Proposal 116: Revise 3D.1 Venue [ Revision 2 ]
Committee: 3. Road RacingSubmitted on 2025-07-20
Status: Passed on August 10, 2025
Background
The previous rule 3D.1 Venue is mainly applicable to Fixed Distance Races, but it should cover all Road Racing disciplines. The proposed change now takes into account all disciplines mentioned under 3B.2 Road Racing Disciplines and is therefore much more applicable than the previous rule.
In addition, the rule takes into account safety-relevant aspects of the course.
Proposal
Old rule:
3D.1 Venue
These are races held usually on roadways or bike paths. For any road race over a fixed (traditional) distance, it is encouraged that the course complies with the requirements for IUF World Records. In short:
(1) The start and finish points of the course, measured along a theoretical straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance.
(2) The overall decrease in elevation between the start and finish shall not exceed 1:1000, i.e. 1m per km (0.1%).
Please refer to the IUF World Records Guidelines for details.
New rule:
3D.1 Venue
1. Depending on the Road Racing discipline, courses are usually held on one of the following options:
1.1 Fixed and Free Distance Races are usually held on roadways or bike paths. It is recommended to use a point-to-point courses without loops. For Fixed Distance Races additional requirements are described in 3D.1.2.
1.2 Criteriums are held around city block(s) or within a large parking lot, allowing the course to have left and right turns and multiple laps with a recommended lap length of 500 m to 1000 m.
1.3 Distance-based Time Trials in officiall competitions are held on the same courses as Fixed and Free Distance Races. Outside of officiall competitions they can also held on the same courses as Time-based Time Trials.
1.4 Time-based Time Trials must take place on a closed circuit, either on a road or a track with a recommended lap length of 200 m to 1000 m.
2. The course must be designed with rider safety as a top priority. It should include clear signage, road barriers where necessary, and an adequate number of marshals to guide and protect participants.
3. The road surface should be smooth, durable, and free of hazards such as deep potholes, cracks, off-camber sections, or uneven terrain. Rough surfaces, narrow segments, and other obstacles should be avoided or adequately managed to ensure rider safety. If bicycle paths are used, they must be sufficiently wide to accommodate riders at speed and should be free of any hazards. Objects adjacent to the course—such as benches, trees, or metal posts—must be considered potential risks and properly safeguarded.
4. Throughout most of the course, riders must have enough space to overtake safely. This is not nesseccary for individual Time Trials outside of official competitions.
3D.1.1 Start and Finish Area for Races with Mass Start or Wave Start
1. The start area must be wide enough to accommodate several riders launching simultaneously in safe conditions.
2. It is recommended that the finish area is not downhill, as downhill finishes increase the risk of crashes. Organizers may choose to place the finish on flat or uphill terrain. The final few hundred meters of the course should be straight, with no sharp turns, to allow for safe sprint finishes.
3D.1.2 Fixed Distance Races
1. For any Fixed Distance Race according to 3B.2.1, it is recommended that the course complies with the requirements for IUF World Records. In short:
i The start and finish points of the course, measured along a theoretical straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance.
ii The overall decrease in elevation between the start and finish shall not exceed 1:1000, i.e. 1m per km (0.1%).
Please refer to the IUF World Records Guidelines for details.
Body
Further information can be found in the corresponding discussion and in the corresponding discussion.
References
Discussion
View DiscussionChange Log:
- Revision 2 changed by Jan Vocke (22 Jul 12:23)
Changed "must" to "should" in paragraph 3:
3. The road surface should be smooth, durable, and free of hazards such as deep potholes, cracks, off-camber sections, or uneven terrain. Rough surfaces, narrow segments, and other obstacles should be avoided or adequately managed to ensure rider safety. If bicycle paths are used, they must be sufficiently wide to accommodate riders at speed and should be free of any hazards. Objects adjacent to the course—such as benches, trees, or metal posts—must be considered potential risks and properly safeguarded.
- Revision 1 changed by Jan Vocke (20 Jul 09:46)
Votes on this proposal:
11 out of 14 voting members have voted.
Agree: 10, Disagree: 0, Abstain: 1.