One of the rules that set criterium racing apart from other forms of road racing is the free lap rule (3D5). Criteriums are circuit races held on a small (800 m to 5 km) course which is entirely closed to traffic (sometimes when you have a course which is not entirely closed to traffic you will hear the “this is a circuit race held under criterium rules” stated in the race instructions).
Category: The Official Word
Race Numbers 101
One thing is universally common among bike racers regardless of the discipline or category: If you race, you’re going to be wearing a number. Racers wear numbers for identification purposes: who are you, are you registered for this event/category, etc. Rule 1N7 governs racing numbers. It requires promoters to make numbers available and defines the minimum size of the number and boarder space around the number. Rule 1N7 makes it the rider’s responsibility to place the number as prescribed by officials in such a way that they are visible when the rider is in the racing position.