FOUR CROSS (4X) EVENTS RULES
Nature
4-Cross is an elimination event where four riders compete side by side on the same downhill course. The nature of this competition is such that there may be some unintentional contact between the riders. This shall be tolerated if the organizer's panel considers that it remains within the spirit of the event, fair play and a sporting attitude to other competitors.
Organization of competition:
Practice runs must take place on the same day as the finals.
A qualifying round shall be organized, preferably the same day as the main event.
The qualifying round shall take the form of a timed run over the course by each rider. The riders entered who do not ride the qualifying run shall be disqualified.
The riders shall start on the starter's command, in the sequence determined by the start list. The women shall ride before the men.
The number of riders qualifying for the first round of the
main event is determined by the number of heats of three or four that can be
made up.
A maximum of 16 heats is possible (maximum 64 riders).
If fewer than 64 riders ride the qualifying round, the number of heats can be
16, 8, 4 or 2, respecting the minimum of three riders per heat.
The number of riders in the qualifying round may not be fewer
than six, otherwise no 4X event may be held.
The main event comprises elimination heats in which the groups of riders will be matched as shown in the table below, in order to ensure that the first and second in the qualifying round can only meet in the final.
| Number of Riders | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 |
| Race # | Rider # | Rider # | Rider # | Rider # |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | |
| 33 | 17 | 9 | 5 | |
| 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | |
| 2 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | |
| 48 | 24 | 12 | 6 | |
| 49 | 25 | 13 | 7 | |
| 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| 25 | 13 | 7 | ||
| 40 | 20 | 10 | ||
| 57 | 29 | 15 | ||
| 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 | |
| 24 | 12 | 6 | ||
| 41 | 21 | 11 | ||
| 56 | 28 | 14 | ||
| 5 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 29 | 15 | |||
| 36 | 18 | |||
| 61 | 31 | |||
| 6 | 13 | 7 | ||
| 20 | 10 | |||
| 45 | 23 | |||
| 52 | 26 | |||
| 7 | 5 | 3 | ||
| 28 | 14 | |||
| 37 | 19 | |||
| 60 | 30 | |||
| 8 | 12 | 6 | ||
| 21 | 11 | |||
| 44 | 22 | |||
| 53 | 27 | |||
| 9 | 2 | |||
| 31 | ||||
| 34 | ||||
| 63 | ||||
| 10 | 15 | |||
| 18 | ||||
| 47 | ||||
| 50 | ||||
| 11 | 7 | |||
| 26 | ||||
| 39 | ||||
| 58 | ||||
| 12 | 10 | |||
| 23 | ||||
| 42 | ||||
| 55 | ||||
| 13 | 3 | |||
| 30 | ||||
| 35 | ||||
| 62 | ||||
| 14 | 14 | |||
| 19 | ||||
| 46 | ||||
| 51 | ||||
| 15 | 6 | |||
| 27 | ||||
| 38 | ||||
| 59 | ||||
| 16 | 11 | |||
| 22 | ||||
| 43 | ||||
| 54 |
Each group of riders shall ride only once. The third and the fourth rider in each group are eliminated. The first and the second qualify for the next round.
In addition to the final, a minor final shall be held for the four losers from the penultimate round, in order to determine the 5th to 8th placings.
Riders finishing below 8th place are ranked on the basis of the round that they reached followed by their qualifying time.
The riders in each group may choose their starting position in order of their qualifying times. The rider with the fastest time shall get first choice.
The riders take the start
from a stationary position.
Forward movement of the bicycle resulting in contact with the starting gate
will result in disqualification.
If a part of the front wheel
passes the start line before the starting signal the rider shall be
disqualified.
A rider will be penalized for leaving his lane whereby causing interference with the progress of another rider during the first 10 meters of the race. A penalty for this infringement shall be imposed by the chief race commissaire or organizer,
The riders are required to pass through each gate without straddling it: i.e. the two wheels of the bicycle must follow a path outside each gate. This will be determined by judges located along the course. A missed or straddled gate will result in disqualification unless the rider goes to the trouble of returning to pass it correctly.
If the four riders fall or fail to cross the finish line in a preliminary round, the winner will be the rider who covered the greatest distance.
Course
Ideally, the course should be set up on moderate slopes with regular gradients. It must also include a mixture of jumps, humps, banked turns, berms, dips, natural tables and other special features. It may also include unbanked turns. There should be no climbing requiring the riders to pedal.
The course must also be wide enough to allow the four riders to line up side by side, and to enable overtaking.
The duration of the race should be between 30 seconds and 60 seconds with an optimum time between 45 and 60 seconds for the winner of the qualifying round.
The first 10 meters of the course must be free of all obstacles. Over this distance, four lanes must be marked by white lines (using tape, biodegradable paint or flour). Any rider crossing or riding on these white lines will be disqualified.
The start straight must be at least 30 meters long.
The gates on the course must be made of non-metallic stakes (slalom stakes), preferably in bamboo or PVC, 1.5 to 2 meters high.
The last gate on the course must be located at least 10 meters from the finish line.
The organizer must provide a raised platform from which the 4-Cross judge has an unobstructed view of the entire course. The platform will be located in a zone to which spectators do not have access.
Classes:
There will be a total of 12 classes in the 4 Cross Events:
Open – Elite Men 19 & Over / Elite Women 19 & Over
Junior Men 17 & 18 / Junior Women 17 & 18
Novice – Men 17 & Over / Women 17 & Over
Boys 16 & Under / Girls 16 & Under
Beginner – Men 17 & Over / Women 17 & Over
Boys 16 & Under / Girls 16 & Under
Classification of the riders shall be determined by the organizers.