Cork 520 Ultra
Rules & Regulations, Terms and Conditions
Safety is of paramount importance for everyone involved – Racers, Crew, Staff, Spectators and
all others using the roads the race travels on. Please Pay Attention to Safety at all times.
It is the responsibility of every racer and crew member to read these rules carefully before the
event.
If this is your first endurance race it is paramount that you read and understand all the rules.
We are here to answer your questions. If you have any questions, please email
cork520ultra@gmail.com before the pre-race briefing or ask during the pre-race briefing.
Please do not start the race with unanswered questions. Penalties will be given to the
racer/crew for violations of the rules. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse.
The following list of rules and regulations, terms and conditions, which are non exhaustive,
MUST be adhered to at ALL times during the race.
General Regulations:
1. This is an official Cycling Ireland Event , All competitors must either have a cycling Ireland
Licence of Limited Competition Level or above , OR competitors can purchase a One Day
Licence (ODL)at entry to cover them for the event, On entering, competitors and support crew
agree to a declaration to waive liability, confirm acceptance of the rules & agree to the release
of personal images to the media and for event promotion purposes.
2. International competitors must have the appropriate travel documents, visas & comprehensive
medical insurance in place for this event. We do advise that competitors organise their own
personal insurance and MUST purchase a Cycling Ireland One Day Licence (ODL) at entry.
3. You must immediately and respectfully comply with any direction or decision of the Event
Organisers and the medical support staff. Any failure to do so may result in disqualification.
4. There will be enforced cut-off times to ensure competitor safety. This decision lies with the
Race Director.
5. Compulsory safety equipment such as bike helmet, front and rear lights, High Vis Vests must
be worn or attached at all times while on the bike.
6. Competitors must have front and back lights fitted to the bike during all stages of the race.
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7. Assistance can only be provided by support crew or event personnel. Any failure to comply
may result in disqualification
8. Competitors must observe all Road Traffic Laws.
9. Competitors must follow the course as marked. Any short-cuts will result in a time penalty or
disqualification.
10. Checkpoints must be visited in the prescribed order.
11. No litter of any kind, including for example water bottles, caps from water bottles, energy bar
wrappers or toilet paper shall be left on the course. If you are found to have littered the course,
you will be heavily penalized or disqualified.
12. All litter is to be carried to the closest checkpoint for disposal or disposed of in a correct manner
by the support crew.
13. Respect the environment & local inhabitants.
14. MP3, IPods etc are not permitted to be used during the race.
15. Inform a race official immediately after withdrawing from the race.
16. Drafting from another athlete or motor vehicle is forbidden. Competitors must reject attempts by
others to draft.
17. The Cork 520 Ultra is an official Cycling Ireland Event and with this in mind our rules are
designed within Cycling Ireland Parameters.
18. The responsibility of remaining on the course rests with the competitor. Any competitor, who
appears to Technical or Medical Officials as presenting a danger to themselves or others, may
be removed from the race.
19. The Race Director's decision is final. Race Director ; Gerard McLean
2. Liability
All persons who participate in the Race do so entirely at their own risk. When registering for the
Race, therefore, each participant must sign and turn in the Participant Release of Liability Form, which
releases the Race organizer and its staff from any and all legal claims. Since the Race organizer
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accepts no responsibility for personal injury to participants or for the loss of or damage to the personal
property of participants, insurance coverage (for accidents, illnesses, theft, and liability, for example) is
the sole responsibility of each participant. All Participants MUST be over 18 years of age ..
3. Rule Changes/Modifications
Race Management reserves the right to create new rules and/or modify existing rules whenever
they deem it necessary, especially since safety is the number one priority.
Whenever Race Management creates new rules and/or modifies existing rules, such rules become
valid for all participants. However, whenever Race Management notifies a cyclist’s/team’s crew directly
of any rule changes and/or modifications, such rule changes/modifications take immediate effect.
4. Fairness
The importance of fair play on the part of all Race participants cannot be stressed enough by Race
Management. As such, any action of a cyclist or crewmember that leads to an unfair advantage or
disadvantage for a cyclist will result in a penalty.
