QCF LUSAIL CRITERIUM POINTS RACE 2026

EVENT INFORMATION

• Date: Friday, 08 May 2026

• Location: North-West Corner outside Lusail Circuit Sports Club

• Parking: Please park in the off-road areas only and not on the asphalt surface.

• Important Notice:

  • No toilet facilities on site.

  • No changing facilities on site.

  • Please come prepared in advance.

HOW TO GET THERE

• [CLICK HERE] for the Public Parking when you arrive before the first race starts (before 5:15 AM).

• [CLICK HERE] for the Public Parking when you arrive after 5:15 AM (park your car and walk to the race venue).

• [CLICK HERE] for the location of the Check-in Registration.

EVENT TIMING

• 4:30 AM - Sign-on Registration Opens

• 5:15 AM - Start: Race no. 1 [M/F Cubs B (10-12), Kids (7-9), Women Beginners] 

• 5:45 AM - Awarding: Cubs B, Kids

• 5:50 AM - Start: Race no. 2 [M/F Cubs A (13-14), Cadets (15-16)]

• 6:30 AM - Awarding: Cubs B, Cadets

• 6:40 AM - START: Race no. 3 [Amateur U40, Masters, Veterans + All Women]

• 7:30 AM - START: Race no. 4 [Male Elite + Juniors]

• 9:00 AM - Awards Ceremony

NOTE: These timings and race assignments are subject to change depending on the number of participants.

Please avoid warming up on the race course while a race is in progress.

CATEGORIES & AGE GROUPS GUIDE

The QCF Grading and Category System ensures fair and inclusive racing, providing riders of all levels witg a pathway for growtg and competition.

GENERAL GUIDELINE

• QCF continues to adapt the age group categories to provide a more inclusive and competitive experience for all participants, while retaining the ability-based grading approach for the Men Elite/Open Category.

• Rider's age on December 31, 2026, will determinte which Age Group he/she belong (UCI Age), and is computed using this formula: Age = Current Year - Year of Birth.

  • for example, if you are born in October 25, 1986, your UCI Age is 2026 - 1986 = 40 y/o.

• As part of their development, National team Cadets, Cubs, and Juniors riders can join a higher age group.

• 40 years old and above riders may race either in Elite/Open or on their Age Group Category.

MEN ELITE/OPEN CATEGORY GRADING GUIDE:

• Any national team riders and elite athletes from any visiting country, whether active or inactive, MUST ASSIGN THEMSELVES to the Men Elite Category. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification.

• Don't be a Sandbagger!!! Any rider who averaged 39 kph or higher during the previous races should enter the Elite/Open Category.

NOTE: The organizer reserves the right to place any competitor in a deemed appropriated race grade based on all known results and other performance data.

CATEGORIES & AGE GROUPS:

GRADE A

• Male Elite (19 & Above)

• Male Juniors (17-18) 

GRADE B

• Amateur Male U40 (19-39)

• Male Masters (40-49)

• Male Veterans (50+)

• Female U40 (19-39)

• Female 40 & Up

GRADE C

• Male Cubs A (13-14)

• Female Cubs (13-14)

• Male Cadets (15-16)

• Female Cadets (15-16)

GRADE D

• Women Beginner

• Male Kids (7-9)

• Female Kids (7-9)

• Male Cubs B (10-12)

• Female Cubs (10-12)

ELIGIBILITY & EQUIPMENT

ELIGIBILITY

• The races are open to anyone. It is not necessary to have a Qatar ID or be a resident of Qatar. However, visiting athletes from another country should notify us, provide proper identification, and subject themselves to screening.

EQUIPMENT

• This race is for ROAD BIKES only. TT, triathlon bikes, hybrids, and MTBs are not allowed, and clip-on aero bars must be removed.

• The use of clipless pedals and cycling shoes is encourage for safety purposes.

• Hybrid and MTBs are allowed for the KIDS Age Group ONLY.

POINTS RACE RULES

The Points Race is a mass-start event where final placings are determined by the total number of points accumulated during sprint laps and laps gained/lost.

SPRINT POINTS

• At each intermediate sprint:

  • 1st: 5 pts

  • 2nd: 3 pts

  • 3rd: 2 pts

  • 4th: 1 pts

• Final Sprint (Double Points)

  • 1st: 10 pts

  • 2nd: 6 pts

  • 3rd: 4 pts

  • 4th: 2 pts

ADDITIONAL RULES

• Any rider gaining one lap on the main bunch receives +20 points.

• Any rider losing one lap to the main bunch receives -20 points.

• If riders are tied on total points, the placing in the final sprint decides the winner.

• When the bell is rung by the commissaire, the head of the race at that moment is decisive for sprint classification.

