1. Age Group Briefing
Hello and the warmest of welcome to you all to the 2018 ITU Grand Final Age Group Briefing.

2. Competition Jury AG STANDARD: Renato Bertrandi (ITA), Represents ITU
Jacqui Kenny (AUS), Chair
Renato Bertrandi (ITA), Represents ITU
Miles Stewart (AUS), Represents NF

3. Schedule - STANDARD Friday Saturday
09:00 – 16:00 STANDARD Registration
10:00 – 15:00 Q&A Session
Saturday
11:00 – 15:00 STANDARD Bike Racking

4. Schedule - STANDARD Sunday
04:30 – 07:00 ITU STANDARD last minute bike gear check (no bicycles)
04:30 – 13:00 STANDARD Gear Drop/Collection
06:15 ITU GRAND FINAL STANDARD START
14:30 – 16:00 STANDARD Bike Check Out
18:30 – 19:00 Medal Ceremony ITU AG STANDARD
19: :00 ITU Grand Final Gold Coast Closing Party

5. Venue Map .

6. Race Kit Athlete wrist band/Accreditation Race Bib Number Swim Cap
Body Tattoos (Decals)
Wetsuit Tattoos (Decals)
Gear Bag
Bike Seat Post Sticker
Helmet Stickers
Gear Bag Sticker
Bike Pump Sticker
Timing Chip
Partnership Gift (surprise)
Page 10 of the Athlete’s Guide details the countries and their times for checking in.
During bike racking

7. After bike racking Race Kit
Page 10 of the Athlete’s Guide details the countries and their times for checking in.
After bike racking

8. SWIM Equipment Rules
All competitors must wear the official event swim cap.
If you are wearing 2 caps (2nd cap unbranded), the event cap must be on the outside
Athletes must wear the approved uniform for the non-wetsuit swims.
If athletes choose to wear more than one trisuit, both have to comply with the specifications.,
Wetsuits up to 5mm thickness
Vest warmers are NOT allowed
Gloves are NOT permitted
Any part of the body may be covered except the face, hands and feet
Any other swim equipment is prohibited including:
iPods/MP3 devices
Gloves or Socks (including but not limited to Compression Socks)
Do not discard your swim cap on the course, this is considered littering and could result in a penalty.
Please place it in the Transition with your gear .

9. BIKE/RUN Equipment Rules
Athletes can wear long sleeved shirt under their uniform – it must be worn for the entire event
Athletes will not be able to remove the shirt at any time during the event
Arm warmers can be worn and can be removed during the event. The arm warmers must be deposited in your transition spot.
Please don’t hand the arm warmers to someone else or deposit them off course during the race. This will lead to a time penalty
If you prefer to wear a jacket during the event, it must be clear/transparent or national federation kit.
Bib number is optional on the bike but mandatory to wear it on the run. .

10. Check In Procedures Bike and Helmet Check In (day before your race)
Athletes must be wearing the Athlete Wrist Band
Bike check – legal bars, frame, wheels, bike numbers
Helmet check – snug strap, no cracks, numbers attached
Full bike covers are not allowed
Race day check in:
Body marking check (body, wetsuit and category tattoos)
Uniform check
Wetsuit check
Bag storage at the bag drop off
Bike technicians are on site.
All “marks” will be removed by Technical Officials
Timing Chips
Distribution during bike racking
Worn on your left ankle
If you DNS or DNF return the Timing Chip to one of the Drop Out Clerks located at the Event Information Centre .

11. Bike Check Bike Check Refer to 5.2 in the competition rules
Handle bars with clip-ons (only for the AG STANDARD)
Wheels
Helmet
Bike frame
Technological fraud check
Approved bike frame exceptions on ITU website
ads/category/athletes
Approval for the addition/modification of any equipment to the bike, MUST be obtained from the HEAD REFEREE up until 10 minutes from the end of this Athletes’ Briefing .

12. SWIM Rules Wetsuit Ruling/Speed Suits Speed Suits
Water Temperature - 22C and above: Wetsuits are not allowed
Water Temperature between 21.9 – 16C: Wetsuits optional
Water Temperature C and below: Wetsuits are mandatory
The official water temperature will be taken 1 hour prior to first wave entering the water and every 30min following to this.
Speed Suits
These may be worn if they comply with the ITU Competition Rules:
Must be 100% textile material and not have any rubberised material
Must follow ITU branding guidelines (Appendix F, ITU Competition Rules)
If a speed suit is worn, it must be worn for the duration of the event. It cannot be removed in Transition. .

13. STANDARD DISTANCE INFORMATION.

14. STANDARD Race Day Information
Transition Area Schedule
04:30 – 06:15 Swim Wave 1 – 13
04:30 – 07:00 Swim Waves 14– 26
Uniform Check
Technical Officials will be conducting uniform checks as you enter Transition and also in Transition. Please ensure you have your uniform and/or wetsuit ready for checking
Gear Bag Drop/Collection
04:30 – 13:30 Gear Tent, Mitchell Park, Broadwater Parklands, Southport
05:30 – 08:40 Swim gear drop at the swim start area
Please Note: allow 20mins to walk to swim start .

15. STANDARD Swim Swim Warm Up
Athletes will be allowed in the water a couple of minutes prior to their wave start.
As per the map you will be able to warm up as you make your way to the Start Line.
Please note you will not be able to warm up prior to this time.
Athletes must enter under the arch where their timing chip will be activated. .

