Special rules

The 78^th Critérium International is organised by TDF Sport and Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), under International Cycling Union (UCI) and French Cycling Federation regulations. It will take place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March and will comprise 3 stages.

The 78^th Criterium International is open by invitation to UCI Pro Teams, UCI Professional Continental Teams and UCI Continental Teams from the country. Each team will count a maximum of 8 riders and a minimum of 5 riders at the beginning of the race.

Through its registration and/or participation in the event, each team declares its full acceptance of, and adherence to, the provisions of the present specific regulations.

The event is classified HC in the European Continental calendar and awards points for the Individual overall ranking - as per UCI regulations article 2.11.014, as follows:

• General individual classification: 100 - 70 - 40 - 30 - 25 - 20 - 15 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 points for the top 15 contenders.
• Stage winners: 20 - 14 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 2 points for the top 8 contenders.
• Winner's jersey at the end of each stage: 10 points.

Race Headquarters will be open on Friday 27th March from 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm.

Team Managers can claim jersey numbers from 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm. The Team Managers' meeting, in the presence of members of the College of Stewards, will be held at 5.00 pm at Race Headquarters.

Race information will be broadcast on "Radio-Tour"(169.425 MHZ).

Neutral technical support will be provided by Mavic.

Three technical cars will be on hand for this service.

The leader of the general individual classification by time wears the Yellow Jersey.

The best climber classification is based on the sum of the points obtained in the 12 climbs selected for this classification.

In each of the 10 climbs, the following points are awarded:

• 1st rider: 4 pts ;
• 2nd rider: 2 pts ;
• 3rd rider: 1 pt ;
• In the Côte du Mont Malgré Tout (2 climbs), 6 - 4 - 2 points are awarded.

A general classification is calculated on the basis of the sum of the points obtained in all of the climbs selected for the best climber classification. The leader of the best climber classification wears the Red Polka Dot Jersey.

In accordance with article 2.6.017 of the UCI regulations, in the event of a tie in the general individual best climber classification, the following criteria shall be applied until the riders are separated:

• Number of first places in climbs,
• Final general individual classification by time.

To be entitled to final overall ranking prizes, contenders have to complete the entire race within regulatory time.

A classification by points is calculated on the basis of the points obtained in each of the 3 stages, as well as the intermediate sprints.

Points for each of the 3 intermediate sprints held during the: 1^st stage: Monthois - Charleville-Mézières, will be awarded as follows: 3 - 2 - 1 points to the first 3 classified riders.

On the finish lines, of 1st stage in Charleville-Mézières, 2nd stage in Monthermé and 3rd stage in Charleville-Mézières: 15 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 to the first 10 classified riders.

The leader of the classification by points wears the Green Jersey.

As defined in UCI regulations article 2.6.017, in the event of a tie in the final general individual classification by points, the following criteria shall be applied until the riders are separated:

• Number of stage wins;
• Number of intermediate sprint wins counting towards the classification by points;
• Final general classification by time.

To be entitled to final overall ranking prizes, contenders have to complete the entire race within regulatory time.

As per UCI regulations article 2.6.016, the team classification for the day is calculated on the basis of the sum of the three best individual times from each team. In the event of a tie, the teams shall be separated by the sum of the places acquired by the three best placed riders on the stage. If the teams are still tied, they shall be separated by the placing of their best rider in the stage classification.

The general team classification is calculated on the basis of the sum of the three best individual times from each team in each stage ridden.

In the event of a tie, the following criteria shall be applied until the teams are separated:

• Number of first places in the daily team classification;
• Number of second places in the daily team classification, and so on.

If there is still a tie, the teams shall be separated by the placing of their best rider in the general individual classification.

Any team with fewer than three cyclists will be eliminated from the general team classification.

Only riders born on or after the 1st January 1984 may take part in the young rider classification.

The leader in the young rider classification wears the White Jersey.

Time bonuses, applied only in the general individual classification, are awarded on the 1st stage Monthois - Charleville-Mézières as per UCI regulations 2.6.019.

They concern intermediate sprints and stage finishes and are awarded as follows:

• On each intermediate sprint: 3" - 2" and 1" are awarded respectively to the first 3 classified riders;
• On the stage finish line: 10" - 6" and 4" to the first 3 classified riders.

In accordance with article 2.6.029 of the UCI regulations, the 2nd stage finish in Monthermé is a summit finish.

The finish deadlines are as follows:

• 1st and 2nd stages: 8 %,
• 3rd stage: 25 %.

Exceptional situations will be arbitrated by the College of Stewards and the Race Management.

For the 3rd stage in Charleville-Mézières, an individual time-trial, starts will be spaced at 30" intervals and/ or 1 minute intervals in the reverse order of the general classification of the 2nd stage: Les Vieilles Forges - Les Mazures - Monthermé.

The starting order for the individual time-trial stage is the reverse order of the general classification by time. However, the college of stewards may modify this starting order to prevent two riders from the same team starting in succession.

Extra technical assistance vehicles will be available for competitors who do not have access to technical assistance via their sporting group.

Total prize money for the 78th Critérium International is as follows:

1) General individual classification by time and stages prizes

2) Special prizes for the best climber classification:

a) On each climb:
1^st: € 100
2^nd: € 60
3^rd: € 40
Total : € 200
Total for the 12 climbs: € 2,400

b) Final general classification:
1^st: € 1,500
2^nd: € 1,000
3^rd: € 750
4^th: € 500
5^th: € 250
Total : € 4,000
Total prize money for the best climber classification: € 6,400

3) Classification by points:

1^st stage: Monthois - Charleville-Mézières
Each intermediate sprint:
1^st: € 300
2^rd: € 150
€ € 450 X 3= € 1,350

Final general classification:
1^st: € 1,530
2^nd: € 920
3^rd: € 600
Total: € 3,050
Total prize money for the classification by points: € 4,400

4) General team classification

1^st team in the final general classification: € 660
Total prize money for the general team classification: € 660

5) Young rider classification

Prizes awarded for the young rider classification are as follows:

Each stage:
1^st: € 150 X 3 = € 450

Final general classification
1^st: € 800
Total: € 800
Total prize money for the young rider classification: € 1,250

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY: € 44,548

A.S.O. and all participating teams declare it an absolute obligation to scrupulously respect the regulations and procedures decreed by the relevant authorities governing the fight against doping, as well as the obligation to maintain a strictly irreproachable line of conduct in this domain. Participating teams make a commitment to apply the aforementioned regulations and procedures and shall be entirely responsible for the strict adherence to these regulations by their riders and more generally, their staff and service providers.

Anti-doping tests are carried out under the authority of the UCI and designated officials, at the finish line of each stage.

After each stage, the following must present themselves on the podium at the awards ceremony:

• The stage winner;
• The leader of each classification.

Penalties are in accordance with UCI regulations.

A.S.O. considers the preservation of its image, its reputation and that of its events of the utmost consequence.

According to the UCI regulations article 2.2.010 bis, A.S.O. expressly reserves the right to refuse the participation in - or to exclude from - the event, any team or members of a team, whose presence shall seriously blemish the image and/or reputation of A.S.O. and/or the event.

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