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 THE RACE LIVE
Rules & Stakes
Important: we have selected extracts from the articles in the regulations (download complete version, format PDF - 915 Ko).
Article 1 - Participation
The 92nd Tour de France takes place from Saturday the 2nd of July to Saturday the 24th of July 2005, with 21 teams of 9 riders each, making a total of 189 competitors. [...]
Article 2 - Identification of riders
Riders are required to attach an easily seen plate bearing their number to the front of their bicycle frames or, if this is impossible, to another place on the bicycle as well as 2 bibs (small format) precisely above their thighs, on both the right and the left sides. [...]
Article 4 - Technical assistance
All riders may render small services to each other, such as lending or exchanging food, drink or accessories. However, the lending or exchange of wheels or bicycles is only permitted between riders of the same team [...]
Article 6 - Feeding
In general, feeding is permitted at any time starting from the 50th km distance marker up to the distance marker indicating "end of feeding" (20 km from the finish). [...]
Article 7 - Infraction en course
Breaches of the regulations during the race
Slipstreaming behind a motor vehicle, pushing, handflinging, pulling and holding on are strictly forbidden. [...]
Article 8 - Riders withdrawing from the race
Any rider withdrawing from the race must hand in his race number to a commissaire riding in the sag wagon. [...]
Article 9 - Obligations of THE teams
Riders and team managers must abide by the discipline and rules dictated by both the principle of equal treatment and the reputation of the Tour de France as a sporting event. [...]
Article 10 - Leaders' jerseys
Leaders in the general time, points, best climber and youth general time classifications must wear:
• in the first case, the "yellow jersey";
• in the second case, the "green jersey";
• in the third case, the "red polka dot jersey";
• in the fourth case, the "white jersey".
Leaders' jerseys will be worn in the following order: first the yellow jersey, then the green jersey, followed by the red polka dot and white jerseys. If a rider is leading in more than one general classification, he will, of course, wear only one jersey in compliance with this order of priority. The riders occupying the 2nd, 3rd or 4th positions in the corresponding classification standings will then wear the other jerseys. [...]
Article 14 - Timing
All riders finishing in the same bunch are awarded the same time. [...]
Article 15 - Medical care
Medical care during the race is provided exclusively by the official medical staff, from the time riders enter the checking area at the start of the race, until they leave it at the finish of the race. [...]
Article 17 - Start of stages
For all road racing stages, riders and their team managers must be present at the signature checkpoint at least ten minutes before it closes.After the riders have been called by the race managers, the actual start may take any one of three forms:
• "Standing": from the signature checkpoint where the route allows it;
• "Diferred standing": if the start point chosen by the organizers is rather far away from the signature checkpoint;
• "Flying": if the place chosen by the race organizers is not very far from the signature checkpoint, at the "0 km point".
Article 18 - Course route
Riders must always follow the official course route. The use by riders of any other route, particularly shortcuts, incurs a penalty.
Article 19 - RAILROAD crossing
It is forbidden for riders to cross railroad crossings when the barrier is down.
Any riders not complying with this requirement are disqualified from the race by the commissaires.
Article 20 - Stage finishes
General provisions
Stage finishes are signalled by a ”red flame” hanging from the inflatable arch located one kilometre from the finishing line. In the event that the finishing portal is absent, the finish is signalled by a black and white chequered flag waved by a race official.
In the event a rider or riders suffer a fall, puncture or mechanical incident after passing the “red flame,” and such an incident is duly recognised, in the last 3 kilometres, the rider or riders involved are credited with the same finishing time of the rider or riders they were with at the time of the incident. They are attributed this ranking only upon crossing the finish line.
Article 22 - Finishing deadlines
Depending on the type of stage and the difficulties involved, finishing deadlines are calculated based coefficients….
Article 23 - Individual time trials
In the individual time trial stages, the starting order is as follows:
• In Fromentine: at one-minute intervals; the starting order is that drawn up by the race management and team managers.
• In Saint-Étienne: at 2-minute intervals, then three-minute intervals for the last starters. Riders start in reverse order of the general ranking established following the 19th stage. [...]
A rider caught by another may neither lead nor follow in the latter's slipstream.
A rider must leave a gap of at least 2 meters between himself and any rider he passes. A rider caught by another rider will stay at least 25 meters behind the latter.
Any help between riders is forbidden. [...]