• A rider gaining a lap during a sprint lap receives both:

  • 20 lap points, and

  • Sprint points if placed in top four.

• Riders one or more laps down may be withdrawnd by the commissaires.

• Riders dropped behind the bunch and re-caught may not lead those riders, under penalty of disqualification,

SPRINT CONDUCT

• Riders must hold their line during the sprint.

• Dangerous lane changes, deviation from line, obstruction or irregular sprinting may result in:

  • relegation to last place in that sprint, or

  • disqualification in serious cases.

RACE CATEGORIES & SPECIFIC RULES

RACE 1 (GRADE D)

• Start Time: 5:15 AM

• Format: 6 Laps x 1.6 km Loop

• Start Type: Wave Start

  • Women Beginner

  • Cubs B & Kids Together 

• Sprint Format:

  • Sprint at Lap 2

  • Sprint at Lap 4

  • Final Sprint at Finish (Lap 6)

• Drafitng Rule:

  • Wommen Beginners and [Cubs B + Kids] may not draft each other

  • Cubs B & Kids may draft each other.

RACE 2 (GRADE C)

• Start Time: 5:50 AM

• Format: 6 Laps x 4.75 km Loop

• Start Type: Single Start

  • Cadets (15-16) & Cubs A (13-14) together

• Sprint Format:

  • Sprint at Lap 2

  • Sprint at Lap 4

  • Final Sprint at Finish (Lap 6)

• Drafitng Rule:

  • Drafting allowed between groups.

RACE 3 (GRADE B)

• Start Time: 6:35 AM

• Format: 8 Laps x 4.75 km Loop

• Start Type: Wave Start (every 1 min 30 sec)

  • Men U40

  • Men Masters & Veterans together

  • All Women

• Sprint Format:

  • Sprint at Lap 2

  • Sprint at Lap 4

  • Spirnt at Lap 6

  • Final Sprint at Finish (Lap 8)

• Drafitng Rule:

  • Drafting is NOT allowed between groups.

RACE 4 (GRADE A)

• Start Time: 7:30 AM

• Format: 10 Laps x 4.75 km Loop

• Start Type: Single Start

  • Male Elite & Juniors together

• Sprint Format:

  • Sprint at Lap 2

  • Sprint at Lap 4

  • Sprint at Lap 6

  • Sprint at Lap 8

  • Final Sprint at Finish (Lap 10)

Please note that Juniors competing in Race 4 together with the Elite category and scoring points during the race will also be included in the Elite Classification, in addition to their separate Junior classification.

Juniors may draft with Elite Men and vice versa.

FINISHING THE RACE

• Any race will multiple groups on it, finishes on completion of the lap required by the Fastest Competitor (race leader) in each race.

  • For example, In Race no. 3 where 8 laps are required, when the race leader has done the 6th lap, the riders are advised of two laps remaining. After completing one more lap, the last lap bell is rung, and the winner is the first person to cross the line.

  • When more than one start takes place on the circuit at the same time (for example, first-start: Male U40, second-start: Male Masters + Male Veterans, third-start: All Women), all race is finished when the first rider (leader) completes the required Laps. In some circumstances, you may be passed (overlapped) by the race leader as they complete their final lap but before you have been 'given the bell'. In this case, your race ends when you cross the finish line.

  • The Golden Rule is when the Race Leader finishes, everyone stops racing when they pass the finish line.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

• Road Bikes only (NO Aero Bars)

• Helmet mandatory at all times while riding.

• Riders must obey commissaires and marshals.

• Unsportsman behavior may result in penalties or disqualification.

• Riders must be present at awards ceremony when requested.

• The organizer reserves the right to amend start times, wave assignments, and race formates depending on participation numbers or safety conditions.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

• Road Bikes only (NO Aero Bars)

• Helmet mandatory at all times while riding.

• Riders must obey commissaires and marshals.

• Unsportsman behavior may result in penalties or disqualification.

• Riders must be present at awards ceremony when requested.

• The organizer reserves the right to amend start times, wave assignments, and race formates depending on participation numbers or safety conditions.

COMPLAINTS & PROTESTS

• Complaints should be submitted within 15 minutes of the end of the race to the race jury using a form that will be available at the finish line. 

• It will assist with your complaints if:

  • You can provide solid evidence.

  • You can identify the rider BY NUMBER.

  • You can be as precise as possible about the details.

  • You have your complaint confirmed by a witness.

• Where possible, complaints will be assessed by a UCI-qualified official and one other race official. Team Managers may also be involved if deemed appropriate. 

APPEALS

• Protested riders or officials have the right to appeal any complaint made against you before a final decision is made.

• The Jury's decision is final, and you should respect their decision.

REGISTRATION

• Registration is closed since WEDNESDAY, 6th of May, 2026 at 21:00 H.