5. Official Route
Every cyclist must follow the route printed in the Official Road Book. The directions and maps
printed in the Official
Road Book represents the only official documentation of the race route. In case of any discrepancy,
the written instruction in Official Road Book takes precedence over any gpx or other route files made
available. Cyclists who cycle away from the route for whatever reason must return to the route in the
same place where they exit it. The Rider may be taken back to the point they went wrong by the
Support vehicle and re-start on the correct route. Please note all Teams routes are completely
recorded and reviewed by the Gps tracker company at the end of the race , any deviations not
corrected May incur time penalties, this may happen after all the data is reviewed and verified. It is the
crews and riders responsibility to know and research the route prior to the event, It is not the race
organisers responsibility to contact teams during the event to notify of a deviation but if we do notice a
team off course we will contact the relevant team. Race Organizers reserve the right to apply penalties
and or disqualifications and apply to the final results even after the event is over, an explanation for the
same will be emailed to any affected teams. An appeal can be given but must be accompanied by
evidence to support the appeal. Results immediately after the event are provisional until all files are
verified and any penalties applied, Only then will we release the Official finish times.
The race director's decision is final. Race Director Gerard McLean
6. Unforeseen Events
If a cyclist/crew cannot continue along the official route due to an unforeseen event (such as a
roadblock, bad weather, a construction site, a route diversion, a hazard, or an emergency), the
cyclist/crew must inform Race Management immediately. Race Management tells the cyclist/head
crew the new route. If the cyclist/head crew cannot contact the Race Management (example: no
phone-coverage, etc), the cyclist/head crew can take a new road. Race Management reserves the
right to evaluate the cyclist/head crew decision.
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7. Cyclists
• Except as noted in Rule “Unforeseen Events” in general cyclists may only leave the route
when looking for or going to a place to eat or sleep.
• Cyclists may not be pushed forward, either by people or by vehicles.
• Remember that drafting is not allowed, and that the cyclists must normally be at least 100
meters behind any vehicle or another cyclist.
• At stop signs or red lights, cyclists are not allowed to hold on to vehicles or people in order to
keep their balance.
• Cyclists must cycle in the far-left lane whenever possible.
• If cyclists are given support from someone in the Support car, that person must be seated on
the passenger side.
• Whenever a bicycle path is present, cyclists can, but are not required to, use it (except as
noted in the Official Route Book) during the day (without Pace Car). Cyclists must have some
form of high vis on during daylight hours , Cyclists MUST wear Full torso high vis at night time
hrs 7PM To 7AM
• Crew must wear Hi Vis for the full duration of the race.
8. Crew
Each cyclist/team must have at least two adults with driving licenses as crew members. If a
cyclist/team has more than one support vehicle, each support vehicle must have at least two crew
members with a driving license.
Race Radios: it is not compulsory for crew to have radio communication with the cyclist. It is up to
each individual/team to obtain radios, if desired – Radios will not be provided. The strict guidelines on
night time riding means the cyclist is never alone at night.
It is mandatory for all crew members to wear high vis from the start and throughout the race.
9. Littering
Littering by a cyclist or crewmember is strictly prohibited and will lead to a penalty. The police will
also be notified of any instances of littering.
10. Bike and Helmet
E Bikes are Not permitted at any time.
All bikes (including reserve bikes) MUST have specifications that meet the rules of the UCI. All
bikes must be equipped according to the road traffic regulations of Ireland. Race Management must
approve any deviations from the rules prior to the start of the Race. Furthermore, all bikes (including
reserve bikes) must have fitted:
• At least one front light and one red rear light; Strobe rear and front lighting for daytime riding, full
front white light and full Red rear Light of good Quality for night time riding.
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• And in reserve in the crew vehicle; A spare front and A spare back light.
Whenever riding their bikes during the Race, all cyclists MUST wear a helmet and the helmet’s
chinstrap MUST be securely fastened. Cyclists on teams also MUST wear their helmets whenever
they are warming up.
11. Traffic Regulations and an Garda Síochána
All Race participants must obey all traffic regulations. All violations of the law will result in a
penalty. Race Management reserves the right to report such violations to an Garda Síochána.
Please note the following:
• Running red lights at intersections, pedestrian crossings, construction sites, etc., is not allowed.
• Participants who are asked to leave the Race route by an Garda must immediately comply with
such a request and must inform Race Management of that occurrence as soon as possible.
• If An Garda Síochána stops a cyclist even though that cyclist has not violated any Race rules or
traffic regulations, Race Management reserves the right to assign a time credit to the cyclist.
• Directing traffic, such as to enable a vehicle to exit a driveway or cross an intersection is strictly
forbidden.
12. Officials
All Race Officials are authorized to monitor the Race and to give penalties in case of any rules or
traffic violations.
Race Officials are authorized to stop cyclists, if necessary, to check that the Tracker box is on the
rider and in order to issue penalties.
Race Officials are also authorized to stop cyclists in order to explain rules or safety regulations to
them. In such cases, cyclists will not be credited with any time lost.
Race Officials are also authorized to disqualify a participant in case of a severe rules violation.
13. Penalty
Race Officials and Race Management may issue penalties to cyclists who violate rules of the Race
or traffic regulations.
