RACE RULES

The MediCard Sprint Tri Competition Rules are intended to:

Create an atmosphere of sportsmanship, equality, and fair play
Provide safety and protection
Emphasize ingenuity and skill without unduly limiting the athlete’s freedom of action
Penalize athletes who gain an unfair advantage

General Conduct:

Triathlon and other related multi-sports involve many athletes. Race tactics are part of the interaction between athletes.
Athletes will practice good sportsmanship at all times.
Athletes will be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
Know, understand and follow the Competition Rules.
Obey traffic regulations and instructions from race officials.
Treat other athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators with respect and courtesy.
Avoid the use of abusive language.
Inform a Race Official after withdrawing from the race.
Compete without receiving assistance other than from event personnel and officials.
Bare torso biking and running is not allowed. If caught in photos, even after the race/awarding, this may lead to disqualification, at the sole discretion of Bike King.

Health:

Triathlons and other related multi-sports are strenuous. To be able to compete, athletes should be in excellent physical condition. Their health and welfare is of paramount importance. By starting in a race, the athletes declare they are in good health and are in appropriate physical condition to complete the race;
Athletes are encouraged to perform periodic health evaluation (PHE) and to undergo a pre-participation evaluation (PPE) prior to engaging in competitive sport.

Eligibility:

An athlete’s age is determined by their age on December 31st in the year of competition.
Athletes aged 15 and above are eligible to compete in the Age Group categories.
Bike King race registrations are non-transferable. Both athletes caught competing under someone else's registration / or allowing the use of his race registration will be disallowed from joining any Bike King race for a minimum period of one (1) year to a maximum of two (2) years, at the sole discretion of Bike King.

Insurance:

Each athlete must have personal insurance coverage. This insurance will cover any accident occurring during the competition.

Registration:

All Sprint Age Group athletes must provide a Government issued or school ID (for students) at race registration/packet pick-up prior to competition.
All athletes must personally pick up their own race packet at the official race registration area during a designated time.
The race packets will contain a minimum of three (3) official race numbers one (1) for body (bib number), one (1) for bicycle and one (1) for helmet), swim cap and timing chip.

Race numbers:

Race number (bib number) must be worn by athletes during the bike segment and must be visible on the back.
Race number (bib number) must be worn by athletes during the run segment. The race number must be visible on the front.
Body markings are to be applied to each arm and leg, unless instructed otherwise by the Race Official at the briefing. At the discretion of the Race Director, body marking may not be required.

Timing and Results:

A race will be won by the athlete who has the shortest time from the start signal to the moment when the athlete finishes the race. An athlete will be judged as "finished," the moment any part of the torso, reaches the perpendicular line extending from the leading edge of the finish line.
All the athletes will be ranked according to their times.
The official results will list the athletes according to their finish time.

Time splits to be included are:

Swim or first segment
Bike or second segment
Run or third segment
Overall finish time
Results will include athletes who do not finish the race (DNF), those who do not start (DNS), those who are disqualified (DSQ).

Safety Guidelines:

The responsibility of remaining on the course rests with the athlete. Any athlete, who appears to Technical or Medical Officials as presenting a danger to themselves or others, may be removed from the competition.

Illegal Equipment:

Headphone(s) and headset(s), mobile phones or any other electronic listening communication device
Glass containers
Bicycles with missing front or rear brakes
Electric Bicycles
Swim Skin / Speed Suits
Any kind of floatation device

Mountain Bikes, Folding Bikes and other types of recreational bicycles are allowed.

TRANSITION AREA CONDUCT
General Rules:

All athletes must have their helmet securely fastened from the time they remove their bike from the rack at the start of the bike leg, until after they have placed their bike on the rack at the finish of the bike leg.
Athletes must use only their designated bike rack and must rack their bike.
Athletes must place within 0.5 m of the bin all equipment to be used at a later stage in the event. If a bin is not provided, the 0.5 m will be measured from the rack number or name plate.
All equipment already used must be deposited in the bin. Only equipment to be used during the competition can be left in transition. All other belongings and equipment are to be removed before race start.
Bike shoes, glasses, helmet, and other bike equipment can be placed on the bike.
Athletes must not impede the progress of other athletes in the Transition Area.
Athletes must not interfere with another athlete's equipment in the Transition Area.
Cycling is not permitted inside the Transition Area. Athletes must mount their bicycles after the mount line by having one complete foot contact with the ground after the mount line. Athletes must dismount their bicycles before the dismount line by having one complete foot contact with the ground before the dismount line. While in the transition area (before the mount line and after the dismount line) the bike can be pushed only by the athlete’s hands. Mount and dismount lines are parts of the transition area.
Nudity or indecent exposure is forbidden.
Athletes can not stop in the flow zones of the Transition Area.
Marking positions in the Transition Area is not allowed. Marks will be removed.

PROTESTS:
General:

A protest is against the conduct of an athlete, Race Official, or the conditions of the competition. An athlete may file a protest with the Race Official provided the protest has not been previously observed by the Technical Officials and ruled upon by the Referee.
Where event competition rules do not cover the incident, ITU, FINA, UCI & IAAF Rules will apply.

Protests Concerning Eligibility:
Protests concerning the eligibility of an athlete shall be made to the race official before the start of the race.
Protests Concerning the Course:
Protests concerning the safety of the course or its variance to the regulations must be made to the Referee no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the start of the race.
Protests Concerning the Race:
An athlete, who protests against another athlete or official, must do so to the Referee within fifteen (15) minutes of his/her finish time. However, the intention to write a protest has to be announced to the Referee within five (5) minutes of his/her finish time. After this deadline, only protests following this process will be admitted.
Protests Concerning Equipment:
Protests concerning an athlete's equipment must be delivered to the Referee fifteen (15) minutes after his/her finish time. However, the intention to write a protest has to be announced to the Referee within five (5) minutes of his/her finish time. After this deadline, only protests following this process will be admitted.
Protests Concerning Timing and Results:
Protests concerning mistakes in timing and results (time errors, athletes’ ranking) may be delivered in writing by the athlete to the Race Organizer within thirty (30) days after the competition.
Contents of a Protest:

The protest must be accompanied by a deposit of Php 2,000 and will be refunded if the protest is successful. If the protest is denied, there will be no refund and the money will be retained by Race Organizer.
Information to be included:
The alleged rule violated
The location and approximate time of the alleged violation
Persons involved in the alleged violation
A statement, including a diagram of the alleged violation, if possible
The names of witnesses who observed the alleged violation

Outside Assistance:
Medical assistance and food and liquid are permitted at designated aid stations only. All other outside assistance is prohibited.
Penalties:

A stop and go penalty will be imposed for violation of the drafting rule
If an athlete receives three drafting penalties, he/she will be disqualified on the third call.

Drafting:
Any time the draft zone of an athlete overlaps the draft zone of another athlete, vehicle or motorcycle on the bike course of an event.
Bicycle Draft Zone:
The draft zone is a rectangle 7 metres long and 3 metres wide created by every athlete in which other athletes can enter for a limited period of time and for overtaking purposes.
Vehicle Draft Zone:
The draft zone for a motor vehicle is a rectangle 25 metres long and 5 meters wide which surround every vehicle on the bike course. The center front of the vehicle defines the center of the leading 5-metre edge of the rectangle.
Stop and Go Penalty:
A method of imposing a brief delay on an athlete who is assessed by a Technical Official to have unintentionally infringed the rules, for example, drafting on the bike course. A Penalty Box may be used for this penalty.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:
Sprint Distance 600M Swim – 20Km Bike – 5Km Run

Male 15-17	Female 15-17
Male 18-24	Female 18-24
Male 25-29	Female 25-29
Male 30-34	Female 30-34
Male 35-39	Female 35-39
Male 40-44	Female 40-44
Male 45-49	Female 45-49
Male 50-54	Female 50 & Above
Male 55-59
Male 60 & Above

Awards:
Athletes who place 1st, 2nd or 3rd will be awarded an official event trophy.