EHC – Rulebook - 2004
(replaces all former versions; updated in March 2004)
1.
Organization of EHC
1.1
The EHC (European Handbike Circuit) is a non-profitable organization
with the following targets:
·
Structuring
the sport handcycling among European countries concerning athleticism,
classification, rules and training, for disabled and able-bodied athletes.
·
EHC
takes care to offer events of high level to his best athletes
·
EHC sets clear targets concerning development of handcycling or upgrades
these to challenge handbike athletes continuously.
·
EHC is publishing consecutively an actual overall ranking list
indicating individual presentation of
athlete.
·
Common and integrative serious sport of athletes with or without
handicap and reducing existing barriers between disabled and able-bodied
athletes on doing sports.
·
The EHC is the umbrella organization for NHC (National Handbike Circuit)
·
The
EHC cooperates with handcycling organizations out of Europe for global
propagation of sport handcycling and obtains support resting upon his structure
and experience.
1.2 The EHC is run by a board of directors of
handbike representatives of actual 8 European countries:
|
Austria |
Christian
Peter / Hans Mayrhofer |
|
Belgium |
Didier
Simons / Wim Decleir |
|
Czech Republic |
Radovan Sabata
/ Alexandra Mala-Videmannova |
|
France |
Patrick Moyses / Claudine Moyses |
|
Germany |
Wolfgang Petersen / Melanie Petersen |
|
Italy |
designated:
Roberto Rancilio / vacant |
|
Switzerland |
Andreas Gautschi / Albert Marti |
|
The
Netherlands |
Kees van
Breukelen / Alfred Reintjes |
1.3 The annual memberships fee for active members is actually 10 Euros. Only members are permitted to participate in EHC races. Every active member gets a member card.
1.4 The annual fee for
team-participation is 100 Euros.
1.5 Also athletes of Non-European
countries can become members of EHC.
1.6 Passive members, their annual fee is
10 Euros, and donators with individual financial contribution, are welcome to
support work of EHC
2. Classification
2.1 Every new member is responsible for
own classification and is responsible
to get in contact with relevant EHC representative in this matter.
Unproblematic classifications are taken by the EHC representatives. The first classification for members is free
of charge, but each further classification will be charged with 25 Euros.
2.2
If a new member omits first classification, he/she will be classified in
Division C.
2.3 A rider may start in higher classes at any time if desired (see
loss of points in conformity with point 3.7)
2.4 Every athlete
has the right to protest against classification. In this case it will be a
majority-of-votes decision of EHC-Committee, if protest is accepted or if
check ups are demanded. In case of same result this matter is definitly finished.
If it proves otherwise EHC-Committee reserves right to demand a third, final
check by an IPC classifier.
2.5 EHC does
follow the newest IPC-classification for handcycling. Classification differs
only in admission of able-bodied riders in Division C.
Division A:
tetraplegics
Division B:
paraplegics up to Th 9/10
Division C: paraplegics from Th 11 to L4,
amputees, all others
2.6 In the EHC competition there will be a separate class for women
(Division F) as long as number of participants allows separation in different
classes.
2.7 Every division is
identifiable by helmet (cover) colour.
Div. C – red, Div. B – white, Div. A –
blue, Div. Damen – green
2.8 Able
bodied athletes have the same rights and obligations as disabled athletes.
3. Ranking
3.1 Stage
ranking: Riders get points for place 1 to 50 according attached table.
