RULES

RACA EAST TO WEST

RACA NORTH-SOUTH

RACA GRAVEL ULTRA300

 

The RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA is a self-supported ultra-distance bike race.

The usual guidelines and codes of honour of the bikepacking movement apply.

Each participant is on the road at their own risk.

The event type is a cycle tourism event.

There will be no road closures, but participants must comply with Austrian road traffic regulations (StVO 1960), the contents of which participants must familiarise themselves with before the start of the event.

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General information

1. You must be at least 18 years old before the first day of the event.

2. The following bikes are allowed: road bike, time trial bike, gravel bike, touring bike / GRAVEL ULTRA 300 gravel bike, MTB

3. Drafting is NOT allowed, the minimum distance to other cyclists is 100m. In the DUO category, drafting with your partner is allowed.

4. The briefing will be sent online by email in German and English one week before the start of the event by the organiser.

5. You must have a valid liability, death, accident and health insurance that is valid during the event and covers emergency and repatriation insurance. It is important that your insurance covers an amateur event. By signing the disclaimer, you also confirm that you have this insurance cover!

6. First aid in case of accidents is mandatory. Helping fellow participants with technical issues is a matter of honour and allowed.

7. Waste belongs in the rubbish bin and not on the roadside.

8. You cannot expect any service or support after the official time limit.

9. Follow the instructions of the crew, they only do this for your safety and to ensure the event runs smoothly.

10. There is no ‘sweeper’ vehicle. If you have to abandon the race due to technical, weather or health reasons, you have to organise your own journey home.

11. Austrian traffic regulations must be observed.

12. You agree that photos, film and other sound or image recordings made in connection with the event may be published and used for advertising purposes for future events organised by the organiser. There is no entitlement to compensation for this.

13. You expressly confirm the accuracy of all the data you have provided. You also agree that the data provided in the registration may be stored electronically and that your name will be displayed on a public list of participants.

14. The registration will be confirmed after receipt of payment, after which the starting place is considered secure. There will be no refund in the event of cancellation. You can book suitable cancellation insurance in the registration form.

15. The use of photo and film material taken on the course and during the event is prohibited for commercial purposes and for sponsors or other companien.

 

Self-Supported

1. You must cover the entire distance from start to finish alone and without outside help, with your own bike. Drive aids (e-bikes) of any kind are not allowed. Changing bikes during the race is only allowed in exceptional cases and with the prior consent of the race management. You are responsible for breaks, food, overnight stays, accommodation and any repairs.

2. The use of publicly accessible facilities and services such as bike shops, restaurants, snack bars, hotels, motels, B&B, supermarkets, shops, bakeries, etc. is expressly permitted.

3. DUO categories can share all resources, but external help is not allowed. If one of the riders drops out, the DUO will be considered DNF (did not finish), but the other rider can continue and be considered a finisher (as a SOLO outside of time).

4. Help and support such as food, lodging or replacement equipment from accompanying persons such as friends or family members is not permitted.

5. Accompanying persons, photographers, filmmakers and support vehicles of any kind are not allowed on the entire route. Spectators are allowed at the side of the road as long as they do not provide you with any kind of help.

6. During RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA, you are not allowed to visit friends or family members along the way or accept help or support of any kind. This rule is in the interest of equal opportunities for all participants.

7. The organiser will set up ‘Base Camps’ (material depots). At the start, you can hand in your ‘RACA 20lDropBags’ filled with items of your choice. Your bags will then be transported to the respective ‘BaseCamp’ locations and to the finish. The ‘RACA 20lDropBags’ are provided by the organiser. Each person is allowed to have 1 DropBag per ‘BaseCamp’.

8. Setting up additional private material depots along the route is not allowed.

 

Route / Route

1. The organiser will provide you with the entire route, from start to finish, in the form of a GPS track (GPX file) 4 weeks before the start.

2. You have to follow this given route/route from start to finish. Shortcuts or route changes of any kind are not allowed. Exceptions are ordered diversions or route changes (construction sites, storms, etc.)

3. You have to navigate the whole route yourself.

4. You must always follow the traffic rules and expect other road users and adapt your driving style accordingly.

5. If you leave the route to make a stop, stay overnight, visit a bicycle mechanic, etc., you have to rejoin the route at exactly the same point in order to continue your journey correctly.

6. You are at your own risk and responsibility at all times. The route is NOT closed off. You must ALWAYS follow the road traffic rules. The organiser strictly declines any liability!

