INTERNATIONAL BLIND SPORTS FEDERATION TANDEM CYCLING FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED RULEBOOK 2005-2009 1 GENERAL RULES U.C.I. General regulations and IBSA handbook apply to all cycling tandem competitions for the visually impaired. The amendments and adjustments below have been suggested by IBSA because of the visually impaired specificity. In case of litigation in the interpretation of these regulations, the document in English shall prevail. 1.1 Article 1 The following instructions will be applied by all national IBSA-member associations for all official competitions. 1.2 Article 2 Affiliation to IBSA by a national association for sports for the visually impaired binds the association to read, apply and follow the present rules and general IBSA rules. 1.3 Article 3 IBSA is the only organization entitled to make any amendments whatsoever to the present rules. 1.4 Article 4 Every tandem cyclist - both the sighted pilot and the visually impaired team cyclist - in a national IBSA member association must have a permit. 1.5 Article 5 IBSA declines all responsibility if an accident occurs to members during the practice of tandem cycling, since their corresponding permit covers insurance. 1.6 Article 6 Permit applications will be made in writing by the people concerned themselves, through their corresponding IBSA-member associations, with the following documents: 2 PERMITS 2.1 Article 7 A “permit” is an official document proving that the bearer is a member of an IBSA-member association and entitles him/her to participate in official competitions. 2.2 Article 8 Permits differ according to the characteristics and category of each athlete: Group 1: sighted athletes (women or men) Group 2: visually impaired. 2.3 Article 9 To obtain a group 1 permit: 2.3.1 Any amateur cyclist can cycle as a pilot if he/she has not been selected by his/her national federation to participate in U.C.I. international competitions for three years at least. 2.3.2 Former professional cyclists must have stopped cycling under their professional permit for three years and none of their earnings must have come from cycling races for three years at least. 2.3.3 The minimum age for obtaining a permit and taking part in official IBSA competitions is 16. 2.3.4 The only ones who will be allowed to participate in tandem competitions as pilots are those who meet the following requirements with their national federations: A) they do not have an ELITE license. B) they have not been part of any national team for the past three years, should they be junior or under 23. C) they have a MASTER license. D) they have not had a license for the past three years with regards to paragraphs A & B. 2.3.5 In order to prevent any fraud, each pilot will show a document from his/her national Federation confirming his records over the past three years whenever he/she registers for Regional or World Championships or for Paralympic Games. 2.3.6 Qualification requirements to obtain a group 2 permit. To be eligible for competition, all visually impaired riders must belong to one of the IBSA visual categories B1, B2, B3 as defined below: B1: No light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction. B2: From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 2/60 and/or visual field of less than 5 degrees. B3: From visual acuity of 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or visual field of more than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees. Classifications are in both eyes with the best correction (i.e. all athletes who use contact lenses or corrective lenses must wear them for classification, whether they intend to wear them in competition or not). 2.3.7 The events will take place for B1, B2 and B3 categories together. All riders must have a licence authenticated by their national federation affiliated to IBSA. 2.4 Article 10 A group 2 permit makes a distinction between: Women (juniors or seniors) Men (juniors or seniors) 2.5 Article 11 Cyclists (pilot or co-pilot) under 18 the year of the issue of the permit will be considered as “juniors”. 2.6 Article 12 All the personal data shown on national identity papers or passports must appear on the permit. 2.7 Article 13 The same kind of data must appear on all the permits. 2.8 Article 14 When they are made out, permits will be covered in plastic in order to avoid any addition or correction. 2.9 Article 15 If the permit is lost, a duplicate a will be applied for in the same way as for a new permit. 2.10 Article 16 Permits will be valid for one year, i.e. from 1st January to 31st December. 3 PARTICIPATION 3.1 Article 17 Only tandem competitions with a sighted pilot and a visually impaired team rider from category B1, B2 or B3 will be allowed. No visually impaired cyclist or pilot will be allowed to compete in two road competitions on the same day. 3.2 Article 18 If there is any doubt regarding the vision of a cyclist with a group 2 permit (vision not conforming to IBSA norms) before and/or during a competition, the IBSA Medical Committee will be entitled to make him/her take an ophthalmological test. If there is recognized fraud, the cyclist will be immediately disqualified from the competition, regardless of other IBSA disciplinary measures. 3.3 Article 19 The distances and height of circuits or routes for official competitions will have been approved by the IBSA Subcommittee. These distances and circuits will be specified in a separate chapter for: Men or women only tandem competitions Mixed competitions 4 SAFETY 4.1 Article 20 Given the special nature of the competitors, the greatest care is recommended in addition to the following safety guidelines. 