Proposal 10: Revise 3B.5.2 Starting and 3B.5.3 False Starts [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: 3. Road RacingSubmitted on 2025-03-03
Status: Pre-Voting (Reviewed from March 03, 2025 to March 08, 2025)
Background
Since the rules for starts and false starts in track races and road races are very similar, this proposal has the intention to harmoniz the rules.
Proposal
Old Rule:
3B.5.2 Starting
Riders may start mounted, holding onto a starting post or other support, or onto each other. Riders may mount after the start signal, if they wish.
Usually, a start-beep apparatus is used. This provides a six-count start: beep - beep -beep - beep - beep - buup! The timing between (the start of) successive beeps is one second. The first ve beeps have all the same sound frequency. The final tone (buup) has a higher frequency, so that the competitors can easily distinguish this tone from the rest. The proper moment to start is the beginning of the final tone.
As an alternative, the Starter will give a three-count start before fi ring a starting gun on the fourth count. Example: One, two, three, BANG! The time between each of these elements should be the same, and approximately 3/4 seconds. This allows riders to predict the timing of the gun, for a fair start.
Riders start with the fronts of their tires (forward most part of wheel) behind the edge of the starting line that is farthest from the fi nish line. Rolling starts are not permitte in any race. Riders may start from behind the starting line if they wish, provided all other starting rules are followed. Riders may lean before the start, but their wheels may not move forward during the start beeps or counting down. Rolling back is allowed.
3B.5.3 False Starts
A false start occurs if a rider's wheel moves forward before the start signal, or if one or more riders are forced to dismount due to interference from another rider or other source. In any case, only the earliest false starter will be assigned a false start, with the associated penalty (warning, time penalty or disquali fication).
There are three options on how to deal with false starts:
One False Start Allowed Per Rider:
In case of a false start, the heat is restarted. Any rider(s) who caused their personal fi rst false start may start again. Any rider(s) causing their personal second false start are disquali fied.
One False Start Allowed Per Heat:
In case of a false start, the heat is restarted. For the fi rst false start of a particular heat, all riders may start again. Thereafter, any rider(s) causing a false start are disqualifi ed.
Time Penalty:
In case of a false start, the heat is not restarted. If a false start occurs by one or multiple riders, these riders receive a time penalty (such as 10 seconds).
If a heat has to be restarted, the Starter will immediately recall the riders, for example by fi ring a gun or blowing a whistle or any other clear and pre-de fined signal.
If the race is started using individual starts or heat starts (see sections 3D.10.1 and 3D.10.2) a time penalty is the recommended option. In the case of a mass start (section 3D.10.3), any option is viable.
New Rule:
3B.5.2 The Start
1. Riders may start mounted, holding onto a starting post or other support, or onto each other, with the fronts of their tires (forward most part of wheel) behind the edge of the starting line that is farthest from the finish line. Riders may place starting posts in the location most comfortable for them, as long as it doesn’t interfere with other riders. Riders may mount after the start signal, if they wish.
2. Rolling starts are not permitted in any race. Riders may lean before the start, but their wheels may not move forward during the start beeps or counting down. Rolling back is allowed.
3. All commands of the starter are to be given in English at Unicon or international competitions. At other competitions, English is optional.
4. After the command “Ready”, all riders must move to their starting position. As soon as the Starter is satisfied that all riders are steady in the correct starting position, he gives the command “Attention” and starts the race. This can be done by a start sequence as follows:
4.1 Usually, a start-beep apparatus is used. This provides a six-count start: “beep - beep -beep - beep - beep - buup!” The timing between (the start of) successive beeps is one second. The first five beeps have all the same sound frequency. The final tone (buup) has a higher frequency, so that the competitors can easily distinguish this tone from the rest. The proper moment to start is the beginning of the final tone.
Note: Commonly used electronic starting devices use frequencies of about 650 Hz for the first five tones and about 795 Hz for the sixth tone.
4.2 As an alternative, the Starter will give a three-count start before firing a starting gun on the fourth count. Example: “One, two, three, BANG!” The time between (the start of) each of these elements must be the same, and should approximately 1 second.
Both variants allow the rider to start leaning ahead of the “buup/BANG”, for an exact and predictable start. It is recommended to use one or the other of those two options for all races in a competition if possible. The option to be used must be announced in advance of the competition.
5. If the Starter is not satisfied that all is ready for the start to proceed after he gave the command “Ready” and the riders are on their starting position or they otherwise abort the start, the command should be “Go Back”. If a start-beep apparatus is used and the start sequence is already started the start should be aborted by blowing a whistle or other clear and predefined signal. Where a rider in the judgement of the Starter, after the command “Ready”,
5.1 causes the start to be aborted, for instance by dismounting, without a valid reason (such reason to be evaluated by the Starter); or
5.2 does not place themselves in their final starting position at once and without delay; or
5.3 disturbs other riders in the race through sound, movement or otherwise,
the Starter must abort the start. The Starter may warn the rider for improper conduct (disqualify in case of repeated infringement of the Rule). However, when an extraneous reason was considered to be the cause for aborting the start, or the Referee does not agree with the Starters decision, no rider gets warned or disqualified. This decision must be clearly indicated to the riders.
3B.5.3 False Starts
1. A false start occurs if a rider's wheel moves forward before the start signal.
2. If a heat has to be restarted, the Starter will immediately recall the riders, for example by blowing a whistle or other clear and predefined signal. Any warning or disqualification resulting from this must be clearly indicated to the riders in question.
3. There are three options on how to deal with false starts:
3.1 One False Start Allowed Per Heat: The use of this option is strongly discouraged when no electronic false start monitoring system is used. In case of a false start, the heat is restarted. After the first false start of a particular heat, all riders receive a warning and may start again. Thereafter, any rider(s) causing a false start are disqualified for this event. Only the earliest false starting rider gets assigned this false start and the associated disqualification.
3.2 One False Start Allowed Per Rider: In case of a false start, the heat is restarted. After the first false start of a particular rider in a heat, the rider in question receives a warning and may start again. Any rider(s) causing their personal second false start are disqualified for this event. Only the earliest false starting rider gets assigned this false start and the associated warning or disqualification.
3.3 Time Penalty: In case of a false start, the heat is not restarted. If a false start occurs by one or multiple riders, these riders receive a time penalty (such as 10 seconds).
It is recommended to use one or the other of those three options for all races in a competition if possible. The option to be used must be announced in advance of the competition.
Body
Further information can be found in the corresponding discussion.
References
Already in the Rulebook Committee before the last one, a discussion was started in the Track Committee based on the first sentence of the false start rule:
"A false start occurs if a rider's wheel moves forward before the start signal, or if one or more riders are forced to dismount due to interference from another rider or other source." which is not entirely clear in several aspects:
1. What is meant by "interference from another rider or other source"? And to whom exactly is the false start attributed and who is warned?
2. Should it be better to distinguish between an aborted start and a false start in order to separate the causes and consequences more clearly?
Based on this, the rules for the start and false start have been revised - the result of the update of the track rules can be found here: As PDF Version with changes highlighted
The related discussion can be found here: https://iuf-rulebook-2022.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/20
It was figured out that it makes sense to distinguish between a false start and another reason for the start being aborted and to give the starter at the same time the possibility to warn riders or to disqualify in case of repeated infringements, if they can be made responsible for a start being aborted according to his opinion.
At the same time the starter should have the possibility to abort the start without consequences for one of the riders, e.g. because the abort is caused by external influences.