General Race Reimbursement Policy

1. Riders not on a separately funded team

   1. Eligible Riders: In order to be eligible for race reimbursement, an individual must complete the below requirements.

      1. Be a registered member of Alto Velo on the date of the race.

      2. Be an active member of Alto Velo Racing Team. While general club members may be eligible for reimbursement based on other criteria (see section #5 below), the structure of AVRT and our race reimbursement process recognizes that cycling is a team sport and that consistent participation in team activities (training, strategizing, racing, etc) is necessary for success.

      3. Wear current Alto Velo jersey or equivalent (skinsuit, vest, etc). Riders may wear kit from the previous season or neutral kit at the start of the season until the first team order arrives. Newer AVRT members should make an effort to borrow kit from older members.

      4. Race under the Team Name: In 2023 our team name with USAC is Alto Velo. Note that this is distinct from our club name, Alto Velo Racing Club. This must be completed both on the USAC website and during the race registration process.

      5. Write and share a race report with the Alto Velo email list. The report should list all team members who participated in the race. Only one report per race must be submitted for all participants to qualify for reimbursement.

2. Eligible Races: Eligible races are those approved by the racing team managers. These are selected as events in which AVRT members’ participation is in the interest of the team and overall club. Eligible races may vary from year to year but are coordinated between the women’s and men’s team managers to ensure parity.

   1. All USAC-sanctioned Road and Time Trial races are eligible for reimbursement.

   2. Non-USAC-sanctioned Road races with a high attendance of NCNCA athletes (>50% of or >100 athletes) are eligible for reimbursement.

   3. Non-USAC-sanctioned Road races may be approved at the discretion of the racing team managers.

   4. Non-road races such as CX, MTB, Gravel, Track, etc may also be approved for reimbursement at the discretion of the racing team managers.

   5. Riders must start a race to be eligible for reimbursement. There is no placing or finishing requirement. The objective of race reimbursements is to provide financial assistance to active members of the women’s and men’s racing teams, encourage more frequent racing, and thereby sustain the sport of cycling. The objective is not to increase payouts for top performances.

3. Reimbursement process: at one or more times during the year the women’s and men’s team managers will request that AVRT members fill out a spreadsheet of races completed in order to calculate reimbursement amounts. It is the sole responsibility of AVRT members to complete their reimbursement information in a timely manner. Reimbursements will be paid via check.

4. Reimbursement amount: Riders are reimbursed for race registration fees at a rate of up to $50 or the cost of registration, whichever is less, for non-stage races. Stage races will be reimbursed at a rate of up to $100 or the cost of registration, whichever is less. Reimbursements for race photos, travel, lodging, etc are funded by other sections of the AVRT budgets.

   1. Reimbursements will be paid in the following order of priority. The count of races below is inclusive of any races that were reimbursed prior to joining AVRT. 

      1. Road races (up to 20 per AVRT member)

      2. Non-road races (up to 10 per AVRT member)

      3. Additional road races (not to exceed 40 per AVRT member)

      4. Additional non-road races (not to exceed 30 per AVRT member)

5. Riders not on AVRT: non-AVRT members are encouraged to try racing! Riders do NOT need to be an active member of AVRT in order to race, however the reimbursement of such races is subject to the below requirements and limitations:

   1. Meet all membership, kit, team name, and race report requirements outlined in 1.1. Note that if the rider is listed in a race report completed by an AVRT member then they do NOT need to complete a separate race report.

   2. Compete in an eligible race. A list of eligible races is maintained by the AVRT managers for each season. 

   3. Submit a reimbursement request via email to the reimbursements@ account within eight weeks of the event date.

   4. Receive no more than $200 (four races at the 2023 rate of $50/race) in race reimbursements per calendar year. Club members interested in participating in a larger number of races are highly encouraged to contact the racing team managers to discuss formally joining AVRT.

6. Riders on a separately funded team: Riders racing on separately funded teams receive any and all reimbursements from their team. Alto Velo is unable to provide race reimbursements or other financial support to these riders when they race for a team other than Alto Velo. Riders may, however, race for AV in one category and another team in a different category at the same race. For example a rider can compete with Alto Velo and receive reimbursement for racing a Cat 3 event, then compete for their collegiate team and NOT receive reimbursement for racing in a Collegiate B’s event.

Allen Brumm Time Trial Fund

To remember long time AV member and friend Allen Brumm, who was tragically killed at the Esparto TT in 2015, the Allen Brumm Time Trial Fund has been established through generous personal donations from Alto Velo members. This fund provides entry fee reimbursement to any Alto Member who races a Time Trial in the NCNCA District and is not covered by any of the above reimbursements. Allen loved time trials and we want to encourage AV riders to give time trials a try in his honor. All the above requirements regarding team uniform, team name, writing a race report and reimbursement procedure in section A apply. Riders on separately funded teams are also eligible as long as the TT is not a designated team race for which they already receive reimbursement. 

Riders who receive reimbursement through this fund should note that on the race reimbursement form and will be recognized separately at the club meetings from other race reimbursements. Race reports should also note this fund. Subject should be: Allen Brumm Time Trial Fund Report - XYZ time trial

Travel Support: 

1. AVRT members: AVRT budgets include line items for travel expenses related to significant races and are spent at the discretion of AVRT managers. 

2. Non-AVRT members: Alto Velo members may request the reimbursement of travel expenses (up to $250.00) related to premier events such as National, or World Championship events. This particular budget is limited! You MUST petition prior to the event if you want support. Petitions may be made through the reimbursement coordinator (reimbursement at altovelo.org).