• A breach of the rules committed by a cyclist’s crew, escort vehicle(s), or media car(s) will count
as a penalty against the cyclist.
• Race Management reserves the right to modify the amount of time per penalty depending on
the severity of an offense.
• Race Management also reserves the right to issue penalties after a video or photo analysis.
• Drafting of any sort is NOT ALLOWED and any attempt to gain an unfair advantage will result
in penalty.
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Minor Breach of Rules:
• 1st penalty 15 mins
• 2nd penalty 1 Hour
Please Note Penalties of a safety nature can be given in increments of 30 mins for minor safety
breaches Or from 1 hour to Disqualification for major safety breaches
Breach of Drafting Rules – Drafting of any sort is NOT ALLOWED:
• 1st penalty 2 hours
• 2nd penalty DISQUALIFICATION
Time Penalties are at the discretion of the race organising committee and upon agreement the race
directors decision will be final. Race Director Gerard McLean
14. Time Credits
Only Race Management is authorized to issue time credits. Cyclists may receive a time credit
whenever an unforeseen event hinders their progress along the route or if the police stop a cyclist
even though that cyclist has not violated any Race rules or traffic regulations.
15. Publishing of Penalties and Time Credits
Where possible,the cyclist/team in question will also be notified via SMS of any penalties or time
credits received. Race management reserves the right to issue time penalties after the race is over
when all of the data collected is analysed in full or when spy data or information of rule breaches are
reviewed.
Initial finishing results are Provisional for race presentation purposes but can be subject to change if
new information deems it necessary.
Disqualification
The following are considered severe rules violations and will be punished with immediate
disqualification:
• Consumption of alcohol by the cyclist.
• Completing part of the Race in a vehicle.
• Accompanying the cyclist in an uninsured vehicle or in a vehicle that does not comply with the
road safety regulations.
• Stopping next to a moving (motorised or non-motorised) vehicle.
• Refusing to take a sleeping break when ordered to do so by a Race Official or Race
Management.
• Behaviour on the part of the crew or cyclist that severely endangers the safety of the cyclist,
Race officials and Marshalls or anyone else using the roads.
• Harassment of other cyclists.
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• Behaviour which puts the Race in a bad light.
• Being issued more than two penalties.
If a cyclist is disqualified from the Race, the cyclist will be banned from the Race for life. Race
Organizers reserve the right to apply penalties and or disqualifications and apply to the final results
even after the event is over, an explanation for same will be emailed to any affected teams. An appeal
can be given but must be accompanied by evidence to support the appeal.
THE RACE DIRECTORS DECISION IS FINAL. Race Director Gerard McLean.
16. Challenging a Race Decision that has been made during the race and relayed to the team.
Official protests must be submitted in written form to Race Management at the arrival line. Official
protests must include a reason why a decision should be reversed. Evidence may include a written
statement from a witness, photos, a video, or any other record of the incident in question.
17. Pre-Race Requirements
All cyclists and crewmembers are required to take part in the pre-race meeting ( This may be
in an online format) and must fulfil all other pre-race obligations according to the schedule they
receive when they check in. Also, all cyclists and crew members must sign and turn in their
Participant Release of Liability Form the night prior to Race start in Midleton. It is each crews
and riders’ responsibility to read and understand all the event rules and to have any
requirements in place as determined by the race organisers.
Violation of these requirements will lead to a one-hour penalty.
18. Rules for the Start and Finish of the Race.
The Race Start is in the car park of Co-Op Superstores Midleton
19. Sponsors
Race Management may require that the name or logo of a sponsor be placed on support cars,
auxiliary vehicles, and/or media cars.
20. Mobile Phones
All crews are required to submit to Race Management at sign on, at least one domestic mobile
phone number that they can be reached at during the Race, this number must remain with the team
support car at all times for the full duration of the race..
Crew and cyclists are required to input race director and doctor phone numbers onto their devices
prior to race start.
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21. Mandatory Reporting
Race Management must be contacted by phone if:
• There is a change of crewmembers (unless the names of the new members are known to Race
Management);
• A cyclist encounters a roadblock, bad weather, a construction site, a route diversion, a hazard,
an emergency, or any other unforeseen event;
• A second Support car is put into use or takes over from support car 1;
• A cyclist retires from the Race.
Should phone coverage be unavailable, then this information should be sent at the soonest
possible time.
22. Web Tracking and Time Stations
The position of all cyclists will be monitored through Web tracking.
The tracker device MUST remain on the rider on the road at all times and must not be in or next to a
mobile phone or radio device as this blocks and interferes with the signal. If the tracker device is
dropped and broken the team will be responsible for the cost of replacing the device.
