BackRACE RULES

SWIM RULES:

Each swimmer must wear a swim cap provided by the race organisers. Wearing swim goggles or a face mask is recommended, but optional. Wetsuits are permitted.
No fins, paddles, snorkels, or flotation devices of any kind are allowed.
Please be sure your timing chip is properly fixed on your left ankle.
No individual paddlers or escorts will be allowed. The Swim Course will be adequately patrolled by surfboards, kayaks and patrol boats.
Time penalties will be imposed on athletes not behind the official start line 5 minutes prior to each wave start. The Warm up area is to the left of the start area. Once you cross the timing mats to the start area, you cannot exit this area for any reason.
Swimmers are required to stay on course, swim anti-clockwise and keep course markers to the left, except for the last buoy, which will be on your RIGHT. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
A swimmer experiencing difficulty and in need of assistance MUST raise an arm overhead, pump it up and down, and call or seek assistance. A swimmer who has received assistance, whether voluntary or involuntary, must retire and withdraw from the remainder of the race, unless such assistance did not aid the swimmer in making forward progress. No swimmer shall return to the race if the official rendering assistance requests that the participant withdraws from the race or receive medical assistance.
The swim course will be CLOSED 1 hour and 10 minutes after the start of each wave. Contestants who have not crossed the timing mat that records the end of the swim will be disqualified and will not be permitted to continue the event.
After the swim, contestants must collect their bike gear bag. This is a security measure designed to maintain an accurate count of swimmers in and out of the water.
Wetsuits may only be stripped to the waist and completely removed in the changing tent. Athletes who do not follow this rule will be given a 4 minute penalty in the penalty box.
After the swim, contestants must dress for the bike portion of the race in designated changing tents only. No dressing will be allowed in the bike holding area as it impedes traffic through the bike lanes. Public nudity is prohibited.After changing, drop off bike gear bag in designated "bag drop off zone", outside changing tent

CYCLE RULES:

Bike and Helmet numbers will be supplied in your Registration Packs. All bikes must have the supplied identification sticker affixed to their seat post or on the RIGHT rear portion of the bike frame that leads from the seat post to the wheel. Helmet numbers must be attached to the front of the helmet.
All contestants are required to ride road/racing bikes. For Individuals - Mountain bikes, beach cruisers and bikes with coaster-type brakes are prohibited. For Teams - mountain bikes will be allowed.
No tandems, recumbents and fairings or any add-on devices designed exclusively to reduce resistance are allowed. Solid disc wheels are allowed. Any new, "unusual" or prototype equipment will be subject to a determination of legality by the Bike Director and/or the Chief Race Referee.
All bikes and helmets will be checked in on the Saturday prior to race day. Race officials
reserve the right to reject any bike / helmet not meeting safety standards. If the bike does not meet safety standards, the contestant will be required to correct the problem before
participating in the race. There will be an Official Bike Shop (Cycle HQ / Triangle Sports) gazebo at the entrance to the transition where bikes can be adjusted or repaired. Once your bike is checked into the holding area, only small covers on the bike computer will be allowed. Large plastic bags that cover the entire bike will not be permitted.
Shoes must be in the Bike Transition Bags or secured to bike pedals. Shoes may NOT be beside the bike. Shoes and shirt must be worn at all times.
Each contestant must wear IRONMAN issued race number at all times while on the course. Race number must be placed low on BACK of rider’s jersey or on the race belt where it is clearly visible. Folding or cutting race number or intentional alteration of any kind is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
No mp3 players or cell phones are permitted during the cycle leg. Athletes will be disqualified if caught using one.
Individual support will be not be allowed. There is no special needs stations in an Ironman 70.3 race.
Each contestant must be individually responsible for repair and maintenance of their own bike. Assistance by anyone, other than IRONMAN technical support officials will be grounds for disqualification. Each cyclist should be prepared to handle any possible mechanical malfunction. Technical support DOES NOT include the normal changing of flat tyres. You may not receive a spare wheel if yours breaks. You can carry your bike to finish the cycle portion of the race, as long as you finish in the allotted time for the cycle.
Contestants are expected to heed directions and instructions of all race officials and public authorities
Contestants may walk with their bike, if necessary, but may not make progress on the bike course unaccompanied by bicycle.
After bike portion, contestants must pick up their Run Transition Bags. This is a security measure designed to maintain an accurate count of bikers still on the course.
All contestants must mount and dismount in the marked zones at the transition area. Under no circumstances should a participant ride his/her bike inside the transition area.
Absolutely NO DRAFTING of another bike or any other vehicle is allowed. The 10 meter draft zone rule will apply (4 bike lengths). Contestants must ride single file on the far left side of the road except when passing another rider. All passing is to the right.
You have to ride directly behind the athlete in front of you. You can only move out when you want to pass. If you stay out it is called "BLOCKING" and you will be penalised. You have 25 seconds to get your front wheel in front of the athlete’s front wheel that you are overtaking. He/she then has 25 seconds to get back 10 metres.
Referees will whistle and firstly call your number and warn you that you are in violation of a rule. If you don’t respond they will then whistle and show you a Yellow (any other penalty) or Red card (Drafting). This means you have to stop at the next penalty tent on the course. A yellow card is for any rule violation besides drafting and requires you to sign into the tent and then you can leave. If you don’t report to the tent, 4 minutes will be added to your finish time. A red card is for drafting. If you don’t report at all, you will be disqualified. If you report a yellow card but received a red card, you will also be disqualified. This requires you to sign in and spend 4 minutes in the penalty tent. The referee in charge of the penalty tent will cross your race number. You NEED TO INFORM STAFF OF WHAT CARD YOU RECEIVED. There will be 2 penalty tents – 1 on the course be at the 45km turn point and 1 in transition. Any combination of 3 cards and you will be disqualified. Your bike will be checked out using your TIMING CHIP and Chip Belt. If you are unable to fetch your own bike for any reason, a family member or friend may collect it for you as long as they have the Bike Check-Out card + your timing chip and chip belt present at check out. Your Bike Check-Out Card will be included in your Registration packs.

