2015 Hertfordshire Triathlon Summer Sunday 30 th August

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1 Dear Race Entrant, Race Details This is your race information pack for the Hertfordshire Triathlon Summer and the Hetfordshire Triathlon Club Champs. ActiveTrainingWorld would like to thank Triathlon Zone, Peleton & Co, Moveology, Yonda and Finesse Leisure for their support in the event. If you have any queries regarding any aspect of the race including the preparation for the race, please contact Before the Race Address Stanborough Lakes Stanborough Road Welwyn Garden City AL8 6DQ Parking Free Parking will be available at Stanborough Lakes for the triathlon. The race will take place on the South side of the lake. Please arrive in plenty of time to walk the few minutes to Race HQ and registration. Once the race starts the South Side car park will be closed until the last cyclist has started the bike course. Registration and Race Pack Registration will be at the race headquarters next to the transition area. It will take place on Sunday August 30 th at 5.40am to 6.50am only. If you are BTF Registered you must produce your valid BTF licence on race day, otherwise you will be required to pay the 5 for a BTF day licence. Please bring the right money if needed. On arrival at registration you will be given your Race Pack which will include: 2 race numbers although the use of a race belt is recommended 2 numbered labels 1 for the front of your helmet and 1 for the top tube of your bike 1 swim cap 1 disposable timing chip with strap (this must be strapped to your ankle) Timings, Arrival and Registration Registration and transition opens: 5.40 am Registration closes: 6.50 am Transition closes for all competitors: 7.00am (this is so the chip timing mats can be set) Race briefing is mandatory for all competitors and will take place 10 minutes before wave start

2 Wave 1 start: 7.15 am Wave 2 start: 7.30 am Wave 3 start: 7:35 am What wave am I in? Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Sprint Distance Competitors Hertfordshire Triathlon Club Champs Competitors (Freedom Tri, Hemel Hempstead CC Triathlon, Hoddesdon Tri, Jetstream Tri, S4F Triathlon Squad, Stortford Tri, Team Trisports, Transition Tri, Tri-Force) Standard Distance Competitors Relays will go in waves 1 and 3. 2 nd and 3 rd athletes will take over the next leg in the transition area. Please make sure you have registered, attended the race briefing and racked your bike in the transition area before it closes at 7.00am. Please use this time to familiarise yourself with the ways in and out of the transition area and walk through transition. There will be marshals in the Transition Area to help if you are not familiar with the setting up arrangements for your bike, helmet, shoes etc. You will be given your race numbers (front and back), sticker for your bike and helmet and be marked with your number at registration. The stickers must be attached and your body marked with your number before you will be admitted to transition. Please also note that the transition area will be closed at 7.00am and if you have not racked your bike by this time you will be unable to take part in the triathlon. Relay athletes are the only athletes allowed in transition after 7:00am If you are BTF Registered you must produce your valid BTF licence on race day, otherwise you will be required to pay the 5 for a BTF day licence. Please bring the right money if needed. Race Briefing Race briefing will be held 10 minutes before the first wave start time and will take place next to the wooden slipway into the lake (where the race will start). All entrants are expected to attend the race briefing. Please note that it is your responsibility to follow any instructions given at the briefing. Race Rules Normal BTF (British Triathlon Federation) rules apply. All these rules are important but the most important of these is that all competitors must secure their cycle helmet (on their heads!) before removing their bike from the rack and must not undo or remove it before racking their bike at the end of the cycle section. You must also fully comply with and follow all rules of the highway code. Our primary consideration is your safety, make it yours as well! Drafting The draft zone is a rectangle measuring seven (7) metres long by three (3) metres wide which surrounds every cycle on the cycle course. The front edge of the front wheel defines the centre of the leading three (3) metre edge of the rectangle." Each athlete will still have 15 seconds to move through another competitors' draft zone. Competitors may enter the draft zone of another competitor for the purpose of overtaking but must be seen to be progressing

