Rules on rejoining circuit race after puncture

hockinsk
hockinsk Posts: 100
edited February 2010 in Amateur race
Once you rejoin the bunch after a lap out to fix a puncture are you allowed to compete for the win? I guess this is at the discretion of the race commissaire, but can't find any official rule on this?

Comments

  • Dess1e
    Dess1e Posts: 239
    20.3.3 In a circuit race held on any circuit of less than 2 km a rider who punctures, crashes, or suffers mechanical trouble will be permitted, except within the last five laps, to rejoin the race, after omitting one lap, in the same position as when the incident occurred, with the approval of the Chief Commissaire. Riders so affected will be considered not to be a lap in arrears and they may contest the race finish. Riders shall be permitted only one lap out per race unless otherwise allowed by the Chief Commissaire. Discretion is given to the Chief Commissaire to allow further laps out in the case of events where the majority of riders may otherwise be withdrawn.
    www.kentonrc.co.uk
  • Woolfie
    Woolfie Posts: 34
    Yes - this very thing happened to me in a Darley Moor 3/4 circuit race a few years back. The race commissaire announced just before the start that we were allowed to rejoin after a lap out for a mechanical except in the last five laps. With about 10ish laps to go I had a front wheel puncture when in the middle of the pack (a safety pin from somebody's race number!) and managed to limp back to the start / finish area. I didn't have a spare with me but a very kind person offered me a front wheel to allow me to finish the race which I duly did after rejoining the back of the pack as they passed.
    Bakewell Toybox
    Bakewell
    Derbyshire

    www.welovetoys.co.uk
  • hockinsk
    hockinsk Posts: 100
    Cheers all.

    I was confused the other day when the Chief Commissaire asked if it was ok with everyone to rejoin race after mechanical. I thought it odd he was asking us when was sure it was allowed iin the rules? I now know because the circuit was over 2km he left it at the discretion of the riders.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    hockinsk wrote:
    Cheers all.

    I was confused the other day when the Chief Commissaire asked if it was ok with everyone to rejoin race after mechanical. I thought it odd he was asking us when was sure it was allowed iin the rules? I now know because the circuit was over 2km he left it at the discretion of the riders.

    Same thing Sunday at Fowlmead, everyone agreed and I think at least 2 riders punctured and rejoined.
  • kieranb
    kieranb Posts: 1,674
    I have a related question, what if it takes a while to fix the mechanical? A lap on a circuit of less than 2km goes by very quickly, say 3min? What if it takes a few laps to fix, can you then rejoin the race? The same thing that happended to Woolfie has happened to me and I rejoined the race but did not contest the finish as I miseed a number of laps and felt it unfair as I had a good rest.
  • nolf
    nolf Posts: 1,287
    kieranb wrote:
    I have a related question, what if it takes a while to fix the mechanical? A lap on a circuit of less than 2km goes by very quickly, say 3min? What if it takes a few laps to fix, can you then rejoin the race? The same thing that happended to Woolfie has happened to me and I rejoined the race but did not contest the finish as I miseed a number of laps and felt it unfair as I had a good rest.

    I think if it's a bad enough mechanical that it takes a few laps you're just really unlucky. I don't think they'll let you have more than 1 lap out and rejoin.
    "I hold it true, what'er befall;
    I feel it, when I sorrow most;
    'Tis better to have loved and lost;
    Than never to have loved at all."

    Alfred Tennyson
  • blackhands
    blackhands Posts: 950
    This is a problem - which as a commissaire I have had to wrestle with on a number of occasions.

    For example, if its a small local race what does it matter if someone has a couple of laps out if the circuit is short and its near the start of the race - I always bear in mind that people may have travelled a fair distance and paid a big entry fee to race. On the other hand, will that person, by rejoining the race, influence its outcome either by placing well themselves or even if they subsequently drop out, by helping team mates.
  • Dess1e
    Dess1e Posts: 239
    The last part of the regulation would apply

    Discretion is given to the Chief Commissaire to allow further laps out in the case of events where the majority of riders may otherwise be withdrawn.


    Which is where I agree with blackhands interpretation and have allowed this myself.
    www.kentonrc.co.uk
  • blackhands
    blackhands Posts: 950
    Dess1e wrote:
    The last part of the regulation would apply

    Discretion is given to the Chief Commissaire to allow further laps out in the case of events where the majority of riders may otherwise be withdrawn.


    Which is where I agree with blackhands interpretation and have allowed this myself.

    But this rule really only applies in cases where for example there is a major crash and at least half the field is affected.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Dess1e wrote:

    Discretion is given to the Chief Commissaire........

    I my storied career as a lowly Cat 4 official, I remember a Chief Commissar once telling
    me that "You are God at races. What you say goes and you will be backed up by the US
    Cycling Federation. You may bend or possibly ever break the rules at your discretion."
    This was followed by a caution of "just don't be an idiot".

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