Each rider may be accompanied by a vehicle carrying spares. A following vehicle must remain about 10 m behind its rider; it may never draw level with him and all information must be communicated from behind. A following vehicle may take up position between two riders only if they are at least 50 m apart. If this gap closes, the vehicle accompanying the first rider must immediately drop back behind the second one.
Article 24 - Team time trials
Teams start their team time trial at 5 minute intervals in the reverse order of the team ranking established following the 3rd stage. [...]
The stage ranking is established for each of the teams based on the finishing time of the 5th rider in each team (to the nearest hundredth of a second). An identical time is given to all teammates who arrive within this same time, even if they actually finish quicker.
The procedure for establishing the general individual time ranking is as follows: Times for all riders are calculated according to the gap between them and the 5th man of the winning team (scratch time).
If this gap is less than that given in the table below, then the actual time recorded by the timekeepers will be taken.
If the gap is more than that given in the table below, then the rider will receive the time of the winning team plus the additional number of seconds indicated in the table below according to the place of their team.[...]
Riders who arrive on their own after the 5th rider in their team will be credited for the general ranking with the actual time they took to complete the stage.
However, riders finishing outside of the permitted finishing times (coefficient 5) will be disqualified.
As far as the general team ranking is concerned, the actual time of the 5th man in each team will be the time recorded for this ranking. [...]
Article 25 - Rankings
a) GENERAL INDIVIDUAL TIME CLASSIFICATION
The general individual time ranking is established by adding together the times achieved by each rider in the 21 stages including bonuses and time penalties.
b)GENERAL INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION
The general individual points classification will be determined by adding the points obtained in the prologue and the individual stage classification, in accordance with the following scales and taking into account time penalties:
c) BEST CLIMBER CLASSIFICATION
The best climber classification is determined by adding the points won in all mountain and hill climbs, [...]
d) YOUNG RIDERS CLASSIFICATION
The young riders classification is open only to riders born after January 1st 1980.
e) GENERAL TEAM CLASSIFICATION
The general team classification is determined by adding each team's best three individual times for every stage.
In the event of a tie in the general classification, the order of teams is determined based on the number of stage wins by team, then their number of second places, and so on until a number of places obtained by one of them enables them to be finally placed.
A team reduced to fewer than 3 riders is eliminated from the general team classification.
f) MOST AGGRESSIVE RIDER CLASSIFICATION
This prize is awarded to the rider who displays the most effort and sportsmanship.The recipient of the most aggressive rider is decided on during the road racing stages by a panel chaired by the race manager.
The general classification is determined by adding the points given by all members of the panel in each one of the road racing stages.
In the event of a tie in the final general classification, the order is determined based on riders' placings in the general individual time classification.
Competitors must finish the Tour de France in order to be placed in the most aggressive rider classification.
Article 26 - Bonuses
Article 28 - Drug testing control
Article 29 - Dismissal
Where it is deemed that the image or reputation of the Tour de France may be blemished, notably with regard to anti-doping laws, to the behavior of any member of a trade team, the organizer, in consultation with the stewards committee, reserves the right at any time during the race to exclude the rider(s) or the team member(s) involved from the race.
Article 31
The present regulations were originally written in the French language. In the case of any misinterpretations the French language version will be the reference.
Code of ethics
The Tour de France is invested with its own values, without which it would lose not only its sporting credibility, but also its unquestionable cultural, economic and social role.
These core values retain their meaning over time, in tandem with the notions of competition, confrontation, surpassing oneself and, ultimately, the chief objective of victory.
But it's not just a question of competing in any way or obtaining victory at any price.
Like all sporting activities, like other cycling events and especially as it is the most prestigious event of all, the Tour de France must therefore be accompanied by:
> Precise rules, of which neither the letter nor the spirit must be broken.
> Respect for the officials responsible for the application of these rules and for the decisions they may be called upon to take.
> Equality of opportunity offered to the competitors. Any advantage accorded to a particular rider in an illicit manner is against sporting ethics. It is for this reason that drug-taking, all too prevalent in ordinary society, is intolerable in sport.
> A rigorous operation conducted against cheating, corruption and any type of arrangement that facilitates victory by non-sporting means.
The reputation and popularity enjoyed by the Tour de France among a public accustomed to high achievement and legend is dependent on the acceptance of these principles.
The champions of today are the custodians of a heritage that is indissociable from the moral virtues that have helped to forge it.
It is incumbent upon all riders, regardless of the place they occupy and the level of their performances, to respect this fundamental ethic. If they fail to do so, they risk leading their sport on a downward spiral into perversion and decadence.
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