How do race category upgrades work?

Simply put race category upgrades are earned by accumulating upgrade points in your current category. Once you have accumulated the minimum number of upgrade points, you are then eligible to submit for an upgrade request to advance to the next category. 

In our upgrade policy we have criteria for those that wish to advance on their schedule the minimum requirements to become eligible to advance to the next category and mandatory upgrades. You can review the eligible to upgrade process here.

For mandatory upgrades this process begins when either a race director or an official identifying an athlete that they have seen do well earning multiple podiums. Once these riders are identified, USA Cycling's upgrade administrator is notified and asked to look the identified athlete's account and license as it would pertain to a possible mandatory upgrade. 

If the USA Cycling administrator deems it necessary for the rider to be upgrade, the change will be made in the riders account and the rider will contacted via email of the change.