SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

 

ARTICLE 1. ORGANIZATION

The "84^th Volta a Portugal Continente" is organized by the Podium Events, SA – Av. Eng. Duarte Pacheco nº 19 – 6ºD, 1070-100 Lisboa, under the regulations of the International Cycling Union (UCI). It will take place from 9th to 20th August 2023.

 

ARTICLE 2. TYPE OF EVENT

This race is open to athletes of the Men Elite and Under 23 categories. It is listed on the UCI Europe Tour calendar.

The race is registered as a Class 2. 1, therefore, the following points are awarded for the UCI Rankings:

Final overall individual classification: 125 – 85 – 70 – 60 – 50 – 40 – 35 – 30 – 25 – 20 – 15 – 10 – 5 – 5 – 5 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 3

Stages: 14 – 5 - 3.

Race leader jersey holder (per stage): 3

For the Men’s Continental Elites Ranking and Sub23 UCI.

 

ARTICLE 3. PARTICIPATION

In accordance with article 2.1.005 of the UCI regulations, the event is open to the following teams: UCI World Teams (max 50%), UCI ProTeams, Professional UCI Cyclocross teams, UCI Continental teams, National teams.

 

In accordance with article 2.2.003bis of the UCI regulations, the number of riders per team is a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 7 riders.

 

ARTICLE 4. PRE-COMPETITION PROCEDURES AND RACE HEADQUARTERS

 

The departure secretariat will take place on the 8^th of August from 1pm to 6pm, in the Solar do Vinho do Dão, in Viseu.

 

The registration of the riders and team staff members must be carried out through the respective forms sent by the Organizer, within the regulatory deadline. The Sport Director should send the 72h UCI Form indicating the titular riders and the two substitute riders, as well as all the team staff members.

 

Confirmation of participants and collection of bibs numbers by responsible of the teams takes place from 2.30pm to 15.45pm at secretariat.

 

The meeting of the Sporting Directors, organized in accordance with Articles 1.2.087 of the UCI Regulation, in the presence of the members of the Commissaires’ Panel, takes place at 4pm., at the same location as the secretariat.

 

The briefing between the Organizer and all those involved who will follow the race on a motorcycle, a representative of the television, a representative of the forces of order, as well as the College of Commissioners, organized according to the UCI Regulations, will take place at 11am on the 9th of August at the Departure Secretariat at the Solar do Vinho do Dão, in Viseu.

 

TEAMS PRESENTATION

The instructions on the presentation of the teams will be published on the release to be issued before the Sports Directors’ meeting.

 

ARTICLE 5: PROLOGUE AND INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

 

• BICYCLE

For the prologue and for the 10^th stage (ITT) the use of a specific bicycle is authorized.

 

• STARTING ORDER IN THE PROLOGUE AND INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

 

Prologue

In the Prologue, played in the individual time trial system, the starts will be given every 1’ to 1’, in series of 19 riders representing each of the 19 participating teams, in reverse order from the entry list.

 

The Teams must determine the starting order of their riders upon confirmation of participants, on August 8^th by 3.45pm.

 

In accordance with article 2.4.010 of the UCI Regulations, riders must present themselves to have their bicycle checked at least 15 minutes before their departure time.

 

Individual Time Trial

In the individual time trial (10^th stage), the stars will be given every minute, in reverse order of the general classification, after the 9^th stage, and the last 10 riders will start every 2 minutes. However, the commissaires’ panel may modify this order in order to prevent two riders from the same team starting in a row.

 

During the Prologue and Individual Time Trial, the rider with the best time must remain in the space reserved by the Organization next to the finish line.

 

ARTICLE 6. RADIO FREQUENCY

Race information will be broadcast on the following frequency: 160.2375 Mhz.

 

ARTICLE 7. NEUTRAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT

The neutral technical assistance services are provided by Podium Events, SA.

The technical support service is handled by Shimano with 3 neutral cars.

 

ARTICLE 8. RACE’S INCIDENTS IN THE LAST 3 KILOMETRES

The article 2.6.027 of the UCI Regulations applies in all stages, except in the following ones: 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 9^th .

 

Decisions related to this article are taken independently by the Commissaires’ Panel.