PLEASE NOTE: NO bike will leave transition without the exchange of your timing chip & chip belt!

RUN RULES:

No form of locomotion other than running, walking or crawling is allowed.
Runners must wear their number at all times on the course. Race numbers issued by IRONMAN identify the official contestants in the race. Folding or cutting race numbers or intentional alteration of any kind is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Run number must be placed on FRONT of runner andsecurely attached. Race belts may be worn. Shoes and shirts are required on the run segment.
This is an INDIVIDUAL event. No individual support vehicles or non-contestant escort runners are allowed. Teamwork as a result of outside assistance that provides an advantage over single competitors is not allowed. Ample aid and food stations will be provided. Individual support vehicles or non-contestant escort runners will result in disqualification. A non-contestant escort runner includes contestants who have withdrawn from the race, have been disqualified or have finished the race. Friends, family members, coaches or supporters of any type may not bike, drive or run alongside contestant, may not pass food or other items to contestant and should be warned to stay completely clear of all contestants to avoid disqualification. It is incumbent upon each contestant to reject immediately any attempt to assist, follow or escort.
There is no special needs aid stations in a Ironman 70.3 race.
Follow the directions and instructions of all race officials and public authorities.
No MP3 Players or cellphones allowed. If caught wearing one, you will be disqualified.

RULES APPLYING TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE RACE

WTC rules state that once an athlete competes as a professional / elite in an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon qualifying race, the athlete cannot compete as an age grouper in that respective year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon World Championship or any other 70.3 qualifying race
Contestants are expected to heed directions and instructions of all race officials and public authorities.
Course referees shall have authority to disqualify any contestant and this disqualification cannot be appealed
Medical personnel shall have ULTIMATE and FINAL authority to remove a contestant from the race if the contestant is judged to be physically incapable of continuing the race without risk of serious injury or death. Medical transport of any contestant will result in disqualification
No contestant may use alcohol or any illegal, detrimental or dangerous drugs, stimulants, depressants or other substances or procedures with the intent to improve performance, eliminate the sense of fatigue or for any other purpose. Violation of this rule is grounds for immediate disqualification and will result in suspension as determined by the Race Director and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). Offenders will be banned from all future IRONMAN licensed events
The Medical Control Rules set forth by Drug Free Sport, in harmony with the international WTC regulations and policies on banned substances, will be binding on all contestants. In addition, other rules and regulations, even if not yet recognized by the WTC may be instituted, which if such occurs, you agree to abide by. Contestants may be requested to undergo drug testing procedures before and after the events. If you are requested to do so, you hereby agree to abide by such testing procedures.
Should any contestant test positive for any substance banned by the WTC regulations and policies and is not vindicated by the administrative appeal process, or test positive for any other item as mentioned above, the contestant, at the judgment of IRONMAN officials, will be banned from participation for a period as determined by the Race Director and the World Triathlon Corporation.
Fraud, theft, abusive treatment of volunteers or others and acts of poor sportsmanship are grounds for immediate disqualification and will result in the contestant being suspended from competing in any IRONMAN event in the future.
If a contestant decides to withdraw from the race at any time, it is the responsibility of the contestant to report to the Info Tent at the finish line. It is essential that race officials know where contestants are on the course at all times. Failure to comply after withdrawing from the race may result in contestant being prevented from competing in any IRONMAN event in the future
The IRONMAN reserves the right to make rule changes at any time provided all athletes are notified in writing and/or at the pre-race mandatory Race Briefing.
Communication devices of any type are strictly prohibited during competition. Use of such devices may result in disqualification.
Ironman 70.3 South Africa does not allow the transfer of an athlete’s registration – no exceptions will be made to this rule. Any attempt to transfer registration will result in disqualification and suspension from future participation in any IRONMAN event
If weather conditions are such, the format of the race can be changed at the discretion of the RACE DIRECTOR. This will be done at least 30min before the start of the race
All images, persons names, video and audio recordings in broadcasts, telecasts, the press, Internet and in all types of printed material, including advertisements for this or other similar events, if the images etc, pertain to the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa Event may be used for free by the race organisers.
Those athletes without medical insurance / medical aid, will be admitted only to a governmental hospital if hospilization is required.
International athletes need to provide the race organizers with credit card details as these are needed for hospital administration. You claim back from your medical insurance. This information must be provided at Registration.