BEDFORD TRIATHLON - STANDARD DISTANCE 2019: (2020 details to be confirmed)

Pre-Race Briefing DocumentDear Competitor,Welcome to the Bedford Triathlon Pre-Race Briefing Document.
Please take the time to read and understand the information contained in it.  You may have read hundreds of these however it is important that you understand our event requirements and that which are required by the governing bodies.

*This is a NON-Drafting Race*

DETAILS
Bedford Standard Distance Triathlon 
Date: 11th August 2019
Distances:  Standard Distance
Race Venue: The Embankment, Bedford, MK40 3QF
Parking: Aspects Leisure Centre, Newnham Ave, Bedford MK41 9LW
Directions: Here

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

START TIMES

WEATHER
See the predicted forecast HERE

PARKING
All parking is at Aspects Leisure Park, just a 10 minutes’ walk from the race start and will be signed and open from 05:30 on race day.

REGISTRATION & TRANSITION ENTRY
Registration will be open on Saturday evening from 16:00-18:00. Adjacent to the Butterfly Bridge, The Embankment, Bedford and on the morning of the event from 05:30 to 06:30.

Parking will be open from 05:30, follow the signs to registration.

Please note: NOTHING WILL BE POSTED OUT; Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time to register and prepare yourselves (the races will start with or without you).

At registration you will receive a race pack, which should contain the following items:

You will only be allowed into transition if you are wearing your race number as well as your bike and helmet having a corresponding number (all found in your registration pack).  Your helmet must be on your head and fastened at the entrance to transition.  Officials WILL BE checking that your helmet is correctly fitted, i.e. when fastened you should only be able to get two fingers under the strap.  Please ensure your helmet is adjusted correctly before trying to get into transition, you will be turned away if it’s not correct.  NON-Draft legal bike requirements / checks will be carried out. 
CHECK RULE BOOK HERE 

COURSES
SWIM COURSE       CLICK HERE
BIKE COURSE         CLICK HERE
RUN COURSE         CLICK HERE

SWIM (1500m)
Swim hats will be provided and must be worn by all competitors.
Throughout the clockwise swim you should keep the Large swim buoys to your Right.
The swim route comprises 1 x 1500m lap.  You will be heading upstream on the southern side of the river towards the town bridge on the way out and downstream on the northern side on the way back to transition.  Keep to the left-hand side of the river and turn clockwise at the buoys at the turn point.  
No hand or feet coverings are allowed during the swim.  Neoprene under hats may be worn below your supplied hat.

SWIM SAFETY
This is a natural environment, so as you enter and exit the water take your time and be aware of slips, trips and falls.  Water quality testing has been carried out to verify the suitability of the water for swimming.  The EA confirmation is attached Insert Link
At the water exit there will be marshals to give assistance if required. A Water Safety team will be on the water for your safety.  Please abide by their directions.

If during the swim you find yourself or witness another athlete getting into difficulty, simply turn on your back and raise one arm into the air and raise a vocal alarm.  Canoeists, rescue launces and or bank rescue staff will come to your aid.  If you appear to be struggling in the swim or have been in the water for a long time you may be pulled out and this will at the discretion of the safety crews.

WATER TEMPERATURE
As the river is running water it is highly likely that wetsuits will be permitted, however if there is a heatwave raising the water temperature a non-wetsuit swim is a possibility.  (Please be aware of the BTF ruling regarding water temperature. We will update you during the week regarding the river water temperature.
 
 *YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM “BACKSTROKE” AT OUR EVENTS*
You will be disqualified if found doing so.

*Note that water safety is only provided during the race itself.  Do not swim outside the swim race and allocated warm up times. *

TRANSITION AND MOUNT
We operate a tidy transition, please only bring essential equipment into transition, bags will not be allowed next to your bikes any left will be removed to the edge of transition.  
Bright coloured towels, talc, or any other forms of obvious position marking will be addressed by the “Transition Official” potentially resulting in time penalties for the competitor.

From the swim, run into transition and find your bike.  Remember to consider others when removing your wet suit; do not leave where it will be tripped over by your fellow competitors. (Wet suits are not allowed to hang over the racking it must be left on the floor next to your bike).  Do not touch your bike until you have put on and fastened your cycle helmet.

Run with your bike out of transition via the “Bike Out” exit.  Do not get on your bike until you cross the marked “Mount Line” Remember at this point your race number should be displayed on your back

BIKE
The bike course is on open roads with no road closures, except for The Embankment, so ensure you follow the Highway Code at all times.  Look out for the event signs and marshals to keep you on the right course.  Pay particular attention on the lanes and at the junctions. It’s YOUR responsibility to know the course, do not rely on signs and marshals although it the course will be very well signed and marshalled.

