How Commissaires Manage the Convoy

Summary

The role of commissaires in road cycling races is crucial for ensuring safety, fairness, and order. Positioned at strategic points within the race convoy, commissaires oversee the movement of support vehicles, manage race situations like breakaways, and enforce rules. They work closely with the race director and police, ensuring that all riders adhere to race guidelines. The team of commissaires is responsible for ensuring a fair race, making key decisions regarding vehicle placement, and addressing race changes like splits or mechanical issues. Their responsibilities culminate with the final race assessment and awarding ceremony.

Takeaways

• 😀 Commissaires play a crucial role in ensuring a secure, fair, and safe race environment for both competitors and staff.
• 😀 Commissaires oversee the movement of team and support vehicles during the race, coordinating with race organizers like traffic police.
• 😀 In Australian road races, team support cars must travel on the left side of the road to ensure safety and order.
• 😀 There are four main commissaire cars in a race, each with distinct responsibilities ranging from overseeing the peloton to managing the race convoy.
• 😀 Commissaire One, the President of the Commissaires Panel, makes key decisions about the positioning of other commissaire cars and communicates with the race director and police.
• 😀 Commissaire Two manages the lead group and the neutral service vehicle, ensuring fair play during the early stages of the race.
• 😀 Commissaires Three and Four manage the rear and front of the team support convoy, ensuring proper positioning and control of team vehicles.
• 😀 Neutral service motorcycles and vehicles support the race by assisting riders and managing the movements of breakaway groups or smaller groups in front of the peloton.
• 😀 Team support vehicles must obtain commissaire authorization to move between breakaway groups and the chasing peloton to ensure fairness.
• 😀 In critical race moments, such as splits caused by crosswinds, commissaires may issue a 'barrage' to block team vehicles from assisting riders behind, requiring them to catch up without outside help.
• 😀 At the end of the race, the commissaires report to the PCP, who ensures the race results are official, and the award ceremony can proceed.

Q & A

What is the primary mission of commissaires during a race?

The primary mission of commissaires is to enforce a secure, fair, and safe workplace for both the competitors and those working in the race convoy.

What is the role of Commissaire Number One?

Commissaire Number One is the President of the Commissaires Panel, starting behind the peloton, making key decisions, and overseeing the positioning of other commissaire cars during the race. They also maintain communication with the race director and police.

How does Commissaire Two assist in the early stages of the race?

Commissaire Two starts at the front of the peloton behind the race director, controlling the lead group, managing the neutral service vehicle, and overseeing any team cars sent forward.

What is the role of Commissaires Three and Four?

Commissaires Three and Four travel at the front and rear of the sports directors' cars, respectively. They manage the movement of team support vehicles and monitor the return of dropped riders after a crash or mechanical issue.

What happens when a breakaway opens up a gap of approximately 30 seconds?

When a breakaway opens up a gap of about 30 seconds, the television and neutral service motorcycles may follow the breakaway under the direction of the commissaire.

How do commissaires ensure fairness when a breakaway occurs?

The commissaires ensure fairness by controlling the position of team support cars and neutral service vehicles. Team cars are not allowed to slip between the breakaway riders and the chasing group without authorization.

What actions are taken if team vehicles move without permission during a race?

If a team vehicle moves without permission, they may be warned, fined, sent to the back of the race convoy, or excluded from the race altogether.

What is the purpose of a 'barrage' in a race?

A 'barrage' is used to block team vehicles from driving between the lead group and riders left behind, ensuring those riders must catch up to the leaders without external help or slipstream from the race convoy.

What happens at the end of the race when commissaires report to the PCP?

At the end of the race, the commissaires report to the PCP, who notifies the Finish Judge about any irregularities. Once the results are deemed official, the award ceremony can take place.

What is the role of the SAG wagon during the race?

The SAG wagon stays behind the last rider in the race, even after the peloton and team cars have moved forward, ensuring the last rider receives necessary support.