rd place overall finish.  This is the only event where this is true, if you want to race a mountain bike at the Tejas 500, more power to you, but you’re up against everyone else.

6.     Ties

If at the end of the series two racers are tied in awarded points, the following (in order) shall be used to determine the winner

• Total number of miles accumulated over the three races
• Total amount of time actually racing
• Winner of a foot race from Glen Rose to Cleburne and back (to be run immediately following the end of the Tejas 500)

7.     Teams

Teams are allowed to race under the same rules as solo racers, with the following caveats:

• Teams may be either 2, or 4 person. You may race with 3, but will be in the 4 person.
• There will be no distinction for type of bike in Teams, no special category for bent or fixed.
• Teams may be either all male, all female or mixed gender
• Each team is only competing against other similar (in both number and gender) teams for race placement points.
• A two person team must have at least one racer compete in all three events
• A four person team must have at least two racers compete in all three events
• A mixed gender team must have one male and one female racer all three events
• A team can race short a rider, as long as the above rules are met.

8.     There is no Rule #8.

9.      Tandems (and other multi-person bikes)

Tandems are allowed to race under the same rules as teams, with the exception that a tandem must have two riders at all times.

Other multi-person bikes (4, 6 or would fall under the same rules as 4 person teams, except for the fact that each seat must be filled at all times.

10.                       Age

There is not any separate category/division for age.  A 60 year old racer will be scored the same as a 20 year old one.  Remember, old age and treachery beats youth and exuberance.

11.                       General Rules

• There is no additional fee to race the Texas Ultra-Cup challenge.
• All racers completing all three races will earn an Award. Awards will not be mailed.
• Awards will be presented at The Texas Time Trails Awards Ceremony.
• The rules set forth in this document do not over-ride the race rules.
• In the event that an issue occurs that is not covered by these rules, the issue will be resolved jointly by all three race directors (majority rules).  This is only in regards to the Texas Ultra-Cup Challenge; any issues that are race specific are to be resolved by the specific race director.
• Rules may be added to, amended and or changed at any time by majority of Race Directors.

Check out our promotional video for the 2012 24 Hours in the Canyon event.

You asked for it, and we listened.  We will now have age categories for the competitive mountain bike and road bike events.  You will be slotted into one of the following categories based on your age. 

• 17 & Under
• 18 – 34 years of age
• 35 – 49 years of age
• 50 +

Trophies will be given out according to age categories for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd only

• Teams will not have age categories
• All participants in the Texas UltraCup Challenge will be awarded points based on finishing placement regardless of age

Thanks to Graham Brothers Jewelers for donating this beautiful Tag Heuer Formula 1 watch, which will be presented to our top fiundraiser.  24 Hours in the Canyon donates all proceeds to The Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center to help patients diagnosed with cancer.  We encourage you to raise funds to help.  Be sure to check out the fundraising incentives that you can earn!

Two winners of 24 Hours in the Canyon will receive a paid entry to one of two ultra races.

The overall road bike winner will have the opportunity to qualify for solo Race Across America at The Texas Time Trials (www.tt24tt.com) in September.  The overall mountain bike winner will be off to Colorado Springs to race in the 24 Hour Mountain Bike National Championships (www.24hoursofcos.com).