Clarification of Race RulesPosted by Al Bieber, 25 November 2011, 10:41 PM |
Following the Triathlon Queensland Technical Committee (TQTC) meeting on Monday 14.11.11 the committee wished to refresh and clarify a few items which have been causing some debate and confusion, and supplied the information below to Technical Officials.
We wish to share this with everyone as it may prevent you from being caught out by turning up with an illegal bike or speedsuit.
(The posting of the information below has been approved by TQ)
U14 competitor and Aero Bars
As per the Triathlon Australia Policy Document – “Competitors under 14 years of age as at age determination date, as per the Under 19 Race Distances Tables defined in Table 1 and Table 2 below, are not permitted to compete in Triathlon and Duathlon events on a bicycle fitted with aero bars.” Reference: TA Policy Document pg 8 - www.triathlon.org.au/Assets/Triathlon+Australia+Digital+Assets/Resources/Technical/TA+Policy+Document_June+2011.pdf
Speedsuits
This is defined in the Triathlon Australia Race Competition Rules as “A speedsuit must be comprised of 100% textile material such as nylon or lycra and must not include rubberised material such as polyurethane or neoprene. The speedsuit may contain a zipper.” Reference: TA Race Competition Rules - www.triathlon.org.au/Assets/Triathlon+Australia+Digital+Assets/Resources/Technical/TA+Race+Competition+Rules.pdf
There has been confusion as to the policing of this and determining whether or not a suit contains rubberised material. It has been decided by the National Technical Committee that a technical official must consult the speedsuit label if it does not list any rubberised material (most specifically Polyurethane which can be seen as Pu-Cr on the label and Neoprene – which may be seen as Np or NP) then it is presumed that it is not in sufficient quantity to be legally required to be on the label and is therefore considered a legal speedsuit.
If the label has been removed the official is to presume it is because it made reference to the existence of rubberised material and is therefore deemed illegal. The only recourse is for the competitor to provide evidence that this is not the case i.e. find an identical suit with the label still attached to disprove the officials presumption.
Display of Race numbers
Cycle Course – 3.6 A competitor must clearly display the race identification number(s) at all times on the bicycle course if provided by the Race Director. Those not complying may incur a Stop/Start penalty. However if the Technical Official considers that the identification number has been unintentionally lost, then the competitor will not be penalised.
Run Course - 4.3 A competitor must clearly display the race identification number on their front at all times on the run course if provided by the Race Director. Those not complying may incur a Stop/Start penalty. However if the Technical Official considers that the identification number has been unintentionally lost, then the competitor will not be penalised.
Therefore the technical official must ascertain what identification number(s) are being provided by the Race Director to ensure that they do not incorrectly penalise any competitor. This does not put any obligation on Race Directors to provide race numbers but for officials to ensure competitors use all numbers provided correctly.