MEDIA GENERAL INFORMATION

2008 Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling

Media Regulations...

MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS

The Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling event organizer, Pro Cycling Tour, issues news media credentials to legitimate press who has submitted in advance a letter from their publishing media stating that they are on an actual assignment and that their purpose in covering the event is for news purposes only. Because of the limited space on the course, and a pre-determined media space area, Pro Cycling Tour reserves the right to limit the number of credentialed media. In addition, media are selected based on the quality of their organization, audience reach of their article or photograph, and on the documentation provided to Pro Cycling Tour in advance of the event proving the media is in indeed a news organization.

PCT produces the event for the purpose of supporting the growth of professional cycling, and as a means of providing the pro cyclists a venue to compete. In addition, PCT brings the event to the city to help benefit tourism, financial well-being and entertainment for the community.

The primary news media chosen to receive credentials include: television news, official TV station broadcast team, radio news, consumer newspapers, cycling press - primarily print and major website media. The event cannot support the needs of aspiring photographers, small personal websites, commercial media such as product catalogue producers, freelance journalists with no assignment, freelance photographers with no assignment, freelance photographers who hope to sell their photos of the event, etc. However, all are welcome to report and shoot from behind the barricades.

All team publicists and photographers are referred to the race technical directors, Robin Zellner and Andrea Bialick, for credentials. These individuals are forbidden from receiving "media" credentials because the "media" credential is strictly for the "press".

1. Credential types: (All credentials are tags to be worn around the neck. In addition:)

a.         Photographers (TV Camera Crews do not wear vests.)
      i.          Yellow vests
          1.         Official race photographers
          2.         Major media - wire service, large circulation publications
     ii.          White vests
          1.   Photographers – accredited
      iii.         Blue vests
          1. Photographers – corporate
     iv.         Red vests
          1. Photographers – volunteer

2. What the credential permits you to do:

a.         Access to the Press Room at race hotel and start/finish line.
b.         Opportunity to receive press materials from the Press Room and via internet from the communications staff.
c.         Opportunity to move about the race course by presenting your credential to the marshal who will allow you to pass; opportunity to take lap on moto or press van.
d.         Use of the Press Room for wireless uploading of your news or photos.
e.         Light refreshments in the Press Room at the start/finish line during the race event.
f.          Opportunity to attend the post-race press conference to be held immediately following the race event CLICK HERE
g.         Use of the Press Room post-race for uploading news and photos.

3. What the credential does not permit you to do:

a.         To photograph riders and the event for commercial purposes.
b.         To market photos taken at the race for private purposes.
c.         To photograph from moving vehicles.

4. Start Line rules

a. As the riders are called to the line, those media with Yellow vests are the only media allowed on the street.

5. Press transportation at the event.

a.         One, 12-seat, van and one press car are available for transportation around the course.
b.         Moto – One moto dedicated to official photographer
c.         Moto – One moto for others to take a lap around the course. Media to line up for rides. Every effort will be made to give media one lap.
d.         Pick up and drop off areas. CLICK HERE
e.         The cars travel behind the peloton. It is unlikely you will see the race from the car or van. The vehicle is strictly for you to move from the start line to specified drop off points. DO NOT ASK TO BE DROPPED ANYWHERE ELSE!

6. Photo vests - Photographers who receive vests gain access to the street as follows:

a.         The Yellow vest signifies primary access to the photo ops and will be positioned for the finish with highest priority.
b.         The white vests are secondary in placement at finish line in Lehigh Valley and Reading only. White vests are not on the street at the finish but are permitted on Stairway to Heaven* in Philadelphia.
c.         Blue and red vests are not on the street at the finish but are permitted on Stairway to Heaven* in Philadelphia.
d.         In order to receive a vest, the selected photographer must give a credit card or $25 cash as a deposit. Vests must be returned to Press Room after each race concludes, or the credit card will be charged and/or $25 cash will not be returned. We are instituting this policy because only a few vests were returned at our last race even though the photographers promised they would return the vests.

* In Philadelphia, the Stairway to Heaven is a specially designed set of elevated risers for professional photographers. It directly faces the finish line giving photographers full view of the final sprint finish.

7. Behavior

a. Please read these rules carefully and abide by them. As you can understand, we are running a very fast paced event, and cannot stop to negotiate with media who have not applied for credentials properly in advance or who have been rejected for above reasons. We encourage all media to watch, enjoy and report on the event. We cannot accept every person who applies, as you can understand, as we only have so many seats in the van, so many moto laps, that we can provide for our media. In addition, it is dangerous to have inexperienced media on the race course, particularly if they have not planned a specific story angle with their publishing media.
b. Once you have been issued your credential, if you have been given a vest, or if you have been rejected, please do not attempt to change your status on race day. Decisions have been made and the media staff does not have time to discuss on race day

Summary of UCI Media Regulations

The following is a summary of the rules and regulations pertaining to the press and media caravans. The safety and control of the race caravan is under the control of the Commissaires.

