TQP 2005 - General Information & Rules

General Info.

The race headquarters is "Ring Common" Sports Centre, Balrothery Co. Dublin tel : +353-1-8412253.

Ring Common Sports Centre is located just off the N1 (old Dublin-Belfast road) approx. 2km south of Balrothery town.

Balrothery is approx. 15 km North of Swords and approx 20 km north of Dublin Airport.

If you are travelling by car from Dublin, Dublin Airport or Swords, take the M1 motorway northbound and take the exit signed Ardgillen Demesne. Once you have left the motorway follow the signs for Balrothery. Approx. 2km before you reach Balrothery, you will see a sign for Ring Commons Sports Centre directing you to turn left at a minor cross-roads. The sports centre is a little over 1km down the side-road.

If you are travelling from the North, take the M1 motorway southbound. Exit the motorway at the junction signed "Naul / Balbriggan & Ardgillen Demesne {R122}". This exit is just over 10km south of the toll plaza. Follow the signs to Balrothery. From Balrothery proceed south on the N1 (old Belfast-Dublin road) for 2km and turn right at a cross-roads signed "Ring Commons Sports Centre".

Rules

  1. The TQ Paper International Ladies 2-day cycle race is promoted by the Dublin Wheelers Cycling Club and run under the rules of  CyclingIreland and Union Cycliste International.  All participant riders and officials must be holders of a current licence issued by Cycling Ireland or a UCI affiliated organisation.  Alternatively competitors may take out a special Cycling Ireland licence for the event. These licences will be available from commissaires on the day of the event. Licences must be produced at the sign-on.
  2. The race is open to individuals and teams, to a maximum of six counting riders. Additional riders from a club or team may participate but must wear a different jersey.
  3. Riders are responsible for their own safety and must comply with the rules of the road. While every effort will be made to ensure the safety of the riders, care must be taken by all riders particularly on narrow roads and at the rear of the race.  Continental riders are reminded that, in Ireland, we cycle and drive on the left-hand-side of the road.  The roads are not closed for this event and competitors will encounter normal road traffic during the event.
  4. All teams wishing to have a vehicle in the race cavalcade must advise sign-on.  Prior to Stage 1 a draw for team cars will be held and subsequent cavalcades will be based on general classification placing. Team managers should attend sign-on at 10:00 on Sat to receive cavalcade numbers.  Please note - no team is allowed to overtake a group of riders in the last 10km of the race.  Car drivers must produce the appropriate CI/UCI licesnse at sign-on. Care must be taken to park vehicles safely and legally.
  5. Re stages 1 & 3 : Riders will be issued with tags which must be handed to officials on the finish line.  If a rider fails to finish, the tag should be given to the judges by team officials.
  6. Neutral service car(s) will be provided.  Each team of 3 riders or more must supply a pair of wheels to neutral service for the duration of the race for use by all competitors.  Competitors must return any wheels to neutral service immediately they finish. Co-operation is expected from all service vehicles to all riders with the exception of the first three cars in the cavalcade who need only attend to their own riders.
  7. Any loss or damage to radios or equipment provided by service vehicles or the race organisation must be made good by the team/rider concerned.
  8. Competitors requiring service must pull in to the left-hand-side of the road.
  9. Re stage 2 - Riders are reminded of CyclingIreland rules which stipulate that hard-shell crash hats must be worn in time-trials as well as road stages.
  10. Re stage 2 - Competitors please note - The time trial start is 7km from the race HQ. Competitors must ensure that they allow sufficient time to travel to the time-trial start. Directions to the time-trial start will be posted at the race HQ. We suggest that competitors depart race HQ no later than 14:45. The TT Start sheet will be posted in race HQ.  The course is straight out - no turn. There is no sign-on for stage 2.
  11. Re: Stage 2:  Team cars will be allowed on the course at the discretion of the Chief Commissaire. Neutral service cars will travel on the course.
  12. On stage 1 only, should a rider be involved in an accident, puncture or mechanical problem in the last kilometre, she will be given the time of the group she was with at the time of the incident. This rule does not apply to stage 2 because it is a time-trial and it does not apply to stage 3 because it is a hill-top finish.
  13. Time bonuses will be applied on stages 1 & 3 only  as follows: 1st  - 5 secs, 2nd - 3 secs, and 3rd  - 1 sec.
  14. Points Competition :  First 10 on all stages.   1st - 10 points down to 1 point for 10th place.
  15. Queen of the Hills will be decided at five locations on Stage 3: 1st  - 5 points, 2nd  - 3 points, 3rd  -  2 points and 4th  -  1 point. Start of climbs will be shown by a Blue flag. Finish of climb by TQ flag. Please note that the stage 3 finish line also forms part of the QOH competition.
  16. There is a team competition based on time (best 3 riders on each stage counting towards team competition).
  17. Any objections or complaints re incidents during the stage must be given to the Commissaire, in writing,  within one hour of the race finish.  The written complaint must be accompanied by €13-00 fee