Race rules - a question

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

Has anyone come across a similar situation...

At our last league race (UCI rules) a few of the riders (4-10) missed the start due to the race being started 4 mins early. They appealed, and the race was declared a "no points race" as it was considered unfair to the late comers.

The UCI rules are very clear on this and state that riders must be there at least 15 mins before the start. The organisers have said that as no precedent had been set and no ref. made to this in their supplemental rule book that they cannot apply the UCI rule.

The previous week they also DQ'd a rider for wearing only one number - this had also never been done before but was applied as per UCI rules.

The only difference being that this rule was in the supplemental guide book.

My feeling is that the supplemental book is not a replacement for the UCI rules but a supplemental guide. If a situation arises that is not covered in this book then surely the UCI book must be referred to and the rule applied ?

Any thought please ?

Here's a thought.

Thought.

Here's another.

Thought.