 

Maximum permissible times

The time limits of the events are calculated based on the start times of the participants and participation in the RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA is set as follows:

• 300 kilometres: ADVENTURE 30 hours / RACE 24 hours

• 500 kilometres: ADVENTURE 60 hours / RACE 48 hours

• 700 kilometres: ADVENTURE 76 hours / RACE 64 hours

• 1000 kilometres: ADVENTURE 112 hours / RACE 88 hours

RACA GRAVEL ULTRA300 300 kilometres: ADVENTURE 33 hours / RACE 27 hours

 

GPS tracker / control

1. For control and safety reasons, you must always carry an activated and switched-on GPS tracker from start to finish. The GPS tracker is mandatory and will be provided by the organiser.

2. Times, positions and speeds will be checked after the finish.

3. Switching off the tracker without reporting to race control will result in exclusion from the event.

4. In the event of a malfunction of the GPS tracker provided by the organiser, all evidence (photos, videos) will be examined by the organisation to confirm compliance with the rules.

5. You must always carry an activated and switched-on mobile phone with the WhatsApp app from start to finish to enable communication with race control at all times.

6. You must visit and get a stamp at the ‘RACA GATE’ card provided at stations that are also ‘RACA BaseCamps’ or locations.

7. Race management and all officials are authorised to supervise the race. Both can stop you to inform you about the rules and safety regulations and, if necessary, impose penalties or even disqualify you.

 

Equipment

There are some items of equipment that we require all participants to have. This is primarily for your own safety, for example in the event of sudden changes in the weather in the mountains or in the event of falls and accidents.

These items will be checked during the technical check before the event.

They are:

• Helmet

• GPS tracker (provided)

• Bike computer or mobile phone (navigation) with the provided GPX data

• Mobile phone with WhatsApp

• Rain jacket

• Warm clothes for possible weather changes in the mountains

• SOS emergency blanket, first-aid kit

• Red reflective stickers on the rear wheel tubes, facing backwards on the left and right

• White reflective stickers on the fork, facing forwards on the left and right

• At least 3 yellow or white reflective stickers on each side of the wheel

• Four yellow reflective stickers on the cranks, visible both to the front and back

• Sufficient lighting on the bike (one spare set of front and rear lights).

• A reflective vest or belt is recommended during the day and mandatory at night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.!

 

Penalties for rule violations

There are several visible and invisible officials on the route to ensure a fair and sporting event.

If a participant observes a fellow competitor violating the rules, they can and will be asked to report it to the race management or the officials. Clear documentation, evidence such as photos and videos, is a basic requirement.

The organiser can check compliance with these regulations before, during and after the event and, at their own discretion, immediately impose the following penalties.

1. Taking advantage of a competitor's drafting is prohibited for competitors in the SOLO categories. Any person who benefits or has benefited from a drafting will be disqualified, along with the rider in front.

2. Leaving the track – Any competitor who leaves the track must resume it from where they left it.

If we determine from the GPS tracking that a participant has cut the route in any way, the penalty will be as follows: –

A participant's time saving is between 0 and 30 minutes = a penalty of 3 hours

A participant's time saving is between 31 and 60 minutes > a penalty of 6 hours

The participant will be disqualified for taking shortcuts on the third offence.

3. Unauthorised media vehicle = disqualification

4. Littering = 4-hour penalty

5. Missing the prescribed safety equipment such as a helmet, front and rear lights in working order, no reflective vest = disqualification

6. No assistance – first aid for a person in difficulty = disqualification

7. Use of a bicycle that has not been registered with the organisation = 4-hour penalty

8. Unauthorised assistance – drafting by cyclists / riding in the slipstream of a vehicle = immediate disqualification

9. Use of a means of transport, sharing a race number, attaching oneself to a moving vehicle = immediate disqualification

10. Non-compliance with the road traffic regulations = 4-hour penalty

11. Switching off the tracker without notifying race control = immediate disqualification

12. Transferring the GPS tracker to another person = immediate disqualification

13. Refusing to follow instructions from the event management, a supervisor or police officer, a doctor or a first aider = disqualification

14. Refusing to submit to an anti-doping test > immediate and lifelong disqualification

Time penalties will be issued as soon as the driver crosses the finish line, but the participant will be informed by the monitoring platform about the decision of the event management.Disqualification penalties are effective immediately and the driver will be informed as soon as the race management has made a decision.Any other violation of the rules will be sanctioned by the event management.

 

Liability/Legal process

Participation in RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA is at your own risk. The organiser excludes any liability for personal injury and property damage. No liability claims can be asserted against the organiser. Insurance against accident, illness or theft as well as personal liability is the responsibility of each participant. By registering for the RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA, each participant accepts and signs the RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA disclaimer and releases the organiser and his assistants, to the extent permitted by law, from all liability claims.

 

Final provisions

Anyone who violates one or more points of these regulations will be excluded from RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA.

The organisation can exclude drivers from the start without giving reasons.

By registering for RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA, you accept all the conditions stated in these regulations.

These regulations can be adapted or changed at any time.

 

Regulations 15.09.2024