General Rules

1. Each team will consist of two members except in the Ironperson divisions. One team member will run, one will bicycle,). In the Ironperson divisions, one individual will do both legs. Team members will pass an official wrist band to teammates as the relay progresses. The winning team will be the team or Ironperson whose bicyclist crosses the finish line first in their division.

2. An overtaking competitor has the right-of-way. Impeding the progress of another individual who is passing is grounds for disqualification. Drafting of another bicycle is allowed. Drafting of non-competitors is grounds for disqualification.

3. A competitor must assist another competitor who requests help until he or she
reaches safety.

4. Racing numbers must be worn and visible on the outside of clothing on front.

5. Hard-shell helmets are requited for all bicyclists. The helmet worn by the cyclist shall be of a type specifically designed and intended for use by cyclists, and certified as meeting or exceeding the test standards established by Snell Laboratories, ASTM, and/or ANSI. Failure to wear the required headgear at all times while bicycling in The Great Race(r) shall result in disqualification of the cyclist and his or her team. It shall be the responsibility of each cyclist, not the organizers, staff or sponsors of The Great Race(r), to inspect his or her protective headgear to determine if it complies with this rule.

6. Competitors may enter only one team or ironperson division.

7. All competitors who quit the race for any reason before the finish line must report to The Great Race(r) official as soon as possible after they stop competing in the race.

8. Protests: All protests must be in writing and filed within 30 minutes of the protester's team crossing the finish line. The written protests must be made on a form provided by The Great Race(r) management. Protests can be lodged at race headquarters in case of any violation of the Competition Rules. An arbitration committee will meet before the Awards Ceremony in order to provide a final ruling on all protests and disqualifications made by course officials. A $10 non-refundable fee will be charged to file a protest.

9. The Relay: Runners wearing an official wristband will start the competition. A road race start will be used. Runners should seed themselves according to their estimated running pace. Runners will proceed along the official running course to the bike staging area located at the bike trail near the Guy West Bridge. The runner will enter the bicycle staging area from the levee side and will pass the official wristband to the cyclist teammate in the area designated for their division. The cyclist will proceed along the official bike course to the Eppie's Great Race start line which is the finish line for the Duathlon. Runners and cyclists must stay on the official course. Making use of short cuts or transferring the official wristband in other than designated areas at the run/hike transition area are grounds for disqualification.

10. Timing: The time will be the total time it takes the team or Ironperson to complete the entire course and cross the finish line.

11. The route will be monitored and any competitor who does not adhere to the rules of the race will be disqualified.

12. A race competitor shall not, during participation in the race, push, tow, or carry any device for the transport of another person, animal and/or equipment. Such devices include but are not limited to: bicycle trailers, strollers, and infant carriers.

13 Only registered racers shall participate in the race. A parent/guardian may run/walk with a race participant during the running portion of the race. A parent or guardian may ride a bicycle behind a race participant during the bicycle race subject to the following conditions: The parent/guardian shall stay behind the race participant at all times (never beside or in front), will ride to the far right hand side of the trail, and will never impede other race participants.
On neither the running nor bicycle portion of the race will the parent/guardian provide assistance to any race participant which could provide any competitive advantage. The sole purpose of the parent/guardian is to provide for safety of the race participant.

14. All participants in the race must be under 18 years of age on the day of the race.

15. All race competitors, ironpersons or team members must have visual acuity better than legally blind as defined in Vehicle Code section 21965 which states: "As used in Sections 21963 and 21964, 'blind,' 'totally blind,' and 'partially blind' mean having central visual acuity not to exceed 20/200 in the better eye, with corrected lenses, as measured by the Snellen test, or visual acuity greater than 20/200, but with a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle not greater than 20 degrees."

Bicycle Rules

16. A tandem bicycle, recumbent bicycle, or a tricycle shall not be used by a race competitor. Only bicycles ridden by one (1) person will be allowed in the bicycle portion of the race.

17. All bicycles must meet the following design requirements:

a) The saddle support shall be horizontal and be positioned above the bottom bracket (cranks). The length of the saddle shall be between 24 cm and 27.5 cm maximum.

b) The peak of the saddle shall be a minimum of 5 cm to the rear of a vertical plane passing through the bottom bracket spindle. In no circumstances shall the peak of the saddle extend in front of the vertical line passing through the bottom bracket.

c) The distance between the lower bracket (crank axle) and the ground shall be between 24 cm minimum and 30 cm maximum.

d. A vertical line touching the front most point of the saddle may be no more than 5 centimeters in front of and no more than 15 centimeters behind a vertical line passing through the center of the chain wheel axle. The cyclist must not have the capability of adjusting the saddle beyond these limits during competition.

e) The cranks shall not be located in front of the front wheel axle or the steering mechanism.

f) Rider's position on the bike shall not allow the rider to lay on their back or chest/abdomen.

g) There shall be no protective shield, fairing, or other device on any part of the bicycle, which has the effect of reducing air resistance except that spoke covers may be used.

Grounds for Disqualification-
Teams or ironpersons can be disqualified for any of the following reasons:

18. Intentionally leaving the course to obtain a shorter distance advantage.

19. Intentionally interfering with another racer to obtain or confer an advantage.

20. Competing without a helmet on the bicycle portion of the course.

21. Drafting off non-competitors during the race.

22. Cyclists leaving the designated area for their divisions at the Run-Bike transition area prior to receiving the official wristband from their runners. Runners entering the Run-Bike transition area from the bicycle trail side of the transition area rather than designated dirt path on the levee side of bicycle staging area.

23. Competitors entering more than one team or ironperson. (All teams and ironpersons involved will be disqualified from awards but will still be eligible for free breakfast.)

24. Any other failure to obey the course officials and/or Competition Rules.

25. Disorderly conduct.

Requests for Special Accommodation: Any participant who desires an exception from the Competition Rules must make a written request to The Great Race(r) committee. The request must set forth in detail the exception requested and all facts which support the request. Request must be received no later than July 1st of the race year and must include the requester's name, address and day and evening telephone numbers. All requests will be promptly considered. Requests should be mailed to The Great Race(r), P.O. Box 292640, Sacramento, CA 95829

saccotr@sacparks.org
Contacts (Questions/Comments):
916/381-0255