The Striders Gold Cup Elite Series is a subset of select qualifying Gold Cup races that are selected after the Gold Cup schedule has been decided each year. This competition allows the most competitive adult members in our club to compete in a fair competition that rewards speed at various distances in road racing.
The Elite Series is included in the Gold Cup Series registration. Every Gold Cup participant age 19 or older (on July 1) is eligible to score Elite Series Overall points, and Gold Cup participants age 40 or older (on July 1) are eligible to score Elite Series Masters points.
Register for the Gold Cup Series online here.
In order to qualify to compete in the Elite Series, you must score elite points (outlined on the Elite Series Rules page) in at least one Elite Series race AND complete the required 10 Gold Cup Series races. A maximum of 5 Elite Series race results for each competitor will be used in determining the Elite Overall or Elite Masters awards. Competitors do not need to complete 5 Elite Series races to qualify for Elite Series awards.
Printable Single Page Elite Schedule
Elite Series Rules
In order to qualify to compete in the Elite Series, you must score elite points (outlined on the Elite Series Rules page) in at least one Elite Series race AND complete the required 10 Gold Cup Series races. A maximum of 5 Elite Series race results for each competitor will be used in determining the Elite Overall or Elite Masters awards. Competitors do not need to complete 5 Elite Series races to qualify for Elite Series awards.
Scoring
The total score for each competitor in the Elite Series will consist of points earned from a maximum of 5 qualifying Elite Series races.
At the conclusion of each Elite Series race, the top 5 male and top 5 female Gold Cup finishers are awarded points based on their finish place. Points are awarded following each race as follows:
The champions of the Elite Series will be the man and the woman who score the greatest number of points from 5 Elite Series races.
Points from a maximum of 5 Elite Series races will be scored. If a competitor earns points in more than 5 events, the competitor’s highest 5 finishes will be scored. In order to qualify, a member must compete and score in at least one Elite Series race and complete 10 Gold Cup races.
Tie-breaking: In the event of a tie, the winner shall be determined using the following tie-breaker: The competitor with the most wins in head-to-head competition (including all Elite Series Races in the period, not just scoring races). Only the fact that one competitor finished ahead of the other will be taken into account, not the place difference or distance of the race.
If there is still a tie, the following tie-breakers will be used in descending order until the tie is broken:
If a competitor starts a race but does not complete it for any reason, 1 and 2 above will be treated as having taken part in the event with zero points.
Disputed results: All participants should check the Elite Series Race Results page to ensure that your finish place is recorded. You are responsible for contacting the club Statistician within 15 days (7 days for races after November 15) of the completion of an individual race to resolve missing or incorrect results.
Awards
The top 3 male and the top 3 females will receive the Elite Series Overall award. The top male and female age 40 and over (on July 1) will receive the Elite Series Masters award. The Masters award will be decided after the Overall winners have been determined and pulled out. At the end of the year, Overall and Masters winners receive jackets and awards at the banquet.
Winning an Elite Series award will exempt a member from the other Overall, Masters, Age-Graded, or Age Group Gold Cup awards. There will be no double-ups in any category. A member cannot opt out of an Elite Series award.
Opting Out
Any Gold Cup Series participant who does not want to compete in the Elite Series can opt out of the Elite Series only. This must be done within 7 days of the final Elite Series race. This competition is designed to allow all participants to know the competition, so we highly recommended that you opt out as soon as possible.
A participant who decides to opt out is not considered part of the Elite Series and will not have any of the rights or privileges of the Elite Series competitors, including purchasing the Elite Series premium.