Categories are road bikes’ grouping of riders in accordance with their skill and experience, as well as sometimes their age or gender.
In amateur racing, the categories range from Cat 5 for novices to Cat 1 for top racers, with Cat Pro above that for professionals. Advancing to higher categories is based on a rider’s performance in races and the points they accumulate. In mass-start or gran fondo events, riders can also be categorized by age or fitness level. Categories make racing safer and more competitive by placing athletes of similar abilities together. In triathlons and running races, they typically employ age group classifications rather than categories.