4.2 Article 21 All competitors must wear a one piece, officially recognised safety helmet and the regulation outfit i.e. racing shorts, socks, racing shoes, jerseys and gloves. The official safety helmet must be worn as soon as the two cyclists mount the tandem. 4.3 Article 22 Tandems must meet the minimum conditions of official norms: Solid structure of round or oval tubing. Fuselages, windbreaks, screens or other elements to lessen air resistance are not allowed. 4.3.1 Handlebars Normal bicycle handlebars are to be used. The so-called “cow horn” bars are not permitted for either pilots or visually impaired competitors, in either road or track races, except in the following cases: a) individual or team time trials. b) individual or team pursuit, standing or flying 1 000m and 500m track. 4.3.2 Wheels Wheels may be wire-spoked, disc or composite-spoked. Disc wheels must be easily checked to ensure that they contain no propulsive elements. Spoked wheels must have at least 32 spokes. The diameter of the front wheels is not specified but rear wheels must not exceed 700 mm. Wheels must be equipped with standard or tubular tires. Tubular tires must not weigh less than 250 g. All tires must be in a condition ensuring maximum safety. 4.3.3 Pedals Pedals must be of either type: equipped with toe-clips and straps or step-in type (“Look” type). 4.3.4 Brakes Road tandems must be equipped with brakes on both front and rear wheels. The distance from the ground to the centre of the bottom bracket spindles shall not be less than 24 cm. The IBSA Tandem Subcommittee reserves the right to forbid the participation in official competitions to any competitor whose equipment, in the Subcommittee’s eye, does not comply with safety standards. No appeals will be allowed on this issue. 4.4 Article 23 Every competitor must wear the outfit of his/her national association or country at all championships or Paralympic circuits: Competition: Racing shorts, no obligatory colour, a single advertisement on each thigh, either vertical or horizontal, with the name or initials of the sponsor. Jerseys: No advertising on the sleeves, a 16 cm x 5 cm rectangle with the trade mark of the sponsor on the top left front. Advertising can be added on the sides under the arms. Shoes: Special cycling shoes, socks and gloves. 4.5 Article 24 Cyclists wearing incorrect or indecent outfits will not be allowed to compete. 4.6 Article 25 Each team will be technically managed by a Sports Manager, registered with his/her national association. He will be held responsible for his athletes in official IBSA competitions. 5 ADVERTISING OR SPONSORSHIP 5.1 Article 26 Sponsoring of athletes will come exclusively from firms dealing in sports equipment, household appliances, electronics and products concerning public health in general. 6 SELECTION 6.1 Article 27 For official IBSA competitions, each national association will select the cyclists it considers the most capable, respecting the official IBSA rules. The Technical Manager will be responsible for both pilots and visually impaired athletes. 6.2 Article 28 The Organizing Committees of official IBSA competitions in tandem-cycling competitions will set up deadlines for entry to these competitions, the latest entry form must arrive at least one month before the start of the competition (see General Specifications). 6.2.1 Outfit At international championships (world, regional or Paralympic), racers must wear their national colours. 6.2.2 Medals and jerseys At IBSA championships, medals will be presented for all events, according to IBSA general rules. Official IBSA jerseys will be awarded to the winners of IBSA championships. Different designs will be used for world and regional championships. The jersey designs must be approved by IBSA and will be provided by the organizers of the event. Winners will wear their jerseys until the next championship. 6.2.3 Penalties Any participant who commits an infraction of the rules or is guilty of aggressive, dangerous, or insulting behaviour during or after an event will be disqualified or banned from further competition in that event. Penalties will be determined by the championship jury. The jury shall consist of at least the Race Director and a representative of the IBSA Tandem Subcommittee. Any additional measures may be determined and enforced by the IBSA Sports Technical Committee upon the advice of the Tandem Subcommittee. A medical committee may carry out drug testing at the end of each stage of the race. Any rider who refuses the test or who is tested positive will be relegated to the last place in a stage race, or removed from competition in a one-day race. All doping cases will be reviewed by the IBSA disciplinary panel. The list of banned substances is the one provided by the I.O.C. Specific regulations exist for the accomplishment of medical testing (see U.C.I. rules). 7 IBSA TANDEM COMPETITIONS 7.1 Article 29 International competitions will be included in the official IBSA calendar with their dates, after being ratified and approved by the Secretary General on the advice of the appropriate authorities. 7.1.1 Road races Men: 110-135 km Women: 60-70 km Mixed: 65-80 km The minimum length for a circuit is 8 km. The maximum number of tandems entered by each country shall be six for men and three for women and mixed. Team time trials (three tandems maximum) will take place on ground level on a distance of 50 to 70 km, for Paralympic Games and IBSA championships. The time of the team will be calculated on the second tandem. Individual time trials will take place on ground level: men (45-60 km), women (25-35 km), mixed (35-50 km), junior (30-40 km). There will be a maximum of three tandems per country for each category: men, women, mixed and juniors. 7.1.2 Track races 1 000m standing start: one tandem on the track (men, mixed). 