At the AGM of the IVCA in October 2002, a proposal was passed that:

"the Race Committee review the racing rules (Rules of Procedure) which were introduced from the start of 2001 and propose any changes required, for approval by the members of the IVCA, before 1 March 2003."

The racing rules introduced in 2001 were the result of many hours of hard work of a Task Force which comprised many of our experienced racing members. The Race Committee therefore approached its mission to review of the rules with a strong appreciation of the depth of experience which had gone into formulating the existing procedures.

The proposed revised racing rules in this paper retain the vast majority of the provisions in the Task Force’s document. However, some changes were considered necessary on the basis of practical experience in implementing the rules over the last two years, or where existing provisions had proven impractical. Amendments to the rules which were passed at AGMs in 2001 and 2002 have also been incorporated into the revised rules and some additional sections have been added for clarification purposes.

We hope that the revised rules - which require the approval of the IVCA membership - will contribute further to the effective running of IVCA races and underpin an approach which allows all racing members the opportunity to be competitive.

Terry Cromer (Race Director)

Jimmy Lally (Deputy Race Director)

Romano Morelli

Paddy Davis

Albert Murtagh

Pat McInerney

William Parnell

Dick O’Brien

Race Committee 2002/2003

A.Race Director and Race Committee

1.A Race Director and a Deputy Race Director shall be appointed in accordance with the agreed procedures of the Irish Veteran Cyclists Association Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the IVCA") to oversee the running of races and related matters.

 

2. A Race Committee shall be elected by the members of the IVCA at the company’s AGM each year. The Race Committee shall comprise the Race Director, the Deputy Race Director and such number of other members to ensure that each of the Ability Categories (see Section C below) is represented.

3.The purpose of the Race Committee shall be to:

(a)set out and implement the race calendar each year;

(b)endeavour to ensure that all competitors are treated fairly in implementing the handicapping systems adopted for the running of IVCA races;

(c) decide where each competitor should be in the Matrix (see Section C below);

(d)decide on any other matters which arise relating to racing issues.

 

4.The Race Committee shall monitor the implementation of the racing rules throughout each season and report to the Board of Directors of the IVCA on the implementation of those rules at regular intervals throughout the year.

 

5.The Race Committee shall be responsible for co-opting new members if some of the existing members cannot or do not wish to remain on the Committee.

 

6.The Race Committee shall endeavour to reach decisions by consensus. Where it is not possible to reach a decision by consensus, the decision shall be made on the basis of a simple majority of members voting, including the Race Director. If the votes cast are equal in number, the Race Director shall have a second or casting vote.

 

7.Any rider who has a grievance in relation to a racing matter should bring the issue to the attention of the Race Committee for consideration.

 

B.Racing Licenses

8.A racing license shall be issued to any IVCA member wishing to take part in races, upon application and payment of the appropriate fee agreed annually. The fee shall cover participation in all racing events organised by the IVCA in a calendar year.

 

9.Members 66 years of age and over with 10 years unbroken membership shall be entitled to free racing fees.

10.All members (including those entitled to free racing fees) who wish to participate in IVCA races must hold Personal Insurance which covers them while racing.

 

11.Each member wishing to participate in racing events shall undertake marshalling duties throughout the year, as rostered. A rider who fails to meet a marshalling commitment will not be permitted to race again until he/she has fulfilled his/her commitment.

 

12.The IVCA may enter arrangements with other cycling organisations to entitle the holders of race license(s) issued by those organisations to compete in races organised by the IVCA. A race entry fee shall be charged to such competitors.

 

13.All riders competing in IVCA races shall have regard to the rules of the road, the safety of other riders and road users, and the instructions of those marshalling the event. The Race Committee may impose sanctions on riders not observing this rule. Those sanctions may involve de-classification in race results, forfeiture of points in Ability League events, or suspension from racing, depending on the nature and severity of the offence.

 

14.The wearing of a suitable Safety Helmet in road races organised by the IVCA is compulsory.

 

C.The Matrix

15.All racing members shall be entered into the Matrix Seven Ability Categories based on their ability. The seven Ability Categories shall be identified by alphabetical titles, A to G. Within each Category, riders shall be rated on ability.

