For running fair and secure competitions, the drawn-up rules neccessarily have to be followed by every competitor. If some pushers or cheaters should be noticed, they unfortunately have to be disqualified. Only by this is it possible to prevent someone from gaining an advantage by unjust behavior. Someone who swindles or endangers his colleagues didn't get the spirit of the messenger championships at all!
Fix your numbers in a visible way at your bar (not at the frame or anywhere else) and let them remain there during all competitions, Starters without numbers cannot be rated.
In this race about 600 competitors are expected to start. This handsome number makes it neccessary to divide the race into different parts: the qualifying heat, the semi-finals and two separate finals for women and men. The course and type of jobs of each particular round are slightly different so they are described separately in the following. Packaged together with these rules and other materials you have already received a plan of the race track and the sheet with the jobs for the qualifying heat - take care of them, you will need them in the race.
For the messenger race we have created a track of three different circles including 8 checkpoints. These checkpoints are serving as client addresses, that means you have to pickup and deliver the packages there. The race track is formed by one-way streets which are only allowed to be used in one direction! It's even forbidden to deviate from the route or take shortcuts. The race track, the direction of riding and the names and positions of the checkpoints are noted in the race track plan.
The jobs you have to do in the competition are listed on a job sheet with the sender om the left and the addressee on the right. Your number and your heat number are noted on the sheet too. You will receive a stamp for each collection and delivery - only when all of the jobs are done can you pass the finishing line. Real deliveries have to be transported so you need your bags in the races absolutely. Even your locks are neccessary, because the bikes have to be locked at 2 checkpoints (marked on the map by a cross). In general you are not allowed to ride up to the checkpoints directly, the bikes have to be parked at the barriers. The jobs are worked on in the orde of your arrival - pushing to the front is strictly forbidden.
Facing the unbelievable number of competitors the qualifying heat is executed as a time trial contest. Everybody is only racing against time and the time of the other competitors. Your starting and finishing time will be stamped by our friendly assistants on the job sheet. The starter groups of each 10 competitors have to line up at the start every 4-5 minutes. Within these groups every competitor starts single in 10 second intervals. The jobs have to be done in the given order, so it's not allowed to combine or to interchange at all. The job list is similar for all competitors. The 75 fastest men are qualified for the semi-finals and the 15 fastest women direct for the final.
The 75 semi-finalists will be divided into 5 heats each with 15 starters corresponding to their qualifying times. In contrast to the qualifying heat every group now starts together at once - so the competitors start in direct comparison. In each heat 3 differeny job sheets have to be done in 3 rounds. The competitors line up at the starting line with their bikes and receive their first sheet in a closed envelope there. The envelope can be opened only after the starting signal. After finishing one sheet the following are handed off at the finishing line. Every heat is subdivided again into 3 groups, because only 5 starters receive the same job sheet in the same round - following behind could be a big mistake! Altogether the job list is similar for all competitors in one heat. The jobs of each sheet can be done and combined in any order. By the way, on one sheet there is an additional task; during that round the semi-finalists have to ride up to the puncture station to repair a simulated flat on a provided wheel. For that they have to change the outer tyre (no inner tube!) for another - tools will be provided, too. The first 3 of every heat are qualified for the final.
There are separate finals for women and men, but the conditions for both heats are similar. All jobs can be done and combined in any order again. The final is designed as a drop out race. Like in the semi-finals the groups of 15 competitors start together at once with job sheets put into envelopes. After having done the first round (including a simulated flat tyre again) the racers recieve the nextjob sheet at the finishing line. The last 3 competitors drop out, however! This procedure repeats in every round. So the 3 fastest finalists have to do 5 rounds after all and the first of them who crosses the finish line will be the European champ.
All competitors starting in a team of 4 in the messenger race will get a team score. The score is formed by the individual placings of the qualifying heat, the semi-finals and finals. The really not un-complicated evaluation will be done as follows:
The individual placings of the team members will be added up to the team score. In cases of similar scores for different teams the better placed team member decides, so that the more balanced team will win.
Because of the surprisingly high number of starter this competition has to be executed as a time trial contest, too. The competitors start singly and transport extra heavy and bulky cargo around one of the 3 circles of the race track. At the start the departure time is stamped on the job sheet. The racer loads the first carhgo atr freight station A, rides around circle 1 and unloads again at station A. Then the second load is received at station B and circle 2 has to be rounded. The last cargo of station C has to be ridden around circle 3. After unloading the time of each competitor is taken at the finish. At the freight stations the job sheets are stamped as usual after unloading.
There are more than 400 starters in this competition so ther are qualifying heats, quarte and semi-finals as well as a final. All heats are started with maximum 10 competitors. The length of the track is 100 metres, so we have a pure acceleration race. The heats are started standing with one foot on the ground at least. After one warning (e.g. false start) ther will be a disqualification with the second irregularity. The first 2 of each heat are qualified for the next round. Each competitor is only allowed to start once. Starting with the semi-finals the sprinters will have to place the almost traditional bet of DM 10.- and the winner of the heat takes it all.
In this contest the competitors have to do a cycling jump with their bikes over a bar. The runup is limited to 50 metres. In the qualifying heat every starter has got 1 try for 10 cm, 2 tries for 20 cm and 3 for 30 cm - the qualifying level for the final. In the final every competitor has 3 tries for the following heights. Starting with 30 cm, 35 cm and 40 cm the height rises in 2 cm steps afterwards.