A complete set of regulations and penalties is published by the UCI and is available on their web page (www.uci.ch.) under Road - Regulations.

To have any course access all media will need credentials. Credentials can be obtained from PCT Pennsylvania, LLC PR and Media Staff. A media office is located at the race HQ hotel (Sheraton Plaza) and on site at each venue (see locations above).

Car and moto drivers are responsible for their vehicles and shall immediately comply with orders and instructions given by the Organizers and Jury of Commissaires.

No press vehicle or moto whatsoever shall be permitted to accompany the riders during the last 500 meters to the finishing line unless specific exception was made prior to the start of the race.

If press personnel permit riders to hold onto vehicles, they shall be removed from the caravan and suspended for a period the duration of which is commensurate with the incident.

Within the press motorcade, press vehicles shall have priority over the vehicles of any VIPs that may be present at the invitation of the organizer.

Photographing and filming from a moving press vehicle (car/van) is prohibited.

It is forbidden to interview riders as they race. Team Managers may be interviewed except during the last 10 km (provided the interview is from a moto or pre-wired).

A maximum of three moto/cameras and one moto/sound are permitted in the caravan.

Motos shall not remain near riders unless filming.

All photographers, press and drivers must be properly identified and credentialed by the Race Organizer. For the International Championship/Liberty Classic access to the S/F area will not be permitted without receiving specific credentials from the PCT staff.

Any of the above working at the finish line area must obey the instructions of the Race Organizer and not impede in any way the finish of the race.

Have a great event. Be safe.

5/30/08

Frequently Asked Questions...

Q: Where/how do I pick up my credentials?
A: Credentials can be picked up on race day in each city’s press room for reporters and photographers who have been approved for credentials IN ADVANCE of race day. No media credentials will be issued on race day to media who have not been pre-approved. (To apply for media credentials, click here .) A current photo ID is required for credential pick up and a credit card on file is required for use of photo vest, if assigned. There will likely be opportunity in Philadelphia to pick up credentials for the Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship and Commerce Bank Liberty Classic earlier in the week. Check back for more specifics on that closer to the event.

Q: Where are the press vans?
A: One, 12-seat van and one press car are available for transportation around the course. One moto is dedicated to the official race photographer; another moto is for others to take a lap around the course. Media must line up for rides. Every effort will be made to give media one lap. The van/car travel behind the peloton. It is unlikely you will see the race from the car or van. The vehicle is strictly for you to move from the start line to specified drop off points. DO NOT ASK TO BE DROPPED ANYWHERE ELSE.

Q:         Where are the drop-off locations?
A:         Lehigh Valley – Reading – 5th Street
                                         Philadelphia – Lemon Hill and top of the Manayunk Wall

Q:         Where can I find the Moto Pit?
A:         Lehigh Valley –
            Reading –
             Philadelphia – The Moto Pit is located at the southeastern tip of Eakins Oval, just north of the start-finish line on the Parkway.

Q: How many laps can I have in the press van?
A: The van will provide a lap of the course route to credentialed media. You can choose to be dropped off and picked up at the race’s designated stops. Do not ask to be dropped off/picked up anywhere else. The number of laps/rides in the moto depends on media demand – check with the Moto Pit manager on race day if you have any questions. In advance of race days, you can email any questions to pr@procyclingtour.com

Q: Who is allowed to ride in press vans and on motorcycles? Are there special media credentials that I need for that access?
A: Your general media credential gives you access to move about the course via the press van. Motorcycles are reserved for photographers with yellow vests given top priority, blue and red vests are secondary priority.

Q:         Are you feeding the media? If so, where?
A:         Light refreshments are provided for credentialed media in each press room or tent.

Q:         Where are some of the best vantage points for reporting on and photographing the race?
A:         Lehigh Valley – Start/finish line
             Reading – Start/finish line, Mt. Penn
             Philadelphia – Start/finish line, feed zone, Lemon Hill, Boat House row, Manayunk Wall

Q: How can I get in touch with the press rooms?
A: A member of the Pro Cycling Tour communications team will be in the press rooms at all times. See below for contact info:

Stephanie Simon	Christine Reimert	Janet Fransham
Press Officer	Press Officer	Communications Support
Pro Cycling Tour	Pro Cycling Tour	Pro Cycling Tour
tel: (610)676-0390 ext.104	tel: (610)676-0390 ext.104	tel: (610)676-0390 ext.104
cell: (215)264-2196	cell: (610) 639-2136	cell: (215) 882-0629
alhancom@comcast.net	creimert@comcast.net	pr@procyclingtour.com

Q: How can I get in touch with a race spokesperson?
A: All requests for interviews with race officials should be directed to Pro Cycling Tour’s communications team.