 

ARTICLE 9. FINISH TIME LIMIT

Considering the characteristics of each stage, the finishing time limits have been set as follows:

Prologue: n/a

1st stage: 10%                            6th stage: 15%

2nd stage: 10%                          7th stage: 15%

3rd stage: 10%                           8th stage: 12%

4th stage: 12%                           9th stage: 20%

5th stage: 15%                           10th stage: 25%

 

In exceptional cases only, unpredictable and of force majeure, the Commissaires Panel may extend the finishing time limits after consultation with the organizer.

 

ARTICLE 10. STAGES EXPECTED TO FINISH IN BRUNCH SPRINTS

The following stages have been identified as « expected to finish in bunch sprint » - 1st Stage, 2^nd Stage, 3rd stage and the 4th Stage

During these stages, the protocol of calculation of time gaps for stages “expected to finish in bunch sprints” published on the UCI website in the Regulations section will be applied.

 

ARTICLE 11. CLASSIFICATIONS

The following classifications are established:

1) General Classification - Yellow Jersey Continente

2) Points Classification - Orange Jersey Galp

3) Mountain Classification – Blue Dot Jersey Europcar

4) Youth Classification - White Jersey Jogos Santa Casa

5) Teams General Classification

6) Combined Classification - Carclasse

7) Best Portuguese Rider – Jogos Santa Casa

 

1) INDIVIDUAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION BY TIME

The stage individual classification will be determined according to the order of crossing the finishing line.

 

The individual general classification by time will be obtained by summing the time in each stage for each rider, considering the penalties. The rider with the smaller sum of time will be the best classified.

 

If there is a tie between two or more riders, the hundredths of a second registered in the individual time trial stage will be considered and the rider with less hundredths of a second will be the best classified.

 

If the tie persists, the sum of the points obtained in each stage will be considered and the rider with the smaller sum will be the best classified. The points will be given according to the positions obtained: one point to the first, two points to the second, three points to the third, and so on.

 

If the tie persists, the best position obtained in the last stage will be used to break the tie.

 

The leader of the general classification will wear the yellow jersey Continente.

 

2) POINTS GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

It will be obtained by summing the points of each rider on the finish of each stage and on each intermediate sprint “Meta Volante” (MV). The rider with the largest sum of points will be the best classified.

 

The following points will be awarded “Metas Volantes”: 5, 3 and 1 points to the first 3 riders

 

Prologue: Not applicate

 

Finish line:

 

• Category A: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 8^th – Flat finish or with a slight slope

40 – 32 – 28 – 24 – 20 – 16 – 12 – 8 – 6 and 4 points to the top 10 classified.

 

• Category B: 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 9^th and 10^th – Final in “Alta Montanha” and ITT – Flat finish or with a slight slope

15 – 10 – 6 – 4 – 3 - 2 and 1 points to the top 7 classified.

 

If several riders are classified ex-aequo, to each of them will be awarded the points corresponding to the first

place in which the ex-aequo begins.

 

In accordance with Article 2.6.017 of the UCI Regulation, in case of a tie in the points classification, the following

criteria shall be applied in order until the tie is broken:

 

1. Number of stage wins,
2. Number of wins in intermediate sprints counting for the points classification,
3. General Classification.

 

To benefit of the prizes of the final general classification, the rider must have completed the entire course of the

race within the finishing time limits.

 

The leader of the points classification will wear the orange jersey Galp.

 

3) MOUNTAIN CLASSIFICATION

It will be obtained by summing the points of each rider on the climbs indicated as “Prémio da Montanha” (PM / Climb).

The rider with the largest sum of points will be the best classified.

The following points will be awarded considering the category of each climb:

 

Place                          Points

 

              Special                   Climb 1^st cat.            Climb 2^nd cat.           Climb 3^rd cat.            Climb 4^th cat.

 

1                               25                                15                                10                                5                                  3

2                               20                                13                                8                                  3                                  2

3                               17                                11                                6                                  2                                  1

4                               15                                9                                  4                                  1

5                               13                                7                                  2

6                               11                                5                                  1

7                               9                                  4

8                               7                                  3

9                               5                                  2

10                           4                                  1

11                           3

12                           2

13                           1

 

In accordance with Article 2.6.017 of the UCI Regulation, in case of a tie in the mountain classification, the following

criteria shall be applied in order until the tie is broken:

1. Number of first places in the highest category climbs;
2. Number of first places on climbs in the next inferior category and so on;
3. General Classification.

