TOUR OF ISTANBUL

COMPETITION RULES

ARTICLE 1. ORGANIZATION

TOUR OF ISTANBUL is organized by Sportsnet within the framework of UCI and Turkish Cycling Federation rules. It will take place from September 28th to October 1st, 2023. Organization address:

Sportsnet - All Sports
Dereboyu 2nd St. Ata Center No:15 Floor:1 34398 Maslak / Istanbul

Website: www.tourofistanbul.com.tr
Email: [email protected]

ARTICLE 2. TYPE OF EVENT

TOUR OF ISTANBUL is classified as a UCI International Men's Elite Europe Tour 2.2 race consisting of 4 stages. UCI points will be awarded according to the point scale specified in UCI regulation 2.10.008.

ARTICLE 3. PARTICIPATION

As a 2.2 race, the competition is open to UCI Pro Teams (max 2), UCI Continental Teams, UCI cyclo-cross professional teams, National teams, and Regional and Club teams (according to 2.1.005). Teams must register a maximum of 7 riders. A team cannot start with fewer than 5 riders in the first stage (according to 2.2.003).

If the number of reported riders is less than 100 fifteen days before the race, the organizer may allow participating teams to increase the maximum number of riders per team to 8 (according to 2.2.007).

ARTICLE 4. RACE HEADQUARTERS

The race center / race office will be open every day from September 28th to October 1st between 09:00 - 18:00. Address:

Dedeman Bostancı Hotel
Değirmen Yolu Cad. No:39B İçerenköy Mahallesi Ataşehir, İstanbul

ARTICLE 5. CONFIRMATION OF RIDERS & MEETINGS

License-holding team managers or officials can confirm and collect race numbers. Rider confirmations, distribution of rider race numbers, Team Managers / Sport Directors Meeting (mandatory for one manager or rider from each team), will take place with the participation of the Riders' Panel on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023, at the specified time and place:

Dedeman Bostancı Hotel
Değirmen Yolu Cad. No:39B İçerenköy Mahallesi Ataşehir, İstanbul

15:00-16:30 Rider Confirmation
17:00-17:45 Team Managers Meeting
20:00-21:00 All Drivers Meeting

ARTICLE 6. RADIO TOUR

Race information will be broadcasted via the Radio Tour Channel, and the frequency will be announced during the Team Managers Meeting.

ARTICLE 7. NEUTRAL SUPPORT

Neutral technical support will be provided by SHIMANO using 3 cars and 1 motorcycle equipped with standard equipment.

ARTICLE 8. RACE INCIDENTS BEFORE THE FINISH

a) In the case of a duly noted fall, puncture or mechanical incident in the last three kilometers of a road race stage, the rider or riders involved shall be credited with the time of the rider or riders in whose company they were riding at the moment of the accident. His or their placing shall be determined by the order in which he or they actually cross the finishing line.

b) If, as the result of a duly noted fall in the last three kilometres, a rider cannot cross the finishing line, he shall be placed last in the stage and credited with the time of the rider or riders in whose company he was riding at the time of the accident.

ARTICLE 9. STAGES EXPECTED TO END WITH A GROUP SPRINT

The following stages are designated as "expected to end with a group sprint":

- Stage 1, 2, 3, 4

During these stages, the protocol of calculation of time gaps for stages “expected to finish in bunch sprints” published on the UCI website in the Regulations section will be applied.

ARTICLE 10. FINISHING DEADLINE

The time limits are as follows:

Stage 1: %10

Stage 2: %20

Stage 3: %20

Stage 4: %10

In exceptional cases only, unpredictable and of force majeure, the commissaries panel may extend the finishing time limits after consultation with the organiser (as per 2.6.032).

ARTICLE 11. RIDERS OUTSIDE THE RACE CONVOY

Riders falling behind the race convoy follow police or organization vehicle are to follow the rules of the road. They shall conform to all traffic regulations in force.

ARTICLE 12. CLASSIFICATIONS

Individual classification leaders wear the following jerseys:

1- General Classification: ORANGE Jersey

2- Sprint Points Classification: BLUE Jersey

3- King of the Mountains Classification: GREEN Jersey

4- 100th Year Classification: RED Jersey

In the case of a rider being eligible for multiple jerseys throughout the race, the order of priority is from 1 to 4. In the event a classification leader’s jersey is to be worn by a rider who must wear a different jersey according to this priority order, the next placed rider in the relevant classification will wear the jersey unless obligated to wear the leader’s jersey of another classification (as per 2.6.018).

