Darren Smith Classic 2022

Proudly Sponsored by

CHOICE HOMES

20th and 21st of AUGUST

This year the Darren Smith Classic is a two day event with a criterium at the Luke Harrop Criterium Circuit, Runaway Bay on Saturday the 20th of August and the traditional road race at Mt Alford on Sunday the 21st of August.

For the past 29 years, in memory of Olympic cyclist, Darren Smith, who was tragically killed in a cycling accident in 1992, the Gold Coast Cycling Club has been successfully hosting the annual Darren Smith Classic. As one of Queensland’s leading cycling clubs, we are pleased to announce that this year’s event will again be a two day event with the Road Race on the 26km circuit leaving from Mt Alford.

For entries please follow this link to AusCycling Events:

https://www.auscycling.org.au/qld/events/choice-homes-darren-smith-classic-rd-4-qld-criterium-series-rd-4-kom-financial-qcrs

RACE DETAILS (UPDATED 06/07/2022)

GENERAL DETAILS
– Entries close: Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:59 PM AEST.
– This is not a ‘stage event’. The criterium and the road race are seperate events.
– There is no points system in place connecting the two races.
– There is a 10% discount if both the criterium and road race are entered.
– Late entries will incur a $20 late fee
– Separate money for each Grade in each Race – total prize pool for entire event = $7000
– Equal prize money Elite A Women and Elite A Men

For more information about this event please contact: Race Director, Damien McFarline 0440 586 047

Please support our sponsors:

MAJOR SPONSOR

DAY 1 – Saturday – CRITERIUM Luke Harrop Cycle Circuit, Oxley Drive, Runaway Bay

Criterium Notes

Racing will be in an anti-clockwise direction.
Marshal on the eastern loop of the track.
After the race, complete one warm-down lap and exit the track at the western gate to the carpark.

Registration

All riders will receive two numbers regardless of whether they are riding in the road race or the crit or both.
For the criterium one race number is to be pinned to the right-hand hip (not on the centre of the back).
Riders who are NOT racing in the road race are to return transponders to the number return area of the registration desk (riders will be charged at $95 for each transponder not returned).
Riders who are racing in the road race, keep your two numbers and transponder to use at the road race.
Placegetters return to the podium area near the start / finish line for presentation in correct attire.
Juniors U15 will not be supplied with transponders.

Spectators

Spectators are restricted from entering the field of play which includes: registration/number return, roll-out and start/finish areas. Maintain good hygiene and social distancing at all times, and avoid congregating near the registration, start/finish and presentation areas.

DAY 2 – Sunday – ROAD RACE Mt Alford State School, Mt Alford.

Race Bib Colours

to be updated

Course Map

ROAD RACE PHOTOS FROM RCPix PHOTOGRAPHY
can be found here:

IMPORTANT: PLEASE BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE COMMUNITY OF MT ALFORD. PLEASE DO NOT WARM UP, GET CHANGED, URINATE OR LEAVE RUBBISH ANYWHERE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MT ALFORD. PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR RESIDENT’S FRONT LAWNS – THIS WILL RESULT IN THE CLUB NOT BEING ABLE TO HOST FROM MT ALFORD IN THE FUTURE. FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU.

Riders will compete in one of seven Races. Within each Race there are multiple grades that normally demonstrate similar abilities and average speeds. Riders within a race are competing as a group, e.g., if a rider attempts to breakaway, anyone, regardless of grade, may work with that rider. Grades within a race will have corresponding but different colours – for example light and dark blue.

However, in order for all riders to have the opportunity to feel competitive in their race, enjoy the event and have the opportunity to stand up on the podium, the Gold Coast Cycling Club will be presenting podiums for all grades within each Race. The Gold Coast Cycling Club also proactively promotes equal prizes for women and men.

This event is part of the Queensland Classic Road Series. This is a points-based series, and as such, depending on points, series leaders will be presented with QCRS jerseys with each grade podium presentation.

There is no limit to the number of riders in each Race.

Road Conditions and Traffic Management: Queensland Police may be in attendance to escort cyclists and event vehicles during the event. Motorists are asked to obey all road signs and directions by traffic controllers and police.

Projected Schedule:
05:00   Setup Team on site
07:00   Registration opens
07:00   Commissaires & volunteers on site (convoy assemble)
07:20 Volunteer (Course Marshals & Convoy Drivers) briefing
07:20 Commissaire briefing
07:30 Traffic Control on site
07:40 U17 rollouts
07:40 Convoys assemble
07:50 Race 1, 2, 3 & 4 rider briefing
08:00 Race 1 depart
08:10 Race 2 depart
08:15 Race 3 depart
08:20 Race 4 depart
10:15 Officials Break
10:40 Race 5, 6, 7 & 8 rider briefing
10:45 Race 5 depart
10:55 Race 6 depart
11:00 Race 7 depart
11:05 Race 8 depart
14:30 Pack up and clean up

Parking: PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR RESIDENT’S FRONT LAWNS – THIS WILL RESULT IN THE CLUB NOT BEING ABLE TO HOST FROM MT ALFORD IN THE FUTURE.

