Ever make mistakes in a race? Of course you do, and so do officials. That’s why you should get in a habit of checking results as soon as they are posted. If you wait until results are online, it’s too late.

Scoring a field sprint is like counting cattle in a stampede. Riders are regularly missed or mistaken for teammates, and sometimes numbers are obscured or illegible, even on the race camera. (Some riders like to crumple their numbers, but most officials say it makes them harder to read.)

Checking the results is essential if you’re in the top 10 or in the money, but it’s also a good idea no matter where you end up. You may need proof of the pack finish when it comes time to upgrade. Yes, it’s sometimes a drag to wait, but any extra time just means the officials are being that much more diligent to get it right the first time.

If there is a mistake, you have 15 minutes to file a protest with the officials. Be calm, be polite, be patient. Officials expect riders to point out scoring mistakes and are more than happy to go over the film frame-by-frame with you.