3 through that zone. A maximum of 15 seconds is allowed to pass through the zone of another competitor. If an overtaking manoeuvre is not completed within 15 seconds the overtaking cyclist must drop back. Marshalls will be asked to look out for anyone drafting and you must abide by their instruction if they deem that you are subject to a penalty. Number belts will be allowed but competitors wishing to use them must ensure that their number is visible on the back during the bike section and on the front during the run section. Swim Course Standard Distance 1500m Sprint Distance 750m Present yourself at the side of the lake at swim start at least 10 minutes before your race start for the race briefing. Swim hats are compulsory and will be provided. You will be asked to enter the water and line up at or behind the start line. The swim will start in the water. The start will be absolutely prompt to provide the most accurate times for you. Wetsuits are compulsory for the swim regardless of weather conditions. Water temperature is expected to be 19c. If you have any recent exposed cuts or feel unwell you are advised not to take part. In the event of anyone getting into difficulty, roll onto your back and lift an arm out. This will raise an alarm and signal to a lifeguard to attempt a rescue. You are advised to stay clear of the extreme edges of the lake to avoid the tree roots in the shallows. The route is anti clockwise. Standard Distance: The course will be well marked with swim buoys and you will complete 2 laps. After the second lap you will head for the swim exit marked by flags and a rubber floor matting exit to transition. Sprint Distance For for the Sprint race you will swim in the same directions but complete one lap. You will proceed around 100m to the transition area along rubber matting and grass. Your swim time in the results will include this short run section. Bike Course Standard Distance 40km Sprint Distance 20km

4 After securing your cycle helmet in the transition area (this must be done first before un-racking your bike) proceed on foot to the mount point (around 50m) where you must wait until it is clear to start the bike course. You must ensure you mount and dismount correctly, (i.e. after the mount line and before the dismount line); failure to do so will result in a time penalty. The mount line will be as soon as you exit the gate and on the left (the access road that runs parallel to Stanborough Road). You will join Stanborough Road at the car park exit and this will be a FOOT DOWN point. Please be away that this is as you turn into moving traffic. It is your responsibility to ensure it is safe to move out into the road to begin the bike leg. The marshals do not have the power to stop traffic in order to allow you out. Also note that for the bike course, the normal highway code applies. The course will be marked with appropriate direction signs and it will be marshalled at key turning points. The terrain is undulating with one steady climb away from the town of Wheathampstead before returning for the mostly flat ride back towards the lakes. The course uses mostly major roads and a smaller loop on country roads, one of which is narrower in places. As mentioned earlier, there will be static draft busters out on the course so please familiarise yourself with the drafting rules. There is a second FOOT DOWN section on the course where ALL competitors must stop their bike and put one foot on the floor. This is for safety reasons and it s instant DISQUALIFICATION for anyone who does not comply. The foot down point comes at the end of a short downhill where the road meets the busier Lower Luton Road. There will be plenty of signage and two marshals here one of which will stand in advance of the junction saying Foot down ahead to you. As you approach the second marshal at the junction you must stop and put a foot down with the wheels not turning even if there appears to be no traffic passing. It is then your responsibility

5 to choose when to pull out. The marshals will warn you of approaching traffic but the final decision of when to pull out is always yours. FOOT DOWN DEFINITION There will be a British Triathlon referee at the race and she will instruct the marshals at the foot down points as follows: If the competitor does not bring both wheels to a complete stop and put one foot on the floor then they will be disqualified. Please be aware that there are a few potholes on the course so look well ahead at all times. Cycle Route description Left Hand turn from mount line onto Stanborough Road Both Roundabouts just after the start of the bike leg B653 to Wheathampstead Wheathampstead Roundabout Narrow lanes along the Slype and Marshals Heath Lane Foot Down at the junction with Lower Luton Road Warnings Beware traffic coming from the right These are both busy but will be marshalled and signed. Normal rules of the road apply Traffic moves quickly along here. Please ride sensibly but proactively so as to be seen. Do not overtake other riders without having looked to see that it s safe to do so first. Only ever overtake to the other rider s Right hand side. Please note: Riders will be crossing this roundabout in both directions as it is included on the way out and way back so as you enter it, make sure you are looking for other riders as well as cars. On the way out you will be turning right to start the climb and on the way back you will be going straight over it and may well cross the path of other riders starting the climb. Therefore, adhere to the rules of the road and be extra vigilant and aware of other riders here. It will be well marshalled and signed. These are your normal Hertfordshire Country Lanes. Be aware of oncoming traffic. Be cautious if overtaking others and be aware that the verge and road edge is often lose and hazardous. The road has a few smaller potholes so please be vigilant and keep your head up when riding. Ride at the speed that you feel comfortable with on the slight descent to Lower Luton Road. ALL competitors must stop their bike in good time and put one foot on the floor. This is for safety reasons and a strict