|
place |
points |
place |
points |
place |
points |
place |
points |
place |
points |
|
1 |
200 |
11 |
135 |
21 |
97 |
31 |
66 |
41 |
46 |
|
2 |
185 |
12 |
131 |
22 |
94 |
32 |
64 |
42 |
44 |
|
3 |
170 |
13 |
128 |
23 |
91 |
33 |
62 |
43 |
42 |
|
4 |
165 |
14 |
125 |
24 |
88 |
34 |
60 |
44 |
40 |
|
5 |
160 |
15 |
122 |
25 |
85 |
35 |
58 |
45 |
38 |
|
6 |
157 |
16 |
119 |
26 |
82 |
36 |
56 |
46 |
36 |
|
7 |
154 |
17 |
116 |
27 |
79 |
37 |
54 |
47 |
34 |
|
8 |
152 |
18 |
113 |
28 |
75 |
38 |
52 |
48 |
32 |
|
9 |
150 |
19 |
110 |
29 |
72 |
39 |
50 |
49 |
30 |
|
10 |
140 |
20 |
100 |
30 |
69 |
40 |
48 |
50 |
28 |
3.2 Ranking over all: The annual
series of races consist of max. 8 stages. Only the best five results out of
these will be counted. The rider who gets the most points is rewarded with the
title „Best Handbiker of Europe” of that year.
3.3 The momentarily leader does
wear the Yellow Jersey of EHC
3.4 The rider wearing the Yellow Jersey is allowed
to put his/her sponsorlogos on the tricot.
3.5 The actual owner of Yellow Jersey only loses
the jersey if his/her competitor gets more points in ranking over all.
3.6 Rule 3.5. is also valid for
individual ranking in list
3.7 Any athlete, who changes from one division
to another during race season for whatever reasons, cannot carry on his points achieved up to now.
And that goes for athletes too, who
are in testing status until final decision of classification.
4. Team
ranking
4.1 A team
is formed up of maximum 10 riders and
at least 4 riders shall start in race in order to get points. The annual
participation fee is 100 Euros per team.
4.2 A team
can be composed by athletes from different divisions.
4.3 Team
member-changing is not permitted throughout the year. But uncommitted
athletes may join a team until quota is
fulfilled.
4.4 Points will be counted from the best four handbikers of a team who
do finish (max. 800 points).
4.5 When
only two or even one rider of a team do finish, his/her points will be counted
as well for the team.
4.6 Analogue
to point 3.2 max. the best 5 results are counted.
4.7 A team
shall be recognized by identical race-suits colors.
5. Handbike-equipment
5.1 EHC-rule on handbike-equipment
corresponds to IPC/UCI regulations (15.006; 18.001 – 18.009) except points 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 given below.
Only 3 wheeled bikes solely propelled by arm / trunk power are permitted.
5.2 Exception – no obliging backrest
rule (angel of 45° ): Every athlete should have the
facility to adapt optimally his/her equipment
to function of his/her body. Safe riding and all-round vision
lies in responsibility of the athlete.
In any case the rider shall be held responsible for damages or injuries against
himself or third-party.
5.3 Exception
– safety bar: (see: diagram) All handcycles
with two rear wheels must be fitted with a safety bar except for time trials.
5.3.1
Definition and assembly instruction for safety bar:
5.3.2 The safety bar must be a round tube (at least 18 mm diameter)
made of adequate solid material. Both tube ends must be plugged.
5.3.3 The distance between
bottom and axis of bar must be 280 mm (+/- 10 mm)
5.3.4 The safety bar must not exceed the width of each rear wheel tyre.
5.3.5 The safety bar must be fitted 10 mm (+/- 2 mm ) behind the tyre.
5.3.6 The quality structure and assembling of safety bar must guarantee
that normal bumps, which happen during race, don’t impact negatively safety function of the bar.
5.4 Exception – spoke covers: it is permitted to fit spoke covers
inside and outside of rear wheels.
6. Safety
6.1 In road races the wearing of a rigid
safety headgear, to international UCI standard for cycle race, is compulsory
for all athletes.
6.2 Aerodynamic time-trial helmets are only permitted in time-trials.
6.3 Race
approval of handcycle may be denied, if
parts are assemled on handcycle, which endanger the rider or his/her
competitors.
6.4 In case that a handcycle, getting
demaged during the race, doesn’t longer
fulfil equipment regulations
a. the athlete is obliged to stop
for repairing his/her equipment or to give up.
b. the organizer is entitled to stop
the athlete for reparation or to withdraw him/her from race.
7. Starting order
7.1. Starting order depends on EHC
ranking list.