 

To benefit of the prizes of the final general classification, the rider must have completed the entire course of the race within the finishing time limits.

The leader of the mountain classification will wear the blue dot jersey Europcar.

 

4) YOUTH GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

The Youth General Classification is reserved to the Under23 category riders, according to the Individual General

Classification by Time.

The leader of the general youth classification will wear the white jersey Jogos Santa Casa.

 

5) TEAM GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

The Teams Classification for the day shall be calculated based on 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 their three best times on the stage. If the teams are still tied, they shall be separated by the placing of their best rider on the stage classification.

 

The Team General Classification shall be calculated based on the sum of the three best individual times from

each team in each stage ridden. In the event of a draw, the following criteria shall be applied in order until the

teams are separated:

1. number of first places in the daily team classifications
2. number of second positions in the daily team classifications, and so on.

 

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

Any team reduced to fewer than three riders shall be eliminated from the Team General Classification.

The Team leader in this classification use yellow bibs Carclasse.

 

6) COMBINED CLASSIFICATION  

It results from the sum of the classification of the riders in the individual general classification by times, general classification by points, general classification of the Mountain. To participate in this classification, riders must be classified in each of these classifications. In the event that no rider appears in the three classifications, the Combined classification will be obtained through places in two of the three classifications mentioned above. In the event of a tie, the winner of the “Combinado” prize will be the rider best classified in the individual general classification by times of the 84^th Volta a Portugal Continente.

 

7) THE BEST PORTUGUESE CLASSIFICATION

The best Portuguese rider in the General Classification by Time.

 

ARTICLE 12. TIME BONUS

In accordance with article 2.6.019, time bonus (with exclusive incidence on the individual general classification) are granted in all stages in line.

Bonuses are awarded at the Sprint and the Finish Line (arrival) of each stage, as follows:

1st) In each Sprint, 3”, 2” and 1” are assigned respectively to the first 3 classified.

2nd) At the Finish Line (arrival) of the stages, 10”, 6” and 4” are assigned respectively to the first 3 classified.

ARTICLE 13. PRIZES

The following prizes are awarded:

 

1) STAGE CLASSIFICATION AND INDIVIDUAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION BY TIME

Prologue Classification

 

1st                               € 1 402

2nd                              € 687

3rd                               € 348

4th                               € 174

5th                               € 145

6th                               € 107

7th                               € 107

8th                               € 75

9th                               € 75

10th » 20th                 € 38

 

      Stage Classification                                                                                    General Individual Classification

 

1st                               € 2 880                                                                              1st                               € 15 101

2nd                              € 1 458                                                                              2nd                              € 7 634     

3rd                               € 715                                                                                 3rd                               € 3 749

4th                               € 362                                                                                 4th                               € 1 897

5th                               € 296                                                                                 5th                               € 1 553

6th                               € 212                                                                                 6th                               € 1 114

7th                               € 212                                                                                 7th                               € 1 114

8th                               € 147                                                                                 8th                               € 773

9th                               € 147                                                                                 9th                               € 773

10th » 20th                 € 75                                                                                   10th » 20th                 € 394

 

2) POINTS CLASSIFICATION

Points General Classification

1st €1.500

 

3) MOUNTAIN CLASSIFICATION

Mountain General Classification

1st €1.500

 

4°) YOUTH CLASSIFICATION

Youth General Classification

1st €1.500

 

5) TEAMS CLASSIFICATION

Teams General Classification

1st  Throphy

 

6) COMBINED CLASSIFICATION

Combined General Classification

1st  Throphy

 

7) BEST PORTUGUESE CLASSIFICATION

General Classification

1st €1.500

 

The overall total prize money of the race is € 120 120.

 

ARTICLE 14. ANTIDOPING CONTROL

The UCI antidoping regulations are entirely applicable to the event.

 

The antidoping tests will take place in a caravan parked near the finish line.

