Special rules

The 2012 TOUR OF OMAN is organised by Muscat Municipality in association with the Oman Cycling Federation with technical and sports-related assistance from Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) under the regulations of the International Cycling Union (UCI). It will take place from Tuesday 14th to Sunday 19th February 2012 and consists of 6 straight stages.

This event is reserved for riders in the Elite Men’s category. It is an Hors-Class event registered on the Asia Tour calendar, and awards points as follows, according to article 2.11.014 of the UCI regulations:

• General individual classification: 100 – 70 – 40 – 30 – 25 – 20 – 15 – 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 and 3 points to the first 15 riders;
• Stage winners: 20 – 14 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 and 2 points to the first 8 riders;
• To the wearer of the leader's jersey for each stage: 10 points.

In accordance with article 2.1.005 of the UCI regulations, the event is open to:

• UCI Pro Teams
• UCI Professional Continental teams
• UCI Continental teams
• national teams.

In accordance with article 2.2.003 of the UCI regulations, the number of cyclists per team is restricted to a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8.

The race headquarters will be open on Monday 13th February 2012 from 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat.

Licence-holding team managers will be able to collect race numbers from 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm.

The team managers’ meeting, held pursuant to article 1.2.087 of the UCI regulations, in the presence of members of the Stewards’ Committee, will be held on Monday 13th February at 5.00 pm at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat.

Information on the race will be broadcast on “Radio-Tour”, using the frequency of 162.150 MHZ.

Neutral technical support is provided by Mavic, with 3 vehicles.

For each of the stages, there is a finishing deadline that will be increased by 10% in relation to the winner’s time.

For the 5^th stage, the Royal Opera House in Muscat to Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain) the rule concerning the 3 last kilometres will not be applied.

The Stewards’ Committee may Settle any exceptional situations after consultation with the race management.

Time bonuses (applied only to the general individual classification) are awarded in the straight stages.

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

• 3", 2" and 1" will be awarded to the first 3 riders in intermediate sprints.
• 10", 6" and 4" will be awarded to the first 3 riders at stage finishes

The general individual time classification is established by adding together the times recorded for each stage, taking bonuses and penalties into consideration, in accordance with article 2.6.014. of the UCI regulations.

In the event of a tie, the places achieved for Mach stage are added up and, as a last resort, the place obtained in the final stage is counted.

The leader of the general individual time classification will wear a red jersey.

TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY FOR THE GENERAL INDIVIDUAL TIME CLASSIFICATION: €37, 150

A points classification is established by adding together the points obtained in each stage as well as the intermediate sprints in accordance with article 2.6.017. of the UCI regulations.

Points for the 2 intermediate sprints in each straight stage will be awarded as follows:
3 – 2 and 1 point (s) to the first 3 riders.

At the finish of the stages:
15 – 12 –9- 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 and 1 point (s) to the first 10 riders.

The leader of the points classification will wear a green jersey.

In the event of a tie in the general individual points classification, the following criteria shall be applied in order until the riders are separated:

• the number of stage wins;
• the number of wins in intermediate sprints;
• the general individual time classification.

To be entitled to final general classification prize money, competitors have to complete the entire race within the official time limit.

Prizes awarded for the points classification are as follows:

Final general classification:

Total: €5, 000

Total amount of prize money for the points classification: €5, 000

Only riders born on or after 1st January 1987 may take part in the young rider classification.

The leader of the young rider classification is the first young rider in the general individual classification. He will wear a white jersey.

Prizes awarded for the young rider classification are as follows:

TOTAL: €5, 000

Total amount of prize money for the Young Rider Classification: €5, 000

The most aggressive rider classification is established by adding together the points obtained in the intermediate sprints in all the stages.

Points for the 2 intermediate sprints in each straight stage will be awarded as follows:
3 – 2 and 1 point (s) to the first 3 riders.

The leader of the classification will wear a red jersey with white squares.

In the event of a tie in the general individual classification for the most aggressive rider, the following criteria shall be applied in order until the riders are separated:

• the number of 1st places in the different intermediate classifications;
• the general individual time classification.

To be entitled to final general classification prize money, competitors have to complete the entire race within the official time limit.

Prizes awarded for the most aggressive rider classification are as follows:

Final general classification:

Total: €5, 000

Total amount of prize money for the most aggressive rider classification: €5, 000

In accordance with article 2.6.016 of the UCI regulations, the daily team classification is established by adding together the three best individual times from each team. In the event of a tie, the teams shall be separated by adding together the number of places obtained by their three best placed riders on the stage. If the teams are still tied, they shall be separated by the place obtained by their best rider in the stage classification.

The team general classification is established by adding together the three best individual times from each team in each stage ridden. In the event of a tie, the following criteria shall be applied in order until the teams are separated:

• the number of first places in the daily team classification;
• the number of second places in the daily team classification, etc.

If the teams are still tied, they shall be separated by the place obtained by their best rider in the general individual classification.

Any team reduced to fewer than three riders is eliminated from the general team classification.

Prizes awarded for the general classification are as follows:

TOTAL: €5, 000

Total amount of prize money for the general team classification: €5, 000

The total amount of prize money for the 2012 TOUR OF OMAN is as follows:

• Stages classification: €54, 330
• General individual time classification: €37, 150
• Points classification: €5, 000
• Young rider classification: €5, 000
• Most aggressive rider classification: €5, 000
• Team classification: €5, 000

TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY: €111, 480

Anti-doping tests will be carried out under the UCI regulations.

After each stage, the following riders must present themselves at the protocol ceremony:

• the stage winner;
• the leader of the general individual time classification;
• the leader of the points classification;
• the leader of the young rider classification;
• the leader of the most aggressive rider classification.

After the last stage, the following riders must present themselves at the protocol ceremony:

• the stage winner;
• the 3 best riders of the general individual time classification;
• the leader of the points classification;
• the leader of the young rider classification;
• the leader of the most aggressive rider classification;
• the 8 riders and the team manager of the winning team in the general team classification.

The leader in each classification must wear the corresponding leader jersey.

If a rider is first in several classifications, the order of priority for the wearing of jerseys is as follows:

• the general individual time classification;
• the general points classification;
• the young rider classification;
• the most aggressive rider classification.

Penalties are in accordance with the UCI regulations.