Courses must be clearly marked

This discussion has an associated proposal. View Proposal Details here.

Comments about this discussion:

Started 21 Nov 16:06

I would like to dedicate this discussion to what could be added in the rulebook in order to make the XC race more fair in the sense of avoiding riders to get lost. In both XC races of San Sebastian a lot of riders lost themselves, one of the two races was canceled for this reason.

The rulebook says that "Courses must be clearly marked, so that riders can easily see where to go."

Was it the case in San Sebastian? Here are a few things I propose to enrich this.

If the track is modified from the one annonced in the website/book, this must be annonced by email 24h before the race. This would warn riders that already recognized the race that they must to look up to potentially new marks all over the track.

At intersections, the right direction must me clearly indicated.

If horizontal marking is allowed, a good way to do that might be to draw arrows on the ground a few meters before the intersection, at the intersection and a few meters after the intersection. Crosses can be drawn on each wrong direction. If drawing on the ground is not authorized, bands can be used to block the path to wrong options (bands can lie on the ground so it doesn't disturb other potential occupants of the area), and several bands can be suspended from what the rider see when arriving, to where he is sure to be on the right track. Here also, bands can be hung a few meters after the crossing to confirm that riders are on the right track. Of course, when possible, having a person at the trickiest intersections is always better.

Another option, although I don't think this is always possible, is to have the track marked a few days ahead of the race. This was done in Montreal.

This discussion can also be open to "whether or not orientating must be a part of the race". Ben pointed out that some bike riders regularly get lost on some long (>>50km) XC races. Our XC races are a lot shorter (at least for now), and are a part of a World Championship. From my own point of view, having riders losing themselves, or even having to slow down to look for the arrows must not occur in such event.

Comment 21 Nov 16:09

Sorry I must have skipped lines... Please don't be discouraged by that!

Comment 21 Nov 16:34

Totally agree Martin. Especially important to have volunteers at major intersections like the ones where some experts got lost in Spain.

Comment 22 Nov 16:32

I don't know that a hard and fast rule about a time frame to announce course changes beforehand is entirely practical. What if something occurs overnight that impedes the course (say a tree falls). There may be a justified reason that a course needs to be slightly modified at the last minute. This situation is obviously not ideal, but I'd say it's better to have a last minute modification than to have to cancel the race or force the riders through an unsafe section. I do think it is good to have a requirement to announce any course changes, but I don't think we should specify a time frame (or if we do, have it be a guideline, not a rule).

I agree with Martin's sentiment to encourage a strongly marked course though.

Comment 23 Nov 10:42

Additionally to good marking, the judges shall be present on the trail. It is not necessary to have judges all the way. Enough that they are in confusing junctions and randomly in some technical sections with higher risk of cheating. As long as running is prohibited there must be appropriate judging.

A bit off topic, but just to remind that we need crew on trails!

Comment 27 Nov 23:52

A great list, Martin! Also nothing wrong with the idea of announcing if a course needed to be changed after a previous version had been published or made available. This is keeping as many riders as possible up to date, which can help a great deal, even if only a few riders have email available. It only takes a few of them to spread the word to fellow riders, whether back at the Unicon Village or out on the trail the next day.

We can't control everything, of course, so things like fallen trees, bad weather or other factors (angry hikers?) may still occur and that's life. but when possible, communication about courses should be an open channel and this should be emphasized in the rules.

I have been in many races where people got lost due to poor markings or even due to officials not being there yet because they underestimated the speed of the riders. Static course markings are often insufficient when being approached at high speed by top riders. Any critical turns, especially on "woodsy" courses where you can't see long distances, should have people at them, to make sure riders at least get corrected if they go the wrong way. Putting people at the key turns is not difficult; they just have to point which way to go, and stick around for the whole race.

Comment 28 Nov 01:35

I totally agree that having a well marked course is of greatest importance. Volunteers should guide the way at confusing intersections and judges should look over technical sections. Good suggestion also regarding the communication if there is a late change to the route.

We could require an official orientating ride if the course is changed in the last 24h before the race, but otherwise I think it is too much effort and time consuming.

Comment 30 Nov 10:46

I completely agree with this sentiment. At NAUCC last year I got completely lost alone for an hour in the woods because of a badly marked course. So not only is a well-marked course essential for a proper race, it is also crucial to keeping riders safe.

I think that volunteers need to be at crucial intersections and the rest of the course should be marked with tapes or barriers that prohibit riders from making a wrong turn. However, the 24 hour thing is tricky. I think that an orienteering ride could be difficult to manage. That could potentially be a lot of people to manage.

Comment 01 Dec 23:32

Recommend a 15km minimum? No problem. Require it? The usual problems, plus potentially losing Unicon hosts that are worried about not being able to secure a venue.

@Patricia: "However, the 24 hour thing is tricky. I think that an orienteering ride could be difficult to manage. That could potentially be a lot of people to manage."
Like the other things, strong communication is the goal, whether we achieve it perfectly or not. We want to instill in hosts/organizers the importance of maximizing the effectiveness of their courses by helping all riders to love them.

The problem with an orienteering ride would be time, more than anything else. For the Unicon 18 park, time was the major limiting factor, and would have made the addition of an "official" orienteering ride impossible. For that reason, many riders were there in the days before the racing, to get a look at the place. If that were set up as an "official" tour of the course it would have been helpful, even if imperfect. Again, conditions may have changed before the race, but at least riders would be familiar with the area.

