Special rules


ARTICLE 1. Organisation
The 76th Critérium International is organised by TDF Sport and Amaury Sport Organisation in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale and the Fédération Française de Cyclisme. It will take place on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April and will be divided into 3 stages.

ARTICLE 2. Participation
The 76th Critérium International is open on an invitation basis, to the Pro Teams and UCI Professional Continental Teams. The number of racers per team is limited to a maximum of 8 and a minimum of 5 at the start.

ARTICLE 3. Continental European Classification
The race is classified in the HC category of the Continental European Calendar and awards the following points for the individual classification - article 2.11.014:

ARTICLE 4. Reception
Reception services are available on Friday 30 March from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Race numbers may be collected from licensed team mangers from 2:30 to 4:45 p.m.
The Sports Directors' meeting, in the presence of the Members of the Racing Committee, is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in the organisation's office.

ARTICLE 5. Radio-Tour
Racing information is broadcast on the "Radio-Tour" frequency (169.425 MHZ).

ARTICLE 6. Impartial Technical Assistance
The impartial technical assistance service is provided by MAVIC. Three technical cars are used for the service.

ARTICLE 7. General Individual Classification
The leader of the General Classification wears a Yellow jersey.

ARTICLE 8. Best Climber Classification
A Best Climber Classification is raced over all of the 11 hills selected for this classification.

The following points are awarded for each of the 9 hills:

A general classification is established by adding the points obtained for all of the hills included in the Best Climber Classification. The classification's leader wears a White jersey with red polka dots. In accordance with article 2.6.017 of the U.C.I.'s regulations, in the event of a tie in the final general classification, the following criteria are applied until a winner is determined:

To receive prizes from the final general classification, each competitor must have completed the race within the time allotted by the rules.

ARTICLE 9. Classification by Points
A classification by points is established by adding the points obtained in each of the 3 stages as well as in the Intermediary Sprints.

It is awarded in each of the 3 Intermediary Sprints raced during the:

The leader of the classification wears a Green jersey. In accordance with article 2.6.017 of the U.C.I.'s individual regulations governing points, the following criteria are applied until a winner is determined:

To receive the prize from the final general classification, each competitor must have completed the race within the time allotted by the rules.

ARTICLE 10. Classification by Team
In accordance with article 2.6.016 of the U.C.I.'s regulations, the general classification by the day's teams is established by adding each team's three best individual times.

In the event of a tie, the teams are ranked by adding the places obtained by their first three racers in the stage. In the event of another tie, the teams are ranked by the place of their best racer in the stage's classification.

The general classification by team is established by adding each team's three best individual times from all of the stages.

In the event of a tie, the following criteria are applied, until a winner is determined:

If there is still a tie, the teams are ranked by the place of their best racer in the general individual classification.

Any group reduced to less than 3 racers is eliminated from the general classification by team.

ARTICLE 11. Junior Classification
The Junior classification is reserved for racers born on or after 1 January 1982.

The leader of the junior classification wears a White jersey.

ARTICLE 12. Bonus points
Time bonuses carried over only to the general individual classification are awarded in the 1st stage, Asfeld - Charleville-Mézières (article 2.6.019).

They concern the Intermediary Sprints and the finish. These bonus points are awarded as follows:

ARTICLE 13. Finish at the summit
In application of article 2.6.029 of the U.C.I.'s regulations, the 2nd stage in Monthermé is a finish at a summit.

ARTICLE 14. Elimination schedule
The elimination schedule is as follows:

Any exceptional situation may be decided on by the racing committee and the organisation's management.

ARTICLE 15. "Individual" Time Trial
For the 3rd stage in Charleville-Mézières, which is individually raced against the clock, starts are given in 30" by 30" or in 1' by 1' in the reverse order of the general classification established at the end of the 2nd stage: Les Vieilles Forges (Les Mazures) - Monthermé.

The starting order for the "individual" time trial is the reverse order of the general classification by time. However, the racing committee may modify this order to keep two racers from the same team from following one another.

Additional assistance cars are made available for the racers who do not receive technical assistance from their respective Group.

ARTICLE 16. List of Prizes and Special bonuses
The 76th Critérium International is endowed with prizes and special bonuses that are awarded as follows:

1°) Prizes for stages and general classification

Place 1st stage 2nd stage 3rd stage General classification
1 3 445 2 310 2 310 4 000
2 1 715 1 175 1 175 2 000
3 860 575 575 1 000
4 435 290 290 600
5 345 230 230 400
6 255 175 175 300
7 255 175 175 300
8 170 115 115 200
9 170 115 115 200
10 88 57 57 100
11 88 57 57 100
12 88 57 57 100
13 88 57 57 100
14 88 57 57 100
15 88 57 57 100
16 88 57 57 100
17 88 57 57 100
18 88 57 57 100
19 88 57 57 100
20 88 57 57 100
Total 8 618 5 787 5 787 10 100
General prize total: €30,292

2°) Special bonuses for the "best climber" classification

a) For each hill:

Or €200 X 11 = €2.200

Total: €2.200

b) For the final general classification:

Total: €4.000

Total amount of "best climber" bonuses: €6,200

3°) Classification by points

1st stage: Asfeld - Charleville-Mézières

For each of the 3 sprints:

For the final general classification

Or €3.050

Total amount of classification by points bonuses: €4,400

4°) Classification by team

For the leading team in the Final General Classification: €660

Total amount of "classification by team" bonuses: €660

5°) Junior classification

The prizes awarded for the junior classification are:

For each stage:

For the final general classification

Total amount of junior classification: €1,250

Total amount of prizes and bonuses: €42,802

ARTICLE 17. Anti-doping checks
Anti-doping checks are performed under the authority of the Union Cycliste Internationale and of designated officials, at the finish of each stage.

ARTICLE 18. Protocol
The following are to present themselves to the protocol at the finish of each stage: the first in the stage and the leaders of the various classifications.

ARTICLE 19. Penalties
Penalties are in accordance with the U.C.I.'s regulations.