16. STANDARD Wave Starts .

17. STANDARD Wave Starts .

18. SPECIAL NOTICE

19. STANDARD SWIM Start Procedure
Athletes will be called to enter the calling area, according to the appropriate wave start.
The calling area will be located next to the start area.
You will cross a timing mat that will register you started in the right wave.
When you are in the start area, the technical officials will guide you. .

20. STANDARD SWIM Start Procedure
Athletes in position:
The start can be given any time after the Starter announces
”On your mark.”
Air horn.
The race starts – Deep water start
Athletes starting in a wave earlier than their allocated one will be disqualified. If athletes start later than their allocated wave, their time will be from their original start time. .

21. SWIM False Start False start Example: Several horn blasts
Kayaks in front of you
Everyone goes back to her/his spot .

22. STANDARD Swim Deep Water Start 1500m point to point swim
Competitors will be marshalled to the orange pre-start buoys, before starting at the red buoys
Athletes swim South keeping the pink buoys on their right approx. every 250m.
Competitors must swim through the parallel pink buoy gates located at 500m and 1000m
At the final yellow buoy competitors turn right to head to the Swim Exit and Transition .

23. Direction of Incoming Tide
Direction of Tidal Flow
Low Tide at 06:30
First few waves will be slack water
Later Waves all on incoming tide as indicated
Direction of Incoming Tide

24. Transition Area .

25. STANDARD Transition and Bike Rules
ITU Competition Rules:
Helmet must remain securely fastened at all time you are on the cycle course
You must obey all road rules
Keep as far to the left as possible and do not cross the centre line
A competitor must mount and dismount at the respective mount and dismount zones
A competitor must rack their bike in his/her bike rack location only
A competitor must not wear, use or carry items deemed to be hazardous to self or others
Athletes may not use any device that distracts them from their surroundings. This includes the use of mobile phones, “smart” devices for the purpose of making calls, sending messages or as a music player (with or without headset) .

26. STANDARD Bike Course
Competitors are to complete 2 x 19.7km, closed bike course extending from Southport to Paradise Point
Bike Mount/Dismount is adjacent to Transition on the Gold Coast Highway
Course is fast and flat with good road surface
NOTE: There are local vehicle crossings and access routes across the course
Athletes must KEEP TO THE LEFT on the cycle course and PASS ON THE RIGHT .

27. STANDARD Bike Course
Few technical sections within 2.7km of start of course, including 500m climb across Grace Av/Turpin Rd, 17m of gain at 8.5% through this section .

28. CAUTION
Caution signal: sharp whistles and / or red flags .

29. STANDARD Bike Rules
Legal distance: 10m between bikes (from front wheel to their front wheel)
Maximum 20 seconds allowed to pass
Blue Card for drafting offence
In case of penalty, stop at the Bike Penalty Box – 2 minutes
Not stopping or second drafting offence – DSQ
It is the athletes responsibility to stop at the Penalty Box – numbers not posted on board

30. STANDARD Bike Rules
Entry into the bicycle drafting zone: An athlete may enter a bike draft zone in the following circumstances:
If the athlete enters the draft zone, and progresses through it within 20 seconds in the overtaking manoeuvre;
For safety reasons;
100 meters before and after an aid station or transition area;
At an acute turn; .

31. STANDARD Bike Rules
An athlete is passed when another athlete's front wheel is ahead of theirs;
Once overtaken, an athlete must drop out of the drafting zone of the passing athlete;
Athletes must keep to the side of the course and not create a blocking incident. Blocking is where an athlete who is behind cannot pass due to the leading athlete being poorly placed on the course; .

32. STANDARD Bike Infringements
During the bike segment, technical officials can show you cards in 2 (two) colours:
Blue: drafting violations, you have to stop at the next penalty box - 2 minutes
Yellow: other infringements (blocking, littering etc)
When receiving a yellow card, you have to stop at the next penalty box to serve a penalty of 15 seconds .

33. STANDARD Penalty Boxes.
PB1 – Falkinder Avenue – 11km inbound from Northern turnaround
PB2 – Frank Street – 18.5km inbound between Whiting St. and Central St.
Note: Littering Zones at each Penalty Box

34. STANDARD Run Course
10km, 2 laps closed ASICS run course from Southport to Imperial Pde along Marine Pde
Next lap starts on return past Finish Line with a merge of competitors heading outbound from Transition
AID STATION (accessible from both sides on Marine Parade:
AS1,AS2 – Outbound
AS3,AS4 – Inbound
Littering Zone available
Photo-finish
Congestion in finish area - Go to mixed zone / recovery area .

35. RUN Aid Stations Aid Stations and Littering Zones
2 Aid Stations accessible from both sides
Discard cups and litter in the Littering Zone as indicated by the following signs .

36. RUN Aid Stations
Aid Stations
Water/SIS (orange flavour)/ Water .

37. POST RACE PROCEDURES Anti-Doping Control
Photo ID is needed for every athlete to go for testing
There will be more tests for age groupers than at any other Grand Final
Please go to the ASADA/ITU Anti-doping tent at the Expo for more information. .

38. POST RACE PROCEDURES Results
Results will be posted at the Expo area (inside the info centre) and will be available online at
In case of questions or mistakes with your result, please contact Jen (me)
Protest: 30 mins to lodge- done through Jen. .

39. Outreach program
ITU invites all  athletes, coaches, NF officials and spectators to their Anti-doping Outreach Booth at the Expo.
It would be awesome if you have an opportunity to drop by and show your support for Clean Sport by posting a photo of yourself on social media at the booth.

40. WEATHER FORECAST .

41. Thank you! Have a great race! Time to get a team snap!