ARTICLE 13. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

The Individual General Classification is formed by adding the times recorded in each stage together (according to 2.6.014), including bonuses and penalties. In case of a tie, UCI regulation 2.6.015 is applied.

ARTICLE 14. BONUSES:

Time bonuses are only applied for the Individual General Classification and are awarded according to UCI regulation Article 2.6.019.

- Intermediate sprints: 3" - 2" - 1"

- Finish: 10" - 6" - 4"

ARTICLE 15. TEAM CLASSIFICATION

The Daily Team Classification is formed by adding the individual times of the best three riders from each team. In case of a tie, teams will be differentiated by adding the finish positions of the top 3 riders. If teams are still tied, the place of the best-performing rider within the teams will determine the ranking.

The General Team Classification is formed by adding up the Daily Team Classification times. Any team with fewer than three riders cannot participate in the General Team Classification. In case of a tie, the following criteria will be applied until teams are separated (according to 2.6.016):

1) Number of first places in the Daily Team Classification;

2) Number of second places in the Daily Team Classification

3) Rank of the best rider of the teams in the Individual General Classification.

ARTICLE 16. POINTS CLASSIFICATION

The Points (Sprint) Classification is formed based on the total points earned at intermediate sprints and the finish. Exact locations are indicated on the course maps and time tables. Points are awarded for each position as follows:

Intermediate sprint; 1st: 3 points, 2nd: 2 points, 3rd: 1 point

Finish; 1st: 5 points, 2nd: 4 points, 3rd: 3 points, 4th: 2 points, 5th: 1 point

In case of a tie, the following criteria (according to 2.6.017) are considered in order until a rider is determined:

1) Number of stage victories;

2) Number of victories in intermediate sprints;

3) Individual General Classification time.

ARTICLE 17. KING OF THE MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION

The King of the Mountains Classification (KOM) is based on the total points earned at KOM gates. Exact locations and distances are indicated on the course maps and summaries. Points are awarded as follows:

Category 1; 1st: 10 points, 2nd: 8 points, 3rd: 6 points, 4th: 4 points, 5th: 2 points

Category 2; 1st: 5 points, 2nd: 4 points, 3rd: 3 points, 4th: 2 points, 5th: 1 point

Category 3; 1st: 3 points, 2nd: 2 points, 3rd: 1 point

Category 4; 1st: 2 points, 2nd: 1 point

In case of a tie, the following criteria are considered in order until a rider is determined:

1) Number of first places in the highest category climb;

2) Number of first places in a lower category climb, and so on;

3) Individual General Classification time.

ARTICLE 18. 100th YEAR SPRINT CLASSIFICATION

The 100th Year Sprint Classification is based on the total points awarded at the intermediate sprint locations. Exact locations are indicated on the course maps and time tables. Points are awarded for each position as follows:

Intermediate sprint; 1st: 3 points, 2nd: 2 points, 3rd: 1 point

In case of a tie, the following criteria (according to 2.6.017) are considered in order until a rider is determined:

1) Number of stage victories;

2) Number of victories in intermediate sprints;

3) Individual General Classification time.

ARTICLE 19. PRIZES

A grand total of 12,621€ will be awarded in prize money at the event. To be entitled to final classification prize money, competitors have to complete the entire race within the official time limit. Riders missing the podium presentation are subject to fines and forfeiture of prize money. Prize Money (the currency is Euro) will be distributes as follow:

ARTICLE 20. STARTS

Before each stage begins, it is mandatory for all competitors to sign. It is encouraged for athletes to sign as a team. Signatures can be collected from 1 hour and 15 minutes before the reported start time until 10 minutes before the start time. Athletes will be called to the starting line as follows: 1) 100th YEAR, 2) KOM, 3) Sprint Points, and 4) General Classification leaders. Additional athletes may be called in special circumstances. Team managers will be informed in such cases.

ARTICLE 21. FEED ZONE PROCEDURE

The feeding zones will be signposted on each course as designated in the race guide. Each feeding zone will be accompanied by a zone for waste situated just before and just after the feeding zone where riders can get rid of their waste.

There will be a waste zone situated before the final 20 kilometres of each stage where riders have the opportunity to get rid of their waste. The food and drink will be distributed on foot by the staff accompanying the team and by no-one else. They will be positioned on one side of the road only (as per 2.3.026).