THERE IS A MADATORY “FOOTDOWN” POINT IN CARDINGTON AT APPROX 3.5 MILES, IT IS WELL MARKED AND MARSHALED. ANY-ONE CAUGHT NOT PUTTING THEIR FOOT DOWN AND STOPPING WILL BE INSTANTLY DISQUALIFIED.

Foot down Means:  Stop, Uncleat and touch one foot on the ground within the marked box. If safe to do so, you may then proceed.
NB: There are marshals present, but they will NOT help with your road safety this is your responsibility and yours alone 

BIKE ROUTE
On leaving transition you will turn onto The Embankment, which will be closed to traffic,

At the junction of The Embankment and Newnham Avenue, you will turn left onto Longholme Way taking extreme care as you join the carriageway.  Proceed north to the Barkers Lane roundabout and go all the way round and back onto Longholme Way. Carry in a southerly direction along Longholme Way to the Cardington Road roundabout and take the first left onto Cardington Road.

There are three sets of traffic lights on Cardington Road. At this time in the morning it unlikely that these will affect your race, however If the lights are red you MUST stop. There will be marshals at these points.

Stay straight on at the Tesco roundabout (3rd exit) and straight on at the next roundabout and follow the road over one further roundabout out to the large roundabout at the junction with the A421.  Take the fourth exit towards Cardington village and continue to the T junction in the village where you take a right turn. This is the mandatory foot down junction. Follow Southill Road out of the village up the Col du Hillfoot! and on to the T-junction at the edge of Old Warden village, where you turn right. Take extreme care at this junction!

Stay straight on this road until you reach an old railway bridge and immediately after this turn left signed Ireland.  This takes you along to another T junction where you turn left, passing the Black Horse pub on your right.  At the next junction turn right signed Shefford.  Stay straight on down the hill until you reach the T junction where you turn left into Shefford itself.

On entering Shefford, at the first roundabout take first exit towards the village of Stanford. Stay on this road and continue straight over the G&M Growers roundabout. After 2 miles take the left turn towards Northill and Hatch. Continue on to Northill and turn right just before the church towards Cople on the Bedford Road. Stay on this road into Cople, where you take a left signed Cardington, opposite the Five Bells pub and immediately before the church.

Continue into Cardington village to the Kings Arms junction where you take a right turn onto Bedford Road and progress to the A421 roundabout.  Take the second exit off the roundabout signed to Bedford Town Centre. Carry straight on across 2 further roundabouts.  At the next roundabout, take the third exit back onto Longholme Road.  Keep straight on to the left turn onto The Embankment back to transition.  Dismount before the dismount line.

This is an undulating route in places but is very fast with the right conditions. The roads are in good condition, which may mean cars go fast too, so take extra care when negotiating bends etc.  There is a sweep vehicle and motorcycles patrolling the route. If you are unable to continue with your race please inform a marshal and they will arrange a pick up, but this may take some time for them to get to you.This an open road event, please ensure you ride to the left at all times except when over taking.  Do not ride in the middle of the road.  Please treat all other road users with respect, at all times.  Abuse of any kind from competitors will not be tolerated. 
THIS IS A NON-DRAFTING RACE 
Please make sure you understand the requirements / format of NON draft legal racing CLICK HERE FOR RULES.  Ignorance is no defence.

TRANSITION 2 & DISMOUNT
When back at Transition, you will dismount your bike BEFORE the marked “Dismount Line” and run with your bike to the “BIKE IN” entrance, rack in the same place you removed your bike from and only then you may remove your helmet.  Run out will be at the “RUN OUT” sign.  Remember to turn your number to the front if wearing a number belt.

RUN (10km)
This is a 3-lap course, which will be well marked and marshalled. Your race number should now be displayed on your front.  Exit transition at the “RUN OUT” sign and follow the marked course (signs/ arrows/ and tapes).  Marshals will be at all turns.  Please remember the run route paths are open to the public, please be courteous.  As you near the final stages of the run please ensure you turn to go down the finish straight.  This will be marshalled.
Abuse from any competitors to marshals, officials or the public will not be tolerated.

Please do not litter the countryside with your Gel wrappers or other litter. If you can carry them full, you can carry them empty until you reach the feed station where you can dispose of them properly.

PRIZES & PRESENTATION 
This will take place as soon as practical outside registration as results become available.

Prizes: