Proposal 63: 3B.2.5 Climbing road race [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: 3. Road RacingSubmitted on 2025-07-08
Status: Review from July 08, 2025 to July 16, 2025
Background
The Climbing Road Race is a unicycle road event that has already been successfully organized at several national and international competitions. It was first held at the CFM in 2015 in Scionzier, then in UNICON20 in Grenoble, and is planned again for CFM2025 in Scionzier as a replacement for the traditional marathon.
This race format takes advantage of specific topographical features and is only feasible in regions with sustained climbs over several kilometers. It allows standard and unlimited unicycles to compete in the same race, emphasizing endurance, pacing, and climbing ability rather than top speed on flat terrain.
Proposal
3B.2.5 Climbing road race
1. A Climbing Road Race is a unicycle road race held on a sustained uphill course, designed to test the riders’ climbing ability rather than their top speed on flat or descending terrain.
2. A Climbing Road Race must take place in a region with appropriate topography, featuring a continuous ascent over several kilometers. Flat or downhill sections should be avoided, especially at the start and the end of the course.
2.1. The course must begin with an uphill section. A gentle slope of at least 3% at the start is acceptable, but flat or downhill starts are not permitted.
2.2. The course must have an average gradient of at least 6% over its total length. Short flat sections may be tolerated within the climb, but the general profile must clearly reflect a continuous uphill effort.
3. There is no fixed maximum distance for a Climbing Road Race. The course length should be determined based on local topography, aiming for meaningful and challenging durations. Should we set a minimum distance? 5 km?
4. If topography allows, organizers may offer two course options: a longer "Expert" course and a shorter "Espoir" course. Both courses should follow the same climb whenever possible.
5. The majority of the course must be on paved road surfaces. Short unpaved sections are allowed only if they are smooth and rideable. The entire course must be rideable by elite riders without requiring dismounts due to excessive steepness or technical difficulty.
6. In the event of a fall, riders are allowed to walk in order to remount but are not permitted to run.
7. Only one unicycle category shall be used for Climbing Road Races. This is to preserve the sporting nature of the event and ensure all riders compete on the same terms. See section 3B.2 Unicycle.
Body
see discussion