Registration fee
- $2500 per team of six (teams can start with 5 riders).
- No deposit to be paid this year. Upon registration, an invoice for the full amount will be sent via email to each team manager.
- Payments are per team…not per individual rider. It is the team manager’s responsibility to collect individual payments from riders and/or sponsors and make one lump sum payment by EFT to Cycling Eventures, as per the invoice.
- The registration fee can only be refunded up to October 1st 2023. After October 1st, if a team decides it cannot compete, registrations can be rolled over to TOUR 2024, or the team manager can find a replacement team to fill the place and ensure that all registration details within the registration system are changed to the new team.
Licenses
- A current AusCycling annual Race All Discipline membership or an AusCycling 7-Day Event Licence ($60) are both suitable for TOUR.
- Team managers are required to present proof of the above licenses for all team members at the Licence Check Desk at the event village on Friday November 3rd, prior to receiving their race packs at the Registration Desk.
- Silver Cycling Australia Licenses and Tri Licences are not acceptable.
- Age is calculated as at November 3rd 2023.
- All riders holding a current Under 19 AusCycling race licence are eligible to enter.
- Male U17 riders who are transitioning to U19 on October 1st this year may participate in the event. However, female riders in this same scenario are restricted to racing no more than 80km, and therefore must apply for an exemption via the AusCycling national pathways team, at least one month prior to the event. This application can be sent to the WA Office via matthewpoyner@auscycling.org.au. U17 riders who are not transitioning to U19 cannot participate.
Teams
- Teams are to consist of 6 riders with a nominated Manager, who can be riding or non-riding. Teams can start with 5 riders if a sixth rider cannot be recruited.
- It is the Team Manager’s responsibility to register and pay for their team/s, read the TOUR Race Book, ensure that all team members are well informed of the rules of racing and the racing schedule, and ensure that team logistics are in hand.
- All male and mixed teams compete in the Open Classification (mixed teams are a mix of men and women).
- All female teams compete in the All-Female Classification, but can apply to compete in the Open Division.
- All team members must present to all stages in matching jerseys, with the exception of professional riders who are contractually prevented from doing so.
- No drafting with other teams on Team Time Trial stages or the Grand Pursuit stage.
- Riders are required to complete each stage in order to start the next.
- Protests must be lodged to Commissaires by Team Managers only.
Results based on times
Results are calculated according to the following times:
- Stage 1 Team Time Trial: Times for Team Classification and General Classification Jerseys will be that of the fourth rider of the team to cross the finish line, with the exception of 5th and 6th riders who will be allocated their individual time for the Age Category Jerseys competition. The team time determines which division a team is allocated to for subsequent stages, with the fastest ten teams being allocated to division A.
- Stage 2 Road Race: Team time is the aggregated time of the first three riders, minus any individual time bonus that may be awarded to the first five riders across the finish line in each division (50/40/30/20/10 seconds off).
- Stage 3 Grand Pursuit*: In the Grand Pursuit, riders will start together as a team and be allocated individual times towards the Yellow/White Age Category Jersey classifications. The time allocated to the team will be the sum of the times of the first four riders (racing segments only). The rider in each division who sets the fastest time across all three racing segments will be awarded the EKOI Grand Pursuit Puncheur Jersey.
- Overall result per team: is the sum of the above three times, with teams being ranked against the 10 teams in each division.
The Grand Pursuit
The Grand Pursuit is a teams-based racing format. Timed segments are set out within a longer route, with start and finish lines clearly marked by signage on the side of the road. Each rider receives their own individual time for each segment, which goes towards the overall team time and the overall individual time. In a similar fashion to a Team Time Trial (TTT), competing teams are launched separately at set intervals, but unlike a TTT, a team does not have to finish as a group: it will depend on the objective of the team within the overall event, and the nature of the specific segments. Strategically, the members of the team must decide who they are riding for. Tactically, they must work out how to get their priority rider/s through the segments in the fastest way possible. Riding together as a team may produce the fastest time for the priority rider/s, but a priority rider may achieve a faster time on their own, depending on the nature of the segment in question, and the strengths of the priority rider in relation to the segment. Drafting on other teams is not allowed.
Three segments are on offer in Stage 3. Teams will launch at 30-second intervals from Nannup.
See Grand Pursuit Explainer Video
Awards
Stages:
- Stage 1 TTT: Fastest Team in the Open Classification and Fastest Team in the All-Female classification are awarded the TOUR Gold Medal. Second and third fastest teams in each classification are awarded the TOUR Silver and Bronze medals.
- Stage 2 Road Race: Polka Dot Jersey awarded to the fastest rider in each division.
- Stage 3 EKOI Grand Pursuit: EKOI GP Puncheur Jersey awarded to the rider in each division that sets the fastest combined time across all three racing segments. Individual times also contribute to the Yellow and White Jersey Age Group competitions.
Final Presentations
- Division Champion Team: team in each division with the fastest time over the combined stages – TOUR Trophy and TOUR Gold Medal.
- Division First Runner-Up Team: team in each division with the second fastest time over the combined stages – TOUR Silver Medal.
- Age Group Yellow Jersey Winners: fastest riders overall in each age category (Open Classification and All Female Classification). 21-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+.
- Under 21 White Jersey Winners: fastest under 21 riders overall (Open and All Female Classification).
Presentations
- Jerseys will be presented at the completion of each day; recipient riders are required to be in attendance.
- To respect the race and sponsors, riders are required to wear their team kit onto podiums.
Course & Support
- Roads will be a mix of open and closed (roads will be closed for Stage 1, and 2).
- Riders crossing unbroken white lines (or using more than half the road when white lines are absent) will be fined and potentially disqualified.
- No team cars are allowed on course. Penalties apply (see Race Book).
- Due to the large number of competitors it is not guaranteed that riders will be serviced by support vehicles in a timely fashion. It is advised that competitive teams formulate their own plan to supply protected riders with a spare wheel or a replacement bike from another rider within the team.
- The best spectator viewing points are at the finish lines of each stage.
Bikes and equipment
- Only road bikes are allowed in the race. Disc wheels, time trial bars, tri-spokes and time trial-specific helmets are not permitted.
- Riders must wear Australian Standard approved helmets only.
