Race Regulations

Revised August 28, 2025

Reference language : the version in French is authoritative. Translations are provided for information only; in case of discrepancy, the French version prevails.

GENERAL

These Regulations apply to all races in the Aurora Gravel Rally Series (AGRS) organized by dubraquet Sàrl. Participation in one or more AGRS events implies unreserved acceptance of these Regulations.

PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS

Minimum age: 18 years old or 16 years old accompanied by a responsible adult. Minors are only admitted with the written authorization of their legal representative, who guarantees that he/she is authorized to act on behalf of the minor and accepts the GTC and Regulations on his/her behalf.
Registration is compulsory with full payment of the registration fee in accordance with our general terms and conditions.
Be mentally fit and physically well prepared
Be fully aware of the length and specificity of the competition
Be able to remain self-sufficient throughout the race in terms of navigation (orientation), food, equipment, safety and repairs.
Be able to face difficult weather conditions alone and without outside help.
Be covered by the following insurances: (i) a private liability insurance in force; (ii) a accidents insurance covering search/evacuation/repatriation costs; (iii) a medical expenses coverage abroad(iv) a accidental death coverage. A certificate can be requested.
Provide the organization with a Medical certificate required (only for Cyprus and Portugal) marked "Long-distance competitive cyclingEach certificate will be checked, and any false certificate will result in a ban from the Start, including during the race. The medical service, a doctor or a member of the organizing committee may, at any time, ask a participant to leave the competition if they feel that their state of health does not allow them to continue the race safely.

The event is open to elite and amateur cyclists without a license.

Aptitude

The Participant declares that he/she is medically fit, sufficiently trained, and has not received any unfavorable medical advice to participate in the Event.

SUBSTANCES & PUBLIC HEALTH

The Participant undertakes to respect the applicable anti-doping regulations and to refrain from any consumption of alcohol/drugs likely to compromise his/her safety or that of others. He respects the health protocols in force (authorities/localities/organizer).

RACE FORMATS

Cyprus :

5-day race (1 prologue + 4 stages), Rally format
Total distance: approx. 400 km / 7800 m D+ (approx.)
200 participants maximum
Online rates on www.aurora-gravel.comsee "Entry packages"

Portugal :

5-day race (1 prologue + 4 stages), Rally format
Total distance: approx. 415 km / 6500 m D+ (approx.)
200 participants maximum
Online rates on www.aurora-gravel.comsee "Entry packages"

Switzerland :

2-day race (2 stages), Rally format
Total distance: approx. 179/133 km / 3,600 / 2900 m D+ (approx.)
300 participants maximum
Online rates on www.aurora-gravel.comsee "Entry packages"

DETAILED EVENT INFORMATION

A document called "RACE MANUAL" is provided to all participants at least 4 weeks before the event. It contains all the relevant information.

RACE BRIEFING

The race briefing is given in English as well as in the official language of the host country. The briefing is mandatory for all participants.

For further information: please refer to the event's Race Manual

CHRONOMETRY

Principle ;

Rally-style timing. Only sections predefined by the organizer are timed (with the exception of prologues, which are largely or entirely timed).
The proportion of timed sections represents around 2/5 of the trails.
The ranking is based solely on the cumulative times of the timed segments.
Timed sections are marked by signs on the course at the entrance and exit.

Each participant receives the following upon accreditation at the race center;

1 jersey bib with timing chip.
1 frame plate with timing chip
1 GPS beacon for geolocation (Cyprus and Portugal only)

Participants are responsible for ensuring that they have their timing device with them throughout the race.

These recording and geolocation systems must not be folded or covered by an electronic device, bag or water bag. If this is the case, the timekeeper may not be able to receive information from the devices and will not be able to classify the participant. In this case, the participant signs a blank stage and will not obtain a stage or overall ranking.

Participants are responsible for their GPS beacons. It must be returned to the appropriate signpost in the Finish area on the last stage. If the beacon is lost or not returned at the Finish, a replacement fee of 200 euros will be charged.

TIMED SECTIONS AND LIAISON STAGES

Timed sections account for around 2/5 of the total distance to be covered. Only these sections are timed. All other sections are liaison stages (not timed).

The timed sections are announced in the description of each stage (see www.aurora-gravel.com or "Race Manual" or Aurora collection on www.openrunner.com).

Timed sections marked by signs on the course at the entrance and exit.

APPLICABLE TIME LIMITS

Applicable time limits, called "Cut-off", determine the maximum time between two points.

Cut-Offs are applied by the stewards and race management. They are calculated on the following principle:

Best estimated time, doubled, then increased by 20%

Cut-off times are available on the event website for information purposes only. They are officially communicated to participants at the briefing, on the day before the race at the podium ceremony and on the morning before the Start on the official information board.

If a participant fails to reach the checkpoint within the allotted time :

The participant can continue his race without any notion of the day's ranking.
The participant can continue his competition on the following days without any notion of overall ranking.
The participant must reach the Finish by his own means and under his own responsibility. Assistance to the race may no longer be provided.
Participants are not entitled to repatriation insured by the organization if their physical condition allows them to continue cycling.

Race management reserves the right to adjust the applicable time limits according to the best actual time of the day or in the event of "aggravated conditions". As a result, some participants may be reinstated in the day's classification and in the general classification (GC), provided they have completed the entire trails on their own bike, in accordance with the Regulations.

DEPARTURE PROCEDURE

Competitors must arrive at the Start at least 5 minutes before the scheduled time.

Prologue Start

Prologue starts are mass starts by category (staggered by 5 minutes). Starts begin with the oldest categories. The result of the prologue does not determine the start order for the following day.

Stage starts

Stage starts are global group starts under driving (class leaders have access to the first positions), for a first untimed section of at least 2 km and maximum 10 km. This is for safety reasons.

RACE STEWARDS

Compliance with these Regulations will be monitored during all stages by duly identified stewards.
Stewards are authorized to impose and immediately enforce sanctions in the event of any breach of the Regulations. Penalties include warnings and (for serious infringements) immediate expulsion from the event (see "Behaviour"). The choice of sanction is made by the stewards at their discretion or by the race management after the stage.
The stewards' instructions must be followed immediately in all circumstances and, if necessary, the stage must be stopped immediately. A penalty imposed by the stewards may only be contested after the end of the stage.
In addition, any infringement (whether sanctioned or not) will be notified by the stewards, who will submit it to the jury for appraisal.

BICYCLE COMPLIANCE

Gravel bike with drop bar handlebars or semi-rigid mountain bike with drop bar handlebars
Tire cross-section 700×40 minimum, 45 to 50mm recommended
Aerobars or handlebar extensions prohibited
Electrically-assisted bikes prohibited (except Swiss race)
Recumbent bicycles, tandems, unicycles and handcycles of all kinds are forbidden (except in the handisport category).
Rear or under-seat bottle holders not permitted
Lenticular or paracular front and/or rear wheels prohibited

Bikes are systematically checked by a steward before the Start. If a participant's bike does not comply with current regulations, the participant will not be allowed to start until the bike has been brought up to standard.

COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT

GPS navigation device with GPX route (except marked prologue)
EN1078 / CPSC certified helmet
Cell phone with active roaming and WhatsApp application with safety channel group integration and emergency numbers.
Repair kit (Pump, 2 inner tubes, 