23. Escort Vehicles or shuttle vehicles ( Non Crew Vehicles)
Definition ; an Escort or shuttle vehicle is a vehicle that can ferry cyclists to a change over point, or
away from a changeover point for rest bite or for rotating crew members, If crew are being rotated, the
team contact number given at Registration Must remain the same regardless of changeovers. These
vehicles must NOT be used as Support crew vehicles and should never be in a cavalcade or causing
traffic build up.
There is no maximum number of escort vehicles allowed per cyclist / team. All escort vehicles must
move at normal traffic speed when travelling along the course and must leapfrog the team on the road
so as Not to form a cavalcade or cause traffic build up.
Whenever a crew vehicle ,or an escort vehicle stops, it must avoid disrupting traffic and be FULLY
pulled in off the road, it must be done in a safe place, failure to do this will result in a severe time
penalty.
24. Support/Crew Vehicle
• Each cyclist/team must be accompanied by a support crew vehicle.
• The support vehicle with the team race number on it is the only vehicle that is allowed to follow
directly behind the cyclist.
• During the day, the support vehicle can, but is not required to, follow directly behind the
cyclist. At night, however, the support vehicle must follow directly behind the cyclist at all
times (7pm to 7am).
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• Support crew vehicles pulling in for any reason eg/changeovers or servicing, Must be completely
off the carriageway, failure to adhere to this WILL result in a time penalty.
• Support vehicles must be equipped with the following:
Stickers/ Rear : “Caution Bicycles Ahead” sign o
Stickers/both sides: “Race Number” Support
Vehicle Lighting:
Support Vehicles must have at LEAST one Orange flashing light attached to the roof of the vehicle.
Each vehicle MUST carry a reserve orange flashing light. The Orange light should be visible from the
rear only - tape off the front facing part of the light if necessary. When a support vehicle is following
behind the cyclist, the Orange flashing lights must be ON to warn other road users that you are a slow
moving vehicle. When not supporting the cyclist, these warning lights must be switched off. Additional
spotlights MAY NOT be fitted to the support vehicles as they will not conform to law and can cause
blinding to other road users, it is each teams responsibility to ensure all vehicle lights are in good
working order, crew can wear head torches while stopped for a changeover or provide service to a
bike
• Throughout the race, only one specific vehicle with the race numbers attached can be
designated to act as the support vehicle. Should an emergency arise, however, a second car
may be used as the support vehicle. (Things like stopping to refuel, use the toilet, or rest do NOT
count as emergencies.) If a second support crew car is going to be put into use, Extra official
crew numbers must be purchased at registration. Race Management must be informed of the
change, when it happens, as soon as possible.
• If three or more vehicles (public Vehicles) are following directly behind the support vehicle, the
support vehicle must let those vehicles pass as soon as possible (by pulling off the road into a
side road, for example), unless the safety of the cyclist is more important than the flow of traffic
(such as when the cyclist is cycling through a technical portion of the race) or if it's night time
Hours.
• Support vehicles are not allowed to pull trailers.
You will be penalized if you hold up traffic or form a caravan with one or more other escort
vehicles. Please respect the normal commuter traffic and rules of the road.
*Support Vehicle Specifications; The Responsibility for the roadworthiness and adequate
insurance of all vehicles and drivers involved in your race team, is the responsibility of the crew chief
and the team, not with the DAWU organizers. The inspection of vehicles at registration is solely to
ensure that all vehicles meet the requirements set out in these rules.
1. The Support Vehicle must be no more than 2 metres (80 inches) in width, (Measured at 1
metre [3.3 feet] from the ground.) The width of the vehicle does not include side mirrors.
2. The Support Vehicle itself must not be more than 2.6 metres in height. Measurements are of
the vehicle only and not racks, lights, or other attachments.
3. The Support Vehicle itself must not be more than 6.2 metres [244 inches] in length.
Measurements are of the vehicle only and not racks, lights, or other attachments.
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4. People carriers are recommended because most are less than 1.8 metre [72 inches] wide.
Large passenger vans are allowed as long as they meet the width requirement.
5. Support Vehicles cannot be a conversion campervan, and cannot be a step van (e.g.
commercial delivery truck).
6. Vehicles following a Racer cannot tow any kind of vehicle, trailer, motorcycle, or motor scooter.
25. Stickers
When you check into vehicle check in, you are issued several race stickers. They must be attached
to all vehicles as follows:
Name/Number stickers:
• One (1) must be attached to the left side door;
• One (1) must be attached to the right side door.
• “Caution Bicycles Ahead” sticker (1) on the rear of the vehicle.