 

16.A rider whose ability is unknown may (a) be required to ride in an event or events prior to being placed within the Matrix, or (b) be assigned to a Category by the Race Director and/or Race Committee while his/her ability level is assessed.

 

17.The Race Director, in consultation with the Race Committee, shall be empowered to reclassify any rider during the season based on that rider’s current performance and ability.

 

18.No rider over 60 years of age shall be placed in the Scratch Group, unless he/she volunteers for such a posting.

 

19.A rider shall have the right to request a review of his/her position within the Matrix by the Race Committee, whose decision on the matter shall be final.

 

20.The Matrix shall form the basis for the Sign on Sheet at races.

 

21.Each member entered onto the Matrix will be given (1) a Category coloured race number and (2) a bicycle frame race number. Both numbers must be displayed in all races, otherwise the rider will not be classified in the race results and will not be awarded points in Ability League events. For the purposes of time trials only, alternative race number arrangements may be put in place by the Race Director.

 

D.Types of Events

22.The IVCA Race calendar shall incorporate the following types of Road Races and Time Trials:

1. Seven Ability Group CPs

   (b)Age Standard CPs

   (c)Ability Related Divided Mass Starts (DMSs)

   (d)Age Related DMSs

   (e)Ability Handicapped Time Trials.

   (f)Age Standard Time Trials

    

E.Seven Ability Group CPs

23.Each rider shall be assigned to one of the seven Ability Categories within the Matrix at the start of the season. In Ability CPs, based on the Sign On Sheet, seven race groups will be formed. Where practical, the number of riders in each group will be equalised. Thus, a rider from one Category may have to start with riders of an adjacent Category, but he/she will always compete for points in his/her own Ability Category.

 

Adjusting Time Gaps

24.The time-gaps between the seven Categories for the first race each season shall be as follows:

Thereafter, the time gaps between the groups shall be adjusted at the discretion of the Race Director.

F.Age Standard CPs

25.In Age Standard CPs, groups shall be formed on the basis of age (i.e. five-year age categories). The time gaps between the age categories shall be as shown on the table below for a race of 50 miles. Time gaps shall be adjusted on a pro-rata basis for longer or shorter race distances:

26.In Age Standard CPs, the time gaps shall not be adjustable based on results. Neither shall it be possible to equalise the number of riders in each group. Some age groups may therefore contain only a few riders while other groups may be very large.

 

27.The annual Road Race Championship and the Founders 50 events shall be run as Age Standard CPs.

28.A Women’s Championship shall be incorporated into the Age Standard Road Race Championship, provided there is a minimum of 5 women starters in the event.

 

G.Ability Related Divided Mass Starts (DMSs)

29.Ability Related DMSs will comprise two, three or four separate races, based on the number of riders who sign on. Safety considerations, such as the particular course, the weather, etc., will dictate exactly how many riders shall comprise a race.

3 Races

30.In general, riders in the F and G categories will compete in the first race, riders in categories C, D and E will generally compete in the second race, and riders in the A and B categories will generally compete in the third race. However, to facilitate fairness of handicapping, the Race Director may move categories between races.

4 Races

31.The largest grouping of riders (based on ability) occurs in the centre of the Matrix. To avoid moving riders from this area up into a faster race, or down into a slower race, this grouping of relatively equal ability riders may be split into two races.

 

H.Age Related DMSs

32.Age Related DMSs shall comprise separate races for each 10-year age group (i.e. 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; 70 upwards).

 

33.Age Related Road Race Championships will be held each year for these categories. A minimum of 5 starters shall be required in any category for the race to qualify as a Championship.

 

34.The Age Related Road Race Championships for riders 70 years and over shall not exceed 40 miles.

I.Ability Handicapped Time Trials

35.Ability Handicapped Time Trials shall comprise a performance-related system where a rider’s actual time is compared to his/her Previous Best or Ability Handicap time for the distance being raced.

 

36.A rider without a Previous Best time in the two preceding years shall establish an Ability Handicap time for a distance based on riding a minimum of:

-3 races over the distance in question in the case of 10 mile and 25 mile events, and

-1 race over the distance in the case of a 50 mile event.

His/her fastest time shall become his/her Ability Handicap time for the relevant distance. Until the rider has established an Ability Handicap time, he/she will be handicapped against the Scratch time, which will be the fastest time recorded in the event on the day.

 

37.Alternatively, a rider who has competed in road races and is already placed within the Matrix may be allocated an Ability Handicap time based on comparison with other known times by colleagues close to him/her in the Matrix.

 

38.Having established an Ability Handicap time, a rider who fails to beat this time in a subsequent season shall have his/her handicap time increased in the following season by his/her age standard increment (see Appendix 1 for age standard increments).

Example: Joe Soap’s 10 mile TT times

39.Only riders who have posted time(s) for a distance in the season and have failed to beat their Ability Handicap time shall qualify for the adjustment to their Ability Handicap time.

 

J.Age Standard Time Trials

40.Age Standard Time Trials shall be based on a rider’s actual time compared to his/her Age Standard Handicap time for the appropriate race distance. See Appendix 1 for Age Standard Handicap times.

 

41.Age Standard Time Trial Championships shall be held over distances of 10, 25, and 50 miles each year.

42.Women’s Championships shall be incorporated into the Age Standard Time Trial Championships over 10, 25 and 50 miles, provided there is a minimum of 5 women starters in the relevant event.

 

K.Other Time Trial Matters

43.League and Championship time trial events (with the exception of the Mountain Time Trial) shall be run over exact distances of 10, 25 and 50 miles. If this is not possible, all courses will be precisely measured and times standardised to 10, 25 or 50 miles.

 

44.A Fastest All Rounder (FAR) competition shall be held each year, based on each rider’s best actual times in time trials held over distances of 10, 25 and 50 miles in the year. The competition will be won by the rider with the lowest aggregate time for the three distances.

 

45.A Best All Rounder (BAR) competition shall also be held each year, based on each rider’s best performances against their Age Standard over distances of 10, 25 and 50 miles. The competition will be won by the rider with the best aggregate performance for the three distances against his/her Age Standard.

 

L.The IVCA Standard Calendar

46.The Standard Calendar shall include two Ability Leagues:

(a)a Sunday League, and

(b)a Midweek League.

47.Both Leagues shall be confined to Ability CPs, Ability Related DMSs and Ability Handicapped Time Trials.

 

48.The combined Leagues shall provide for a minimum of 22 Road Races and 12 Time Trials.

49.The Age Standard Time Trial Championships shall be incorporated into Ability League events. Other trophy events may also be incorporated into League events.

 

50.In addition to League events, the Standard Calendar shall also include:

-Two Age Standard CPs (Founders 50 and Road Race Championship), and

-One Age Related DMS (Age Related Championships: four separate races based on age groupings).

51.Thereafter, the Race Committee may add other Road Races and Time Trials to the Calendar (such as the Multi Stage Event, 2 Up Time Trial, Sonny Cullen event, Hill Climb event).

 

The Multi Stage Event

52.The Multi Stage event shall be decided on handicap time. All stages in the event must be ridden.

53.The Prologue Time Trial shall not be longer than 5 miles.

Optional Events

54.These may include special or sponsored events such as a Two-Up Time Trial, Australian Time Trial, etc. Normally such events shall be approved, where feasible, in advance at the Annual General Meeting of the IVCA.

 

M.Ability League Points

55.The first three riders overall in all Ability League events will score 8, 7, and 6 points respectively (these riders shall not count as Category winners). Thereafter, the first three riders in each Ability Category will score 5, 4, and 3 points respectively. All other starters and marshals shall receive 2 points each.

56.All points scored by a rider will count for the purpose of deciding overall League and Ability Category places.

 

57.Competitors racing with the license of another cycling organisation in accordance with Rule 12, shall be assigned to one of the seven Ability Categories, at the discretion of the Race Director. These competitors will not be awarded points within that Ability Category, but may be awarded points in a separate categorisation.

 

N.Standard IVCA Trophies

58.The following trophies will be competed for each year:

Appendix 1

IVCA Age Standards 2003