Commissaire

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The courses were run a month apart, on Saturdays at Staplefield Village Hall in West Sussex, a couple of miles north of Haywards Heath – a perfectly functional venue for courses with an attendance of between 5 and 8 people.

The Assistant Commissaire course was the first in the calendar and took place in late February. The training followed a tight process of 5 modules: Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Communication, Administration, Technical, and Competition

Photo courtesy of British Cycling

With only a day to get through the content, pre-course information and reading was essential. Lectures were offered as an accompaniment to PowerPoint presentations and course materials with discussion fully encouraged. The course tutors were experienced National and UCI level commissaires who had been officiating for British Cycling events for many years and their pragmatic approach was much appreciated.

There are 4 levels of British Cycling road race commissaire: Assistant Commissaire, Regional Commissaire, National Commissaire, and UCI registered Commissaire. Once a new assistant commissaire has completed the days training there is a structured process of gaining experience with set criteria. In order to gain further experience new assistant commissaires are given a log book and asked to help officiate at a minimum of 6 races. Once a person has reached the required criteria they will be able to qualify as a Regional Commissaire.

To become a National Level Commissaire at least two years experience as a Regional Commissaire is required and attendance at the National training course. National Commissaires become UCI Commissaires if they are nominated to the UCI course by British Cycling.

The course was practical and interesting and gave a clear structure of how to officiate at road races: communicating and dealing with possible conflict, keeping children and other vulnerable group’s safe, managing the competition during the race and managing the overall safety of a race.

Photo courtesy of British Cycling

My first opportunity of gaining practical experience at a road race was at the Milland Hill circuit in West Sussex, not far from Petersfield in Hampshire. It’s a tough 7.5 mile circuit with a nasty sting of a 25% gradient that hits you just before the finishing line. The 2nd and 3rd Category race that I was charged with officiating in an assistant capacity did 8 laps of the circuit.

It was an eventful race, with attacks starting from the first lap, with a few initially managing to form breaks before being brought back. A lone attack made an effort that lasted 2 laps before being swallowed up by a group of 5 riders to produce an exciting finale as the bunch started to gain on these six. The vehicle convoy protocol has to be carefully managed. With the lead car taking up a position up the road to warn traffic, I was left to ensure I could get behind the break away groups for both their safety and to ensure fair competition between the riders, whilst the Chief Commissaire was positioned just behind the main bunch.

Before arriving at the HQ, the weight of responsibility felt overwhelming and I was decidedly nervous, but having met the organiser and introduced myself to the Chief Commissaire, I got in the car feeling ready for the days racing. It’s not difficult work but you have to concentrate on everything that is going on around you.

The organiser had put on a really good event and ensured that there were enough volunteer marshals out on the road to keep the race safe. It is worth driving home the point that all of these people – organiser, marshals, lead car drivers, National Escort Group (NEG) motorcycle outriders and commissaires – have given up their own time to make road racing happen and safe, often using their own vehicles and resources. Races and events from ‘Go Ride’ events up to elite road racing exist because of these people; it just doesn’t happen as if by magic.

All except the more professional and commercial races, even the Tour of Britain, Pearl Izumi Tour Series and the Smithfield Nocturne to name but a few, rely very heavily on volunteer support and individuals taking the initiative to make something happen. For everyday road races there are no big budgets and virtually no sponsorship support, just the tireless efforts of an organiser and a committed band of volunteer support.

I race myself, I marshal and I have been known to organise events too but being in a commissaire’s position has offered an interesting and unique insight into how this all works. Next time you pin on that number take a careful look around you, not at your competition, but at the organisational effort that takes place. Listen carefully to the Commissaire at the beginning of the race, he is there to make sure things are safe and competition is fair. Be aware of the people out on the road there to support you – marshals, NEG outriders, lead cars, neutral service and commissaires. This is what your racing licence and race entry pays for and although it may seem a lot of money it only just covers the necessary expenses and levies for your privilege.

Photo courtesy of British Cycling

With the surge of people taking to two wheels, taking on the challenge of Sportives and then turning to racing to get their kicks, events and races are filling up fast and the demand is growing ever stronger. The South-east has one of the most active and successful road racing leagues but in order to continue and progress it needs more people to take the initiative.

After this course, I am currently training to become a Regional Commissaire. To find out more about British Cycling Commissaire Courses please visit: British Cycling Commissaires

And if you’d like to get more involved visit British Cycling Events or talk to your local British Cycling events coordinator or league.

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