2023 Arkansas Interscholastic Cycling League Race Series
One of the great things about a NICA League, which separates us from other youth cycling development programs, is we produce our own youth-specific events. This means we pick out race venues and work directly with landowners and managers to produce the highest quality youth development racecourses and events. The student-athletes get a stage of their own, away from adult competitions, and we strive for safety and fun above all other factors.
The Arkansas League will produce a total of 6 events in 2023. A special Race Practice Event aimed at getting more girls on bikes in addition to allowing newer riders have a practice race, attend a race clinic and do their first mass start. Followed by a Prelude Time Trial and 4 races in the fall.
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category placement
In 2023, Arkansas NICA will continue to use Ability Based Racing categories. This will improve the experience of the student athletes racing in league races.
Middle School Categories
- Girls Level 1, grade 6
- Girls Level 1, grades 7-8
- Girls Level 2, grades 6-8
- Girls Level 3, grades 7-8
- Boys Level 1, grade 6
- Boys Level 1, grade 7
- Boys Level 1, grade 8
- Boys Level 2, grades 6/7
- Boys Level 2, grade 8
- Boys Level 3, grades 7/8
- Open Categories: For each grade in 2023 there will be an "Open" Category. This is a non-gender specific category. Some examples of ways that this category could benefit student athletes and communicated:
- Students that want to ride/ race with their friends
- Students that identify as non-binary aren’t forced to choose a gender they don’t identify with
- Siblings that want to race/ ride together or apart
- Athletes must petition to be placed in this category
High School Categories
- Freshman (for 9th graders, may include racers with limited or no racing experience, typically complete 2 laps, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 500 points and descends).
- JV 2 (for 10th-12th grade boys and girls beginning their racing career with little or no racing experience and/or those who have not qualified for and/or are not seeking higher levels of competition with heavier workloads, typically complete 2 laps, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 500 points and descends).
- JV 3 (for 10th-12th grade boys and girls with racing experience who have qualified for and/or are seeking higher levels of competition with heavier workloads, typically completes 3-4 laps depending on the course, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 540 points and descends, placement criteria below).
- Varsity (for 10th-12th graders with racing experience who have qualified for and are seeking the highest levels of competition with heaviest workloads, typically complete 4-5 laps depending on the course, point value for individual and team scoring begins at 570 points and descends, placement criteria below).
- Open (for each grade) This is a non-gender specific category.The goal is to be an ally and not to alienate students while also giving traditional gender identifying students the opportunity to compete alongside their peers. Some examples of ways that this category could benefit student athletes and communicated:
- Students that want to ride/ race with their friends
- Students that identify as non-binary aren’t forced to choose a gender they don’t identify with
- Siblings that want to race/ ride together or apart
- Athletes must petition to race in this category