500m standing start: one tandem on the track (women) 7.1.3 Individual pursuit Men: 4 km Women: 3 km Mixed: 3 km Each team will have three tandems and the distance will be of 4 km during Olympic pursuit events. The time of each team’s second tandem will be taken into account. 7.1.4 Sprint Men: 4 laps of 250 m or equivalent Women: 4 laps of 250 m or equivalent Mixed: 4 laps of 250 m or equivalent Departures will take place on ground level at the entrance of the starting line. There will be a maximum of three tandems per country for men, women and mixed for all the events listed above. Sounding devices (horns and whistles) will be used to advise each tandem of its passage on its starting line during pursuit competitions. The coach of each tandem or team will be allowed to tell them their number of laps in order to make the race easier for the partially sighted and the blind. a) One day road events: 130-140 km maximum (championships). Maximum difference in level allowed: 1 000 m Maximum entry: 80 tandems. Auxiliary cars placing by drawing lots. Finishing time of control: 10% b) Stage events: 100-120 km maximum per racing day. Individual time trial: 45 km maximum. Team time trial: 60 km maximum. Maximum difference in level allowed: 1,000 m Maximum entry: 80 tandems. Maximum number of stages without a rest day: 6 maximum If two rest days are planned, 10 stages will be authorised. Finishing time of control: 10% For the team placings, each team will have a minimum of 3 tandems and a maximum of 8. The tandem team-mates that finish after time-control or who have abandoned the race for any reason will not be allowed to continue the competition. Any tandem which does not succeed in finishing a stage will then be excluded from the general classification. However, this tandem will not be allowed to enter the race again and to race for the remaining stages, unless all team leaders approve of his/her resuming the competition. c) Standing circuit events for men - race conditions: Maximum distance: 100 km for normal events. For championships with distance between 115 and 140 km. Length of circuits: 5 km minimum, 15 km maximum. For championships and Paralympic games, the minimum distance is 8 km. Maximum number of tandems: 80. On a flat circuit, refreshments will be authorised 20 km after the start, and up to 10 km before the finishing line. Any tandem separated from the main bunch after problems on the road will be put out of the race if it is more than 20 minutes late. Any special notifications will be given to the cyclists and managers during preliminary meetings. In the heats, during championships and Paralympic games, all the tandems overtaken before they have completed two thirds of the circuit must pull out. If they are overtaken during the last third, they must continue the race, but will not be able to ride at the head of the bunch. The cyclists overtaken in the last third, who must always ride at the back of the bunch, will compete in a sprint finish in the last lap to decide their placing; they will distance themselves from those who have not lost a lap so that these cyclists can compete freely and without obstacle for their final placing. The principle behind this rule is based on the fact that only cyclists who are at the same point of the circuit as far as the number of kilometres is concerned can compete in the sprint for placing. The competitors must adhere to these rules strictly; if an overtaken tandem team takes part in the final sprint, it will be disqualified. If its presence favours or facilitates the passage of one or more teams, they will all be disqualified. 7.1.5 Mixed tandems d) Road circuit: Authorized difference in level: 600 m Maximum entry: 50 tandems. Including championships: distance between 70 and 85 km. The other applicable rules are the same as those mentioned in paragraph (c). 7.1.6 Women’s tandems The maximum distance will be from 60 to 75 km in both ordinary and championships events. Maximum entry: 50 tandems. Under specific number of kilometres, events from one town to another are possible. The other applicable rules are the same as those mentioned in paragraph (c). SPECIFIC RULES FOR ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS 7.2 Article 30 The championships recognized by IBSA are: seniors, juniors, mixed and women. Each team will be made up of: Men: 6 Mixed: 3 Women: 3 Teams will represent nations and there will be only one team per nation. 8 TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF IBSA TANDEM CHAMPIONSHIPS All IBSA tandem championships should be organized from one weekend to another weekend as follows: SATURDAY Delegations arrive and settle in. SUNDAY Morning: checking of permits, medical check up and technical check. Afternoon: opening ceremonies, official training and beginning of events. Evening: 1 000 m standing start for women, mixed and men. Medal presentation. MONDAY Official training (women, mixed, men). Qualification heats for pursuit. Preliminary heats (200 m) to determine the sprint series. TUESDAY Official training, repêchage series, pursuit and sprint quarter-finals, pursuit semi-finals, pursuit finals (women, mixed, men). Medal presentation. WEDNESDAY Sprint: official training, repêchage series, semi-finals and finals. Pursuit: finals. Medal presentation. THURSDAY Official training (3 tandems maximum), team time trials and individual time trial (teams of mixed, women, men or a combination) (cf annex). FRIDAY Practice and official training on the road race course for individual trials and free time. SATURDAY Morning: road events (mixed and women) Medal presentation. Afternoon: road races (men) Medal presentation. Closing ceremonies for the championships. SUNDAY Delegations leave. 18 IBSA Tandem Cycling Rulebook 2005-2009 IBSA Tandem Cycling Rulebook 2005-2009