-
"Shipping/receiving supplies (to the course): In the name of equal opportunity for international riders and to minimize the ‘footprint’, challengers are encouraged to race as reliant as possible on commercial services along the route. However, in advance of a start, a competitor may cache food or equipment resupply at US Post Offices only, care of general delivery. Typical practice is to ship a replacement chain and fresh bike shorts to the halfway point on route. If a racer misses a resupply due to PO closure, that box may be forwarded to another PO down route.
Once a race clock begins, a rider may be assisted by a third party in receiving emergency repair/replacement items only. Food resupply is not considered an emergency. Emergency items must be shipped using a commercial shipper such as USPS, UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL, etc. Items may not be delivered privately by family, friends or even anonymous persons. Items may only be shipped to a commercial address (P.O., motel, bike shop, restaurant etc.), provided that address is equally available to all racers. Use of a private address (residence) along the route is forbidden. Utilizing any form of social media for help (ie. conjure ‘trail magic’) is also forbidden."
tabr
You are reading a single comment by @hippy and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
hippy
I started the discussion on the TAW FB about those guys shipping things ahead. It's a perfect example of a grey area that Adrian has now clarified (on a private FB group that everyone racing might not read).
I'm aware it has been done in some races (Trans Am) but is explicitly against the rules in others. So I think it's more complicated than saying the answer will be clear. They did it and then wrote about it in a blog post, so they obviously didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
I'm pretty sure Adrian has edited his comment and originally it said that they asked him if it was ok prior to the race. I think it is pushing into the area of unfair advantage as I would not risk losing hundreds of pounds worth of kit if it didn't arrive in time, but for a sponsored rider, it's fine.