To lead an official, day-of tour of a course can work with a huge group of riders, just not with any narration. If there's a story to tell, only the people close enough to hear would know about it. But it would be easy enough to lead a ride of the course(s). For best results it would be lead by multiple guides, to satisfy the different speed levels of riders. Fast group would go first, followed by medium, followed by "comfortable". As long as people don't fall off the back of the group, they get a chance to see the entire course.

Comment 15 Dec 12:47

Martin, I think this is an important rule especially after this past Unicon. Can you turn it into a proposal?

Comment 19 Dec 06:09

for a UNICON it should be rather 7days than 24h....the same time of practice than in downhill.

i would recommand minimum a 48h rule

for smaller events...espacially if done on one weekend this rule should not apply

Comment 21 Dec 16:30

I'm about to create a proposal for modifying the following part of section 5D.1.3 Cross Country:

"Courses must be clearly marked, so that riders can easily see where to go."

Into:

"Courses must be clearly marked. At each intersection, the right direction must be indicated by at least one of the following ways:

Way 1 : Painting or chalk marking (Only if authorized by authorities). Arrows showing the direction to take must be drawn 5 to 10 meters before the intersection, at the intersection and 5 to 10 meters after the intersection. Crosses must be drawn on each wrong direction at the intersection and 5 to 10 meters after the intersection.

Way 2 : Using bands. Small pieces of bands (<1m) are used instead of arrows to show the right way to go. Longer pieces of bands barring the wrong paths over their entire width are used instead of crosses. These bands can lie on the ground if they cannot be hung in the air because of any restriction.

Any element of the route such as ground, trees, rocks, barriers can be used for marking of hanging bands, as long as the result is easily visible and not likely to be erased/removed by the passage of riders or other occupants. If the weather forecast predicts rain, prefer Way 2 to Way 1. At major intersections, having a volunteers signaling the good way, in addition to marks or bands, is highly recommended. Any way of signaling can also be used on any long section between intersections, only to confirm riders that they are still on the right track."

I also would like to add the following:

"If the track is modified from the one annonced in the website/book, this must be annonced by email as soon as this is known, even if this is a short amount of time before the race. If the change occurs the day of the race, riders must also be told on the start line that there has been a change."

Please let me know any remarks about these 2 pieces of text (or if I should remove one, make something shorter ...) so I can eventually modify them and submit it before this sunday 25th.

Thanks!

Comment 21 Dec 17:37

I'm fine with both text pieces! I think the rule could be important for all muni competitions, not only XC.

Maybe you could add to Way 1 that also chipped wood can be used to draw arrows or crosses. I've seen that in quite a few MTB competitions when chalk/paint is not allowed. Also, another option (Way 1) would be to print large signs with arrows or crosses and attach these signs to trees.

Maybe additionally a rule for when the markings have to be in place? Of course, we have to keep in mind that authorities may only allow it for the day of the competition...

Comment 21 Dec 17:43

I like it Martin!

Comment 22 Dec 02:45

Ok, good remarks, so here is how I modified it:

"Courses must be clearly marked. At each intersection, the right direction must be indicated by at least one of the following ways:

Way 1 : Painting or chalk marking (Only if authorized by authorities). Arrows showing the direction to take must be drawn 5 to 10 meters before the intersection, at the intersection and 5 to 10 meters after the intersection. Crosses must be drawn on each wrong direction at the intersection and 5 to 10 meters after the intersection.

Way 2 : Using bands. Small pieces of bands (<1m) are used instead of arrows to show the right way to go. Longer pieces of bands barring the wrong paths over their entire width are used instead of crosses. These bands can lie on the ground if they cannot be hung in the air because of any restriction.

Way 3 : Using any other clear signaling method. Chipped wood or large signs with printed arrows or crosses are examples. The same spirit of signaling any intersection 5 - 10 meters before, at, and 5 - 10 meters after must be respected.

Any element of the route such as ground, trees, rocks, barriers can be used for marking of hanging bands, as long as the result is easily visible and not likely to be erased/removed by the passage of riders or other occupants. If the weather forecast predicts rain, prefer Way 2 or 3 to Way 1. At major intersections, having a volunteer signaling the good way, in addition to marks or bands, is highly recommended. Any way of signaling can also be used on any long section between intersections, only to confirm riders that they are still on the right track.

If authorized by authorities, an effort must be made to mark the courses a few days before they occur, so riders can practice on it.

Any change in the track from the one given in the website/book must be announced by email as soon as this is known, even if this is a short amount of time before the race. If the change occurs the day of the race, riders must also be told on the start line that there has been a change."

This is way longer than the initial sentence... But as Ben mentioned this can apply for all muni competition. So what about creating a new part in section 5D?

Here is what the section 5D for Muni looks like now:

5D.1 Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

5D.2 Officials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

5D.3 Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

5D.4 Age Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

5D.5 Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

5D.6 Race Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

5D.7 Starting Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

5D.8 Starting Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

I propose then to create a subsection 5D.X named "Route signaling". A good place to insert it might be between 5D.5 Practice and 5D.6 Race Configuration.

Comment 22 Dec 02:49

I would also add at the end of Way 3: "as well as signaling very clearly any wrong direction at the intersection, and 5 - 10 meters after it."

Comment 23 Dec 10:01

Looks good to me. Just one suggestion, change At major intersections, having a volunteer signaling the good way to "at major intersections, having a a volunteer signaling the correct way"

Comment 24 Dec 05:11

Ok thanks Patricia! I'm submitting the proposal.