7.2. Between individual start of riders
of division C – B – A/F there has to be a break of at least two minutes. It’s
also possible to organize a race for each division one after another.
8. Discipline, procedures and penalties
8.1 Every member of EHC is obliged to follow the
rules of EHC and agrees to decisions
and judgements of EHC.
8.2
Statements made by commissaires in reports and minutes shall be deemed
probatory unless proven otherwise.
8.3
Anyone who behaves in an incorrect or dishonest fashion with regard to
any other or fails to meet obligations of
EHC regulations may be penalised by
a. the Commissaires Panel or Disciplinary Commission in 1. instance
b. the board of directors in last instance.
8.4 The Commissionaires Panel or Disciplinary Commission is composed
of at least 3 country representatives of EHC.
8.5
A written protest can be dropped at Commissionaires Panel within half an
hour after race. The protest fee is 50 Euros. When the protest is honoured the
fee will be refunded.
8.6 The offending party has the chance
to defend his point of view within ½ hour after the protest has been dropped.
If the athlete doesn’t justify him/herself
he/she can be judged in absence too. Teamleaders and/or athletes have to
take care to be present at trouble desk and to get information about potential
protests. In addition to it the EHC tries to look for offending parties before
beeing judged if possible.
8.7. The offending party has the right
to protest against decision according to point 8.3a The protest fee is 50
Euros. When the protest is honoured the fee will be refunded.
8.8 The spectrum of penalties
goes from warning, point-reduction, time-penalty, disqualification up to
exclusion.
8.9 Rules concerning race incidents and the scale of penalties are
listed below (some following UCI rules):
|
offences |
penalties |
|
|
a |
To start with handcycle
which is not in conformity with the regulations |
start refused |
|
b |
Using a handcycle in race
which is not in conformity with the regulations |
stopping according to
rule 6.4b |
|
c |
Rider taking the start
without the required headgear |
start refused |
|
d |
Rider removing the
headgear during the race |
warning up to
disqualification |
|
e |
Rider failing to respect
the starting order according to
ranking list |
may cause reduction of 20
points[1] |
|
f |
Active assistance of a
rider belonging to another division |
disqualification of each
rider involved |
|
g |
Wilful obstruction of a
rider belonging to another division |
disqualification of
obstracting rider |
|
h |
Irregular sprint at
finish (deviating from selected lane, endangering other riders) |
relegation to last place
of sprinting group or reduction of 20 points or relegation to end of stage
ranking |
|
i |
Pushing aside or
endangering another rider in race |
reduction of 20 points or
relegation to end of stage ranking |
|
j |
Irregular pushing constituting an advantage |
see point h |
|
k |
Taking wilfully
abreviation of circuit |
disqualification |
|
l |
Fraud or attempted fraud |
disqualification up to
exclusion for one year |
|
m |
Insults, threats,
unseemly behaviour towards riders and functionaries |
time penalty up to
elimination |
|
n |
non-participating at
victory ceremony |
losing prize for benefit
of EHC |
|
o |
Absence in ceremony of
getting the Yellow Jersey without giving any reasons[2] |
reduction of 20 points |
|
p |
Ignoring 10m / 1m
distance in time trial for short distance |
time penalty: 30 seconds
per offence |
|
q |
Ignoring 10m / 1m
distance in time trial for long distance |
time penalty: 5 minutes |
9. Prize
money
9.1 At the
end of the EHC-series, the EHC committee will divide prize money among the
first 10 handbikers of each division. According to rule 8.9n non-participating
at victory ceremony will cause losing prize money for benefit of EHC.
10. Passive membership and sponsoring
10.1 Every
natural or legal person or group may become donator of EHC. The annual fee is
at least 50 Euros.
10. 2
Interested companies will get information and a sponsor listing on demand.
11. Exclusion of liability
11.1 With your participation to one or more races and
additional events of the EHC, you acknowledge the liability-exclusion of the
EHC-Committee or of involved third-party for personal or material damage.