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Get an International license

     December 1, 2008 is the first day to apply for a license for 2009.  Register with a club or just race as and individual.  USA Cycling is the central cycling org in the states.  Among other things, they issue racing licenses.  Go to the website, create a profile and pay the fee for the license (wait until 1 Dec.).  If you’re like me and tend to wait until the last possible minute to do anything you can get the express service and express mail to get it sooner, but there is an additional fee for these services.  
     The categories have changed a bit for 2009.  Mountain bikers will start out as “Beginner, Cat 3″ for 2009. After a few top 5 finishes, upgrade to “Sport, Cat 2″.  That’s really all I know about it at this point because this is the first year I’ll apply.  

Luxembourg

     There is a ‘cross race in Luxembourg almost every weekend.   I sent an email to the Luxembourg Cycling Fed. for the license requirement at the races.  Here is the response I got from Ed Buchette, General Secretery:

“Dear El Zombo,
 Every rider needs a licence of his national federation.  The races are normally regional so all the limitroph regions can take part without problem”

     I added the “Dear El Zombo” part.  I don’t think anyone would respond to an email from someone claiming to be called “El Zombo”.  Click on the link to the Luxembourg FSCL on my links page then click on the “Calendrier” tab (left side, 3rd from top) and the schedule will pop up.  Just click on one of the events, copy and paste into your favorite translator (ie. babelfish).  Paste the name of the town into google maps to figure out where it is.  The categories are pretty self explanatory.  Just be sure the category you want to race in is racing at the event.  
I haven’t raced here yet.  

Belgium

     If you’d like race in Belgium you will need an international license.  Here is an email I received from Mr. Marc Bollen at www.belgiancycling.be :

“Foreign amateurs can start in all “B”-races (races for amateurs only) as well as in “A”-races (both amateurs and pro riders).  All you need is an international valid licence delivered by your national federation.  This is the national federation member of the UCI from the country where you live.”

     In the states the “national federation” is USA Cycling (www.usacycling.org). I haven’t raced here yet either.  

Germany

     So far, none of the races I’ve been to in Germany require a license for the beginner class.  I’m waiting for more info and will update soon . 

Italy

     If you want to race in Italy there are a few options available.  The first one is the international license.  No need to go back over this one, right?  The next option is signing on with a local club and getting a “tessera” (card).  This involves a club fee which may or may not include a team kit.  The cost will depend on what is included.  They will require a medical certificate from a “Sports Doctor” or Medico Sportivo which I’ve heard usually involves paying some doctor 80 to 100 euros to sign a piece of paper assuring the race director you won’t croak on the course.  I usually make my own with Photoshop. 
     I went to Granciclismo Salvador in near Sacile when I wanted to get a card.  They charge 80 euro and this includes the club card, jersey and bib shorts.  Because I could only race in Italy with the card (more on that later) I ended up joining my friend Renzo’s new club.  10 euro includes only the club card.   The club card gives the club points in the FCI (Italian Cycling Fed) for every event you place in. 
   I didn’t get the card from Granciclismo because when I went there I had no idea what I could and couldn’t do with this card or if I was even able to use it.  Obviously they don’t have some American trying to join the team everyday, so they weren’t really sure what to do either.  
     I went to Renzo and he explained to me that the card is good for racing in Italy only.  As an American, if I wanted to race outside of Italy with the Italian card I would still have to have an international license.  After asking him so many times to explain it so a dummy could understand, I felt I owed it to him to at least get my card with his team.  I think it took him about 45 minutes to explain what took me 30 seconds to type.
   Option 3 is what I’ll refer to as the “blank number plate of shame”.  I went to the Troi Trek Race in 2008 and didn’t know that I had to have this “tessera” or the medical certificate.  They will still let you race and you can still pay, but you don’t get a number.  You get only the “blank number plate of shame”.  They don’t even track your time. You won’t show up on the results.  Everyone stares.  I swear it was like the scarlett letter or something.  I finished 34-35 and I had to look around at who finished with me to figure that out.   

El Zombo