USA Cycling (USAC) is the official National Governing Body (NGB) for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including Road, Track, Mountain Bike, Cyclocross, BMX, and Para-cycling. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, USAC is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and is the sole American affiliate of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body based in Switzerland. This connection ensures that American results are recognized on the global stage, allowing riders to earn UCI points and qualify for World Championships and the Olympic Games.
For the endurance athlete, USA Cycling provides the essential infrastructure for “fair play.” This includes the certification of race officials, coaches, the management of the national ranking system, and the administration of the Category (Cat) System, which groups riders by ability level (typically Cat 5/Novice to Cat 1/Elite). While USAC oversees the “purist” cycling disciplines, it operates alongside other specialized governing bodies in the endurance ecosystem, such as USA Triathlon (USAT) for multisport events and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) for trail advocacy. Whether you are a junior finding your legs in a local crit or an elite athlete aiming for a national championship, USA Cycling is the gatekeeper of the competitive record.
