Calling all junior cyclists!

Canberra Cycling Club runs the Junior Criterium Racing Development Program every Wednesday from 7 October 2026 to mid-March 2027, ahead of our Wednesday evening criterium series. Sessions are run by accredited coaches Alban Comparat and Lauren Bartsch and are open to riders aged 6 and over who are confident on a bike, from any club.

The first session on Wednesday 7 October is a come-and-try session with a focus on new riders – no racing, just skills and fun.

Every session focuses on fun, engaging skills development, building confidence through skill progression, race drills and team-based racing. Topics include safety in the bunch, bike handling, braking, changing gears, basic tactics and etiquette.

Racing this season

We are trialling no formal HC / Junior White racing. Instead:

• Weeks 1–2 (14 and 21 October): all junior riders (new starters to U15) take part in a short grading crit at 5:15pm to assess appropriate grades. Riders in the grading sessions can't race open grades until grading is complete.
• Week 3 onwards: riders who are ready are upgraded to open grades (E, D, C or B) and race with senior mentors, with a briefing before and a debrief after each race. U13 riders will not be upgraded above D grade.
• Riders who have already raced C grade or above and been recommended to stay there do not need to attend the grading crits.
• Juniors not yet ready for open grades – including U15 and U17 riders who want more time to build confidence – race untimed mini-races (graded handicap, prologue and scratch crit) within the training session until they are ready to move up. There is no leader board; riders are rewarded for effort, positive attitude and executing skills.
• New riders joining during the season must complete at least one training session before being allocated a grade.

What you need

• A current AusCycling ride or race licence.
• A roadworthy, safe bike with drop bars. Flat bars are not permitted, except for Participation riders and riders under 7.
• An Australian standards-approved, properly fitting helmet and enclosed footwear. Gloves are strongly recommended.
• Parents of smaller riders: check your child can reach the brakes from the drops or hoods. If not, fitting top brake levers is highly recommended.
• Juniors racing open grades must have bikes compliant with the AusCycling Technical Regulations, particularly gearing/rollout.

Passes

Want to sign up for a whole term in one go?

• Half-season passes for weeks 1–10 (October–December) and weeks 11–20 (January–March) are available on the EntryBoss calendar.
• You are currently on the individual session entry form.
• Cancellations before entries close are refunded automatically.

Full program details, including the week-by-week schedule and grading guide, are on the Junior Criterium Racing Development Program page.

Questions: juniors@canberracyclingclub.org.au