Race briefing / rules
A compulsory race briefing will take place at 7:10am outside the Discovery Centre. All competitors MUST attend. The race is run under British Triathlon rules (see www.britishtriathlon.org). In particular this means the cycle stage is NON-DRAFTING (see details under bike course below). Standard penalties are listed in the British Triathlon rules, but particular attention is drawn to the following:
2-minute penalty
· Moving bike without helmet fastened
· Drafting (first offence – warning will be given at race briefing)
· Riding in the transition area (failing to mount or dismount where indicated)
· Race number violations (e.g. folded)
· Equipment impeding other athletes (e.g. wetsuit in way of other athletes)
Disqualification if fault not rectified after a warning
· Illegal equipment
· Banned equipment, including MP3 players, mobile phones
· Racing topless
Disqualification
· Threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct
· Breaking road traffic regulations
· Dangerous conduct/cycling
· Failing to obey marshals or the Police
· Drafting (second offence)
Penalties will be posted in a prominent position and any appeals must follow the procedure outlined on the day.
Drafting
Drafting is always a problem with triathlons especially when the entry field is quite large. We will have two motorcycle referees and they will take the race numbers of any cyclist drafting. At the race briefing all athletes will receive there first formal notice, anyone caught drafting on the bike course will then be immediately disqualified. To minimise the number of bikes leaving transition together we may well have 3 or even 4 waves. These waves will have on average 50 athletes and there will be 10 minutes between waves. This is an option we are considering in an attempt ot reduce the risk of drafting taking place.