Kildare County Council Triathlon 2009 - Briefing Note

Briefing Note - General

Registration and timing chip collection will take place from 9am – 10am in the Defence Force Training Centre in the Curragh. Participants are advised to have registered and collected their chip by 9.45am.

Participants can access the transition area from 8.30am.

Race start: 10.30am – First wave of swim. Swim waves will be posted in the Defence Forces Training Centre at 9am the morning of the triathlon.

On completion of the race competitors are asked to step away from the race route to avoid interfering with the race in progress.

Competitors will not be allowed access transition after completion until the last cyclist has returned and exited for the run.

Only athletes will be allowed within the transitions area. The transition area will be cleared of all athletes 15 minutes prior to the start of the first swim wave.

Parking:
Parking is available at the Gymnasium. Please follow the instructions of the marshals.

Swim Briefing  – 750 Metres

• The swim will take place in the Curragh pool, which is a standard 25m pool.
• Swimmers must be at the starting area 15 minutes prior to their wave start.
• Swim caps will be provides and must be worn.
• Tumble turning is not allowed.
• If a swimmer wishes to pass another swimmer, they should tap the swimmer on the ankle in front who then must stop at the next turn and allow the swimmer to pass.
• Each competitor will complete 30 lengths, which will be counted by race officials.
• Upon completing the swim, a swimmer may exit straight to the to the bike transition by the marked exit, crossing the timing mat. Alternatively, swimmers may enter the changing room and return to pool bank to cross the timing mat. In this instance their changing time will be recorded as part of their swim.
• Team swimmers will effect handover in the transition area and can then return to the changing area via the main entrance.
• Changing rooms will be available, with limited locker storage, which requires a euro coin. Alternatively competitors main leave their belongings in a designated area in the main hall.
• Post race showers will be available.
• The decisions and instructions of lifeguards and swim officials must be adhered to.

Briefing Note -Bike – 20 Kms

* Cycling helmets are compulsory.

Competitors are personally responsible that their bicycles are in satisfactory condition and for providing necessary tools and spare parts to carry out repairs themselves.

• It is the responsibility of competitors to ensure that their helmet and bicycle are in safe and roadworthy condition. Competitors who fail to do so may, for safety reasons, be denied participation.
• Race number must be worn on the back. Failure to have your number visible will result in a time penalty being added.
• A competitor may not compete in the cycling segment with a bare torso. The lower body must also be covered adequately.
• Bike racks are not numbered so first come first serve basis.
• You must put on your helmet and fasten it before removing your bike from its standing. Any competitor whose bike is in motion while that competitor is not wearing a helmet will be penalised by the race marshal and will risk disqualification.
• Cycling is not allowed in transition area.
• You must not mount the bike before crossing the mount line and must exit onto the road through the designated exit for cyclists.
• Similarly on your return you must dismount bike before the dismount line on route to re-entering transition area.
• You must replace your bike on the rack in your own spot before removing helmet.

Bike Route:

• One lap of 20 km course
• The roads will not be closed, the rules of the road will apply, Civil Defence and/or Gardai will marshal the route.
• Please obey the Gardai, Civil Defence and Stewards at all times.

On your return you must dismount on or before the dismount line, stewards will warn cyclists to prepare to slow down/dismount.

DRAFTING

1. Drafting is the term to describe the act of taking shelter behind or beside another competitor or vehicle, within the “Draft Zone” during the cycling segment.
   Competitors are not allowed to Draft and all competitors must reject any attempt by others to draft.
2. A competitor who does not clearly avoid violating the drafting rules will receive a 4 minute time penalty.
3. The “Draft Zone” is a rectangle surrounding every competitor that is 3 metres wide and extends to 7 metres behind the front wheel of the competitor’s bicycle. The front edge of the front bicycle wheel will define the centre of the leading 3-metre edge of the rectangle. A competitor may enter the draft zone but must be seen to be making forward progress. A maximum of 15 seconds will be allowed for a competitor to pass through the draft zone.

(ITU/ETU RULE 2005)

5. The draft zone of one competitor may not overlap the draft zone of another competitor.
   A competitor is overtaken when the front wheel of another competitor’s bicycle is ahead of theirs. It is then his/her responsibility to drop out of the draft zone, either sideways, or by dropping back.
6. Side by side riding is strictly forbidden.
7. It is not allowed to gain unfair advantage by drafting on officials’ escort vehicles or vehicles being used by media etc. Minimum bicycle/vehicle separation will be 35 metres long by 5 metres wide.
8. A competitor may enter a bicycle draft zone (subject to the official’s judgment).

Briefing Note - Run

The run route is confined within the military camp, and is an out and back course.

Signs and marshals will guide competitors.

Competitors will exit the transition area via the designated gate only; care must be taken on the first short section, which is shared with cyclists.

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