Note that the windshield of the pace car, as well as both the driver-side and passenger-side
windows, must be kept free in order to ensure good visibility, and you must limit the amount of
obstruction to the driver’s view out the rear of the vehicle.
26. Process of Overtaking
Whenever a cyclist (cyclist B) who is accompanied by his support car (support car B) passes
another cyclist (cyclist A) who is accompanied by his pace car (pace car A), the process of overtaking
should proceed as follows:
Support car A should slow down to let cyclist B pass on the passenger side. Once cyclist B is safely
past support car A (or, if the overtaking manoeuvre takes place at night, within the headlight beams of
support car A), support car A should let support car B pass on the driver side. As support car B
accelerates to pass support car A, support car A and cyclist A should slow down together so that
support car B can safely pull back over to the left behind cyclist B. Cyclist A must then allow support
car B to move at least 100 meters ahead or risk being penalized for illegal drafting. This process of
overtaking should be done as quickly as possible and only when the traffic situation allows for such a
manoeuvre to take place safely.
27. Night time Driving/Cycling
Night time is considered to be between the hours of 7:00 p.m. (19:00) and 7:00 a.m. (07:00).
During this time period, the support vehicle must accompany the cyclist whenever the cyclist is cycling
along the Race route. Therefore, whenever the support vehicle stops, the cyclist must stop and
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whenever the cyclist stops, the support vehicle must stop. Whenever the cyclist is cycling along the
Race route at night, the cyclist must remain within the light beam of the support vehicle and have a full
torso High vis vest on.
There are NO Flying exchanges at any time, all riders about to exchange must come to a
stop to allow changeover of the tracker , the cyclist taking over can be pre ready at a
designated change point determined by the team, but must also take place in a safe place , not
at the side of a road or a junction, but where the crew vehicle can fully and safely pull in off the
road completely.
The night time rules also apply whenever there is poor visibility, such as when there is heavy fog
OR persistent Heavy Rain.
Remember, Crew members must wear reflective High Vis vests at all times, Cyclists must
wear reflective ware of some form during daylight but MUST wear full torso High vis vest
during night time hrs.
Failure on this will result in time penalties being applied.
28. Additional Rules for Team Cyclists
Except for at the very beginning of the race and at the end of the race, teams must have only one
cyclist on the course at any given time. The cyclist can be changed any time during the race, in
accordance with Race rules.
29. Exchanging Team Cyclists
An exchange of cyclists can only take place when the traffic situation allows it to, in heavy traffic, or
in proximity to intersections or traffic lights, an exchange must not be done. Flying exchanges are
NOT permitted at ANY time.
The cyclist coming off the course must stop close to the cyclist taking over to allow the crew to
safely exchange the tracking device to the next person taking over. Please ensure the tracking device
is Not in a pocket along with or next to a mobile phone or radio contact device as this interferes with
the signal.
• Exchanges of cyclists during the night MUST place within the light beam of the support vehicle
while STOPPED. The cyclist who is taking over is only allowed to accelerate within the light
beam of the support vehicle after the exchanged cyclist has been picked up.
30. Cut off Times
The Time Allowance for All Categories is your start time plus 35 hours. There will be a cut-off point
of Start Time Plus 15 hours at Mizen head check point. This cut-off is in place as a safety measure.
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31. Race Entry Cancellations
If an Individual/Team withdraws prior to the event ,for any reason applying to them, the following
options apply:
• 75% refund is redeemable if Race Committee is notified 12 weeks or more before the race date
in year of entry. If a team or individual withdraws between 12 weeks and 6 weeks prior to race
date a 50% refund is redeemable in the year of entry. If a team or individual withdraws inside 6
weeks to race date there is NO refund, as at this stage race organising for your team in the
event has already taken place on your behalf
If for any reason the race organisation has to move the race date , all above limits do NOT
move along to the new date, if a new date does not suit a team or individual you will receive
75% refund option , provided we get at least 6 weeks notice the new date does not suit, OR you
can defer to the following year.
If for any reason such as Covid or Government restrictions we cannot run the event at all
and it is out of our hands, a 75% refund will apply or you can defer to the following year and
guarantee your spot .
If the Cork 520 Ultra does not take place by being cancelled after it has already begun, or is
shortened, due circumstances beyond our control such as flooding, inclement weather, extreme cold
weather, Emergency road diversions or closures or authorities forcing us to cancel or stop the races,
participants have no right to a refund of the entry fee or any other damages, such as costs for travel
and accommodation.
Thank you , Race committee.
cork520ultra.ie
cork520ultra@gmail.com
Facebook cork520ultra
Race Director Gerard McLean 0872848343