Stephanie Simon	Christine Reimert	Janet Fransham
Press Officer	Press Officer	Communications Support
Pro Cycling Tour	Pro Cycling Tour	Pro Cycling Tour
tel: (610)676-0390 ext.104	tel: (610)676-0390 ext.104	tel: (610)676-0390 ext.104
cell: (215)264-2196	cell: (610) 639-2136	cell: (215) 882-0629
alhancom@comcast.net	creimert@comcast.net	pr@procyclingtour.com

Insider’s Tips for Race Viewing and Coverage (insert doc)

Q: What is required at the end of the race?
A: All media that have been assigned a photo vest for that day’s race must return the photo vest to the press tent. Upon return of the photo vest, the appropriate credit card information will be returned to the media. Any photo vest not returned at the end of the day’s race will result in a charge to the credit card on file. If media is covering more than one race, photo vests must be picked up and returned before and after each day’s race.

AN INSIDER’S SPECTATOR GUIDE

8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Plan to arrive early. Enjoy a light breakfast on the Parkway – either your own picnic or fare from race day concessions or area restaurants. If you’ve purchased VIP tickets, you can head over to the VIP tent for some coffee and muffins. The tent is at the foot of the Philadelphia Art museum, in Eakins Oval and at the left, as you face the steps of the museum. VIP ticket holders can visit this spot often for free sodas, water, beer and to escape the heat while watching the race on closed circuit TVs and as the racers pass by. (For VIP ticket information, visit www.procyclingtour.com and click on VIP tickets.)

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
By 8:45, be in the stands at the start-finish line. You can’t miss it. Look for the big Commerce Bank overhead banner that says “Depart/Arrivee” (so French! Just like the Tour de France!). VIP ticket holders can sit on either the left or right side of the finish line in the VIP section, just south of the main stage where the announcers are located. The VIP stands are covered.

9 a.m. — SHARP!
Watch and cheer the start of the race – it’s an incredible sight as more than 200 of the world’s most elite pro racers take off en masse down the Parkway toward Logan’s Circle. The colorful kits (the cyclists’ uniforms) and helmets and the sheer concentration at the start line will make for a spectacle you won’t soon forget! Watch several short laps of the race before the racers head off to Manayunk.

10 a.m. — 11 a.m.
Check out the Lifestyle Expo (in front of, but to the right of the Art Museum) and the Commerce Bank Family Fun Zone – at the foot of the Art Museum steps.

11:30 a.m.
Be sure to catch the up-and-coming cyclists in this region during the Junior PCT Grand Prix. Open to riders ages 15 to 18 who qualified to compete, the Junior PCT competitors will tear around the loop between Logan Circle and Eakins Oval, sprinting for points on every lap. Nestled between the end of the women’s race and among the men’s laps, the event starts at approximately 11:30 a.m.

12 noon
Enjoy lunch along the Parkway or back in the VIP tent (for VIP ticket holders only). Following lunch, go to the feed zone area (to the right of the art museum and marked by the row of tents along the street) and see how the racers pick up their “meals on wheels.”

5th - 7th Laps
Head over to the transportation area at the southeastern tip of Eakins Oval (the first street crossing south of the VIP tent), and check out the Moto Pit action. Credentialed photographers hang on as a volunteer corps of motorcyclists transports them to vantage points on Lemon Hill and in Manayunk. Credentialed media also may take the press car up to Manayunk and back. VIP ticket holders only can catch the shuttle bus up to Manayunk and back. These vans make no other stops and are not available to those without VIP tickets.

BEWARE THE 7th LAP!!
If you journey to Manayunk, you’ll want to catch a few of the early laps and depart by the 7th lap. Otherwise, there’s a good chance you’ll miss the end of the race at the finish line on the Parkway.

2:30 p.m.
If you can get a seat in the stands, do so. (Again, VIP ticket holders are welcome to gather in the VIP area of the grandstand.) Otherwise, grab a beverage and a snack, and stake out a spot along the Parkway. Try to be in your spot by 2:30 p.m. The race will conclude by 3 p.m., and you don’t want to miss any of the dramatic finish-line action!

3:00 p.m
The mens professional race winner crosses the line accompanied by the deafening roar of the crowds. Don’t miss the on-stage exciting awards ceremony! Last year’s winner, Juan-Jos Haedo , Team CSC, finished in record time: 5 hours, 45 minutes and 51 seconds. Previous year’s winner, Greg Henderson, from New Zealand, Team Health-Net, finished in 6 hours, 13 minutes and 53 seconds. Make your finish time bet at the beginning of the race and test your racing skill. So, plan to be there for the exciting finish and awards presentations. Have fun and see you on race day!