 

ARTICLE 15. AWARD CEREMONY (ART. 1.2.112, 1.2.113 & 2.6.018BIS)

Based on the classifications established by the Organizer, riders are obliged to perform at the official protocol ceremony for the award of prizes, jerseys and symbols as following:

Prologue:

• Prologue winner RTP;
• The leader of the Individual General Classification (Yellow jersey Continente);
• The 2^nd place in the Individual General Classification (Orange jersey Galp);
• The 3^rd place in the Individual General Classification (Blue dots jersey Europcar);
• The 4^th place in the Individual General Classification (Combined General Classification Carclasse);
• The leader of the Youth General Classification (White jersey Jogos Santa Casa);
• The best Team of the Teams Classification in the stage (represented by 1 rider and SD);
• The best Portuguese in the Classification in the stage

 

From the 1^st stage to 9^th stage:

- Stage winner RTP;

- The leaders of the different general classifications: Individual General Classification (Yellow Jersey); Points General Classification (Orange Jersey); Mountain General Classification (Blue doit Jersey); Youth General Classification (White Jersey); Combined General Classification.

- The best Team of the Teams Classification in the stage (represented by 1 rider and SD);

• The best Portuguese in the Classification in the stage

 

Riders participating in the protocol ceremony must present themselves immediately upon arrival.

 

At the end of the final stage:

- Stage winner RTP;

- The leaders of the different general classifications: Individual General Classification (Yellow Jersey); Points General Classification (Orange Jersey); Mountain General Classification (Blue doit Jersey); Youth General Classification (White Jersey); Combined General Classification.

- The 2nd and 3rd of the General Classification.

- The winning Team of the Team General Classification (riders and the Sport Director);

- The best Portuguese in the Individual General Classification  

 

LEADER’S JERSEYS

The leader of each classification must wear the respective distinctive jersey. If a rider is the leader of multiple classifications, the order of priority of the leaders’ jerseys is as follows:

1) General Classification - Yellow Jersey Continente

2) Points Classification - Orange Jersey Galp

3) Mountain Classification – Blue dots Jersey Europcar

4) Youth Classification - White Jersey Jogos Santa Casa

 

If a rider is leader of several classifications, he will wear only one jersey according to the order of priority indicated above. In this case, the next rider in this classification will wear the jersey in question, unless he is the leader of another classification or if he must wear the World Champion or National Champion jersey or the leader’s jersey of a Cup, Circuit, Series or UCI Ranking.

 

PROTOCOL ON THE START OF THE STAGES (EXCEPT FOR TT)

The wearers of the leaders’ jerseys should take the start from the first raw, they should be present no later than 10 minutes before the neutralized start time.

 

ARTICLE 16. PRESENTATION OF THE TEAMS AND SIGNATURE OF THE STAR SHEET (AT ALL STAGES)

 

In accordance with article 2.3.009 of the UCI Regulations, the signing of the start sheet begins one hour and ten minutes before the time of departure from meeting place and ends ten minutes before it.

 

The Teams must present themselves complete for the signature of the starting sheet in the reverse order of the General Classification by Teams, except the Team of the Yellow Jersey bearer of General Individual Classification by Times that will present itself in last place.

The presence of the riders is mandatory, under penalty of the sanctions foreseen in article 2.12.007-1.1 and 1.2.

 

Riders must show up in full running gear.

 

ARTICLE 17. PENALTIES

The UCI penalty scale is the only one applicable.

 

ARTICLE 18. TEAM ADVERTISING AUTHORISATION

It is forbidden for the Sponsoring Trademarks of the Teams and participating riders to have any type of publicity without prior written authorization from the Race Organizer.
In the event of non-compliance with this article, the Team harmed by its Sponsor may be penalized, due to undue publicity rights, with the possible expulsion of the team from the Event.

 

ARTICLE 19. INSURANCES

In accordance with articles 1.1.006 and 1.1.022 of the UCI regulations, all riders and teams’ technical staff should be covered by insurance covering all kind of accidents that may happen during the competition and their consequences in terms of civil responsibility.

The organizer bears no responsibility for any damage caused to third parties and/or material damages before, during, and after the stages always and when it complies with the security rules established in the UCI regulations.

In accordance with article 1.2.034, the organizer is required to have risk coverage insurance.

 

ARTICLE 20. ENVIRONMENT

The organization 84ª Volta a Portugal Continente, safeguarding the good principles of environment protection and promotion of ecological cycling, appeals to the parties involved in the event to adopt measures to maintain clean all the places of the start, the finish and during the race.

 

According to article 2.3.025, in all stages, green zones will be created and clearly identified to be used by the riders, every 40km or 40km of the race and a last one on the last kms of the race before the final section.