Car parking will be on the Mt Alford SS school oval – please be mindful of this when parking and setting up any equipment. If there has been recent rain then the school oval may not be useable and therefore competitors be will asked to park along the road.

ALL CARS LEAVING THE CAR PARK (SCHOOL OVAL) MUST TURN RIGHT IN THE DIRECTION OF RACE WHILST RACING IS IN PROGRESS.

Registration: Registration will take place under the main building of the school beside the oval. At the registration desk we will collect your AusCycle licence and issue your transponder and race numbers.

RACE NUMBER COLOUR TABLE This refers to the available race number range not actual entries.

If you competed in the Saturday criterium then you will already have your race number and transponder but you will still need to have your name ticked off at registration as being present. Once you are ready to race, please make your way down to the rider briefing area. Once you have completed your race you may keep your numbers as a souvenir of your experience. Transponders must be returned. Registration closes 20 minutes prior to each race start.

Food & Drinks: The Club will be supplying for and drinks to volunteers only. We will not be running a canteen or selling drinks.

The Mt Alford Hotel and the Scenic Rim Brewery will be operating on the day but both expect to be busy with standard weekend patronage. If you wish to order food from either please contact them on the Saturday. They will have limited take away available on the day. The Scenic Rim Brewery will also be selling coffee. Please do not park in the car park of the Mt Alford Hotel.

Please ensure you have your own supplies of food and drink in case both of the establishments are busy.

Toilets: Toilets will be the Mt Alford SS toilets – please be respectful when using these toilets as the Club will be ensuring that the toilets are left clean for students on the following Monday. Urinating anywhere in the township of Mt Alford or on the course is strictly prohibited.

Junior Roll Outs: 7:40am. U17 Juniors will be required to roll out as per usual. This will take place on the path near the official’s tent in the official’s carpark 30 minutes prior to your race.

Spectators: COVID Restrictions: Please refer to guidelines below. We encourage friends and family to come and watch you race, however, it is important that spectators are aware of their surroundings.

The Course: The course is challenging and technical but also fun! Please take into consideration the varied terrain as you are racing. Please also note we are asking competitors not to warm up on the race course.

Feeding: Feed Zone is located at the start/finish area on Mt Alford Rd extending for 80m. Feeding is permitted for –
Race 5: Elite A/B Men – laps 2,3 & 4
Race 6: Masters A/B Men – laps 2 & 3

Dump Zone: This course has a dedicated Waste Zone. There will be a dump zone 200 meters prior to the left hand turn on Ganthorpe Rd, where riders will be allowed to dispose of their water bottles and rubbish. This will be cleaned up at the end of the last race. Fines will be imposed by the commissaires if you litter outside the Dump Zone. Please see map.

KOM/QOM: Races with 3 laps or less will accumulate KOM/ QOM points every lap. Races with more than 3 laps will not accumulate points on the first lap. First 3 places in the Race will receive points (3, 2, 1). Not separate for grades.The K/QOM climb is on Dwyer Ridges Rd.

The Finish: When you cross the finish line for the last time you will be directed into the official’s carpark and around to the path that takes you back to the competitor’s carpark. This is to avoid you entering the restricted area unnecessarily or crossing the finish line for a second time.

Presentations and Prizes: Even though each race is one race, in order to recognise people’s efforts within their categories, we will be placing the first 3 riders in each grade within the race. There are no prizes for the race placegetters (as you would have already recieved a prize for the grade), however, there will be a podium photo.

COVID Safe Event: GET IN – RACE – GET OUT The DSC is conducted under the requirements of the Queensland Government’s Roadmap to Easing Restrictions and the principles of the Outdoor Sports Industry COVID Safe Plan. We will have COVID-safe practices in place to help stop the spread and keep our participants, officials, volunteers and spectators safe. Please be patient with and follow requirements for registration, number collection and return, marshalling and presentations. We ask everyone to maintain good hygiene and social distancing practices at all times, where possible. Please read and comply with our COVID Safe Protocols below. These apply to participants, officials, volunteers and spectators. Please follow public health guidelines:

Maintain social distancing at all times while “off the field of play”(Field of play is defined as: time from number collection to number return, and includes registration, number return, roll-out, and start/finish areas)
Avoid shaking hands, high-fiving, hugging and other physical contact
Download and use the COVID-safe app
Stay home if you are sick

COVID Safe Protocols: All racing is conducted under the principle of: GET IN – RACE – GET OUT

The Gold Coast Cycling Club is entitled to restrict access to Club activities to anyone who has:

COVID-19 or been in direct contact with a known case of COVID-19 in the previous 14 days.
Flu-like symptoms (e.g. cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue etc).
Travelled internationally or to a COVID-19 hotspot (as declared by the Chief Health Officer) in the previous 14 days.
Waiting on results of a COVID-19 test, tested positive, or been directed by the Public Health Unit to quarantine.

Personal Hygiene

DO NOT attend if unwell (including any signs/symptoms of cold, flu, or other illness)
Maintain good personal hygiene: – Wash hands or use hand sanitiser prior to, during and after competition – Avoid physical greetings (hand shaking, high fives etc) – No clearing nose, spitting etc; cough into your elbow; blow your nose into a tissue and throw it in the bin – Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth – No sharing of personal equipment (e.g. pump, tools, towels), and avoid handling other people’s bikes – Bring your own food and drink, and do not share water bottles.

Social and Physical Distancing

Maintain 1.5m between people as much as possible
Competitors to maintain social distancing at all times while “off the field of play” (defined as: time from number collection to number return; includes registration/number return, roll-out and start/finish)
Avoid congregating at registration, roll-out, marshalling or presentation areas
Spectators are permitted, however, avoid congregating at the start/finish and presentation areas, and maintain social distancing practices at all times
Spectators are not permitted in the field of play
Bring your own food/drinks and do not share drink bottles.
Bring your own pumps and tools to reduce the need for shared equipment.
If shared equipment is used this must be disinfected before and after each use.
Any rollers/ergos must be spaced out at least 1.5 m apart.

Facility Access

Restricted access to the start/finish area and registration area for essential competitors and officials only
Restricted access to commissaire’s area
Public toilets available for use

Attendance Records

Online entry to race acts as attendance record for riders
Spectators, officials and volunteers to check-in using the QR code available at multiple locations around the site (alternative record available for those without a smart phone)
Records kept for 60 days
Download the COVID safe app
Contact the Club Secretary in the case of testing positive to COVID-19

Registration

Registration opens 30mins before criterium start times, and 60mins before road race start times
Hand sanitiser provided for volunteers and riders
Race license not required – license queries addressed prior to racing
All riders must check-in before each race in order to collect their race number and transponder
Maintain social distancing in the registration queue, collect numbers and transponders from the desk, move away from the registration area to prepare for racing
Junior riders will roll-out their own bikes with a commissaire observing
Race numbers are to be kept and not returned

—————————– Criterium Specific:

Marshal on the loop near the start/finish – distance as much as possible prior to start
After the race, complete one warm-down lap and exit the track
Riders who are NOT racing in the road race, return transponder to the number return area of the registration desk
Riders who are racing in the road race, keep numbers and transponder to use at the road race
Placegetters return to podium area for presentation – podium steps will be distanced

—————————– Road Race Specific:

At the end of race all riders return transponder to the number return area of the registration desk (riders will be charged at $95 for each transponder not returned)
Placegetters return to podium area for presentation

Spares

Riders should be prepared to attend to their own mechanical issues where possible for both races
Volunteers have access to surgical masks, gloves and hand sanitiser – hand sanitiser must be used before and after assisting each rider (gloves may be used but must be changed after each rider)
Neutral spares used for the road race must be disinfected with disinfectant spray/wipes before and after use
Riders who use the sag wagon will be required to wear a mask and use hand sanitiser before entering

Waste Zone

Riders are only permitted to drop rubbish in this signed area
Volunteer located at feed/waste zone must wear gloves when disposing of rubbish (garbage bags provided). Discarded water bottles not collected by feeders will be disposed of at the end of each race.

Feed Zone

Hand sanitiser must be used by all feeders prior to entering and exiting the feed zone
There is a limit of 1 feeder per rider or 3 feeders per team (whichever is less)
Feeders may only enter the feed zone at the start of the feed lap and must exit when the rider/s has passed.
Feeders must maintain social distancing within the feed zone (markers provided).

Presentations

Presentations will take place at the end of each race, on a socially-distanced podium (no shaking hands)
Volunteers and placegetters to use hand sanitiser prior to entering presentation area
Medals and junior prize envelopes/bags will be placed on the table for collection.
Prize money to be paid by EFT.
QCRS jersey presentation – placed on table for rider to pick up and put on

END