All feeding (from a car and on foot) is strictly forbidden;

- During the first 30 and last 20 kilometres;

- In the last kilometre before a sprint counting for bonus sprints, feeding zone;

- In the 500 meters after a sprint counting for bonus sprints, feeding zone;

- On descents of mountains listed on the mountain classification; and in any other area specified by the commissaires panel (as per 2.3.027)

- Riders are only permitted to give their water bottles to spectators on climbs in the last 50 kilometres of the event or stages. Riders must ensure that the throwing of their water bottles to the public does not present any danger, either to the spectators (in the case of too violent throw), or to the other riders (in the case of the water bottle rolling back on to the road).

-In the event of a heat wave or during some of the long flat stages, exceptional measures may be put in place by the president of the commissaires' panel in consultation with the organiser. These measures will be communicated via the daily race communique  and via radio-tour.

-In the event of failure to comply with these conditions and precautions, penalties shall be applied in accordance with article 2.12.007 - 8.3 of the UCI Regulations.

-In order to facilitate the feeding with musettes and the disposal of the latter by the riders, the organisers must extend the length of one litter zone (which will, if possible, be one kilometre in length) and inform the teams at the sport directors' meeting and/or via the daily communique at the end of the day. Furthermore, assistants shall not feed riders in litter zones. Feeding can take place several hundred meters before or after the litter zones.

-In particular race situations that would lead riders to throw away water bottles or litter outside the zones provided for this purpose (which remains prohibited), the commissaires panel may decide not to sanction the rider they deem that the situation was of an exceptional nature and did not by any means contravene with the purpose and rational of article 2.2.025. In the event of an exceptional situation, the commissaires' panel shall take the appropriate decisions in accordance with the above rule of interpretation.

ARTICLE 22. AWARD CEREMONIES

Awards ceremonies will be held in the finish area 30 min following each stage. The following riders must attend the award ceremonies with team uniform and shoes on a daily basis:

- The three first riders of the stage;

- The leader of the general classification by time;

- The leaders of other classifications (Sprint, KOM, 100th Year)

In addition, after the last stage of the event the following riders must present themselves at the final awards ceremony:

- The winners of the Race;

- The winners of the other classifications (Sprint, KOM, 100th Year)

- The winner of the team general classification

After the official ceremony, the leader of the individual general classification and the winner of the event are requested to go to the press room for a maximum of 20 minutes accompanied by an escort acting under the authority of the doping control officer (as per 2.2.082).

ARTICLE 23. PENALTIES

The UCI scale of penalties shall solely be applicable.

Race incidents concerning riders, teams and other license holders observed in the context of road events are sanctioned as set out in the table of race incidents defined in article 2.12.007, in accordance with article 12.4.001. Sanctions given by commissaries shall be noted in the communiqué of the commissaries’’ panel and will be sent to the UCI.

ARTICLE 24. RESULTS

The list of starters and complete results will be available daily online at www.tourofistanbul.com.tr . In order to receive communication materials by email (i.e. start list, results, commissaries’ report etc.), managers must register their (and any other relevant people such as team secretariat or press officer) email addresses during the Confirmation of Riders before the Team Manager’s Meeting. All people who are on the mailing list will be sent an email with a link to the PDFs as soon as the information confirmed by the commissaires’ panel.

Please note that no printed copies will be provided to the teams or press officers. This is to reduce the time and environmental impact of printing and distributing.

ARTICLE 25. HELMETS

From the opening of registration to the conclusion of the final awards ceremony, riders are required to wear helmets at any time they are riding a bicycle, including warm up on city.

ARTICLE 26. RIDER & TEAM CONDUCT

The provisions listed herein will be binding and enforceable against all competitors. Any infringement of the rules and regulations applying to the race by any rider, team staff, or helper will render the entire team liable to fines or disqualification.

ARTICLE 27. RIDER IDENTIFICATION

During the stages, all competitors must use the frame number plate and body numbers supplied. Both bib numbers should be placed both sides on the back pocket area of the jersey and must be clearly visible at all times during the race. Modification and/or cutting/folding the identification numbers and damaging to sponsor logos on them are prohibited.

ARTICLE 28. ANTI-DOPING CONTROLS

The UCI anti-doping regulations are entirely applicable to the event. Anti-doping tests will take place at a dedicated location after each stage as indicated in the stage layout shown in the race guide.