6 Pedestrian crossing with traffic lights on Lower Luton Road After this point you will cross Wheathampstead roundabout again, probably passing other riders as they turn right across it to start the climb. Roundabout at the end of the B653 before the motorway bridge. Once under the Motorway Bridge and across the immediate roundabout you will pass the lakes and the entrance to transition on your right but will keep going right up to the next roundabout where you turn the roundabout to go back down to the dismount line and transition. DISQUALIFICATION will apply to anyone who does not comply. The foot down point comes at the end of a short downhill where the road meets the busier Lower Luton Road. There will be two marshals here one of which will stand in advance of the junction saying Foot down ahead to you. As you approach the second marshal at the junction you must stop and put a foot down with the wheels not turning even if there appears to be no traffic passing. It is then your responsibility to choose when to pull out. The marshals will warn you of approaching traffic but the final decision of when to pull out is always yours. This crossing and lights WILL be operating during the race. Marshals will be there to encourage pedestrians to wait for a safe gap without pressing the button but if it is pressed and the light goes RED you MUST stop as the rules of the road dictate. Failure to do this will either result in a 2 minute penalty or a disqualification at the race referee s decision. After this point beware of oncoming traffic that might be trying to overtake oncoming riders. This is either the turn point for those doing 2 laps (standard) or for the one lap riders (sprint) it will be a second exit left hand turn. Please obey the normal rules of the road at this point. It will be clearly signposted as the turn point for Standard distance riders. The final roundabout will be well marshalled and signposted but do remember that any early road users may not expect to see you do a complete turn around the roundabout. Keep your head up and be alert even though you are nearly at the end of the bike leg. Once you have ridden back down the slight hill to the lakes you will see the dismount line (marshalled) Just off the road ahead. There is space for you to ride off the main road and into the slip lane before dismounting. Control your speed sensibly as you turn off the road as it is slightly downhill. Be aware

7 of who is behind you if you are suddenly slowing. The dismount line is only just off the main road so make sure you can dismount in time as excess speed is no excuse and time penalties will be given to those crossing the line whilst still on the bike. Once dismounted, your helmet must remain secured until your bike is racked. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification. PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY for road information at the race briefing. Run Course Standard Distance 4 laps Sprint Distance - 2 laps Starting from the transition area contestants will run two/four laps of 2.5km around the park and lake. The course is mainly over short grass with some tarmac and is undulating. There will be 1 drinks station on the course manned by marshals serving water only in paper cups. This is the only drinks station and you will pass it on every lap. The course will be marked with flags with clear markings showing when to come in for the finish. It is your responsibility to count your laps.

8 After the Race No bikes can be removed from transition until the last runner has left transition. Your number must be presented in order to remove your bike. Prizes Presentation The presentation of prizes will take place throughout the morning and we ll make announcements prior to the presentation. There are lots of prizes on offer! First 3 male and female in the standard and sprint distance triathlon 5 year age category winners in the standard and sprint distance triathlon for male and female Hertfordshire Sprint Age Group Champions THE HERTFORDSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY Results ATW will record your times. If technology is kind to us on the day then we hope to be printing the results at the race but all results will also be ed to competitors. We ll also put a link to the results on ActiveTrainingWorld and Other Services Coffee shop - Hot drinks and breakfast snacks will be available to purchase Retail Triathlon Zone and Hatfield Cycles will be retailing at the race Massage Post race massage will be available with Moveology First Aid First aid will be supplied Toilets - For your convenience toilets and changing rooms facilities are located a short distance from the Transition area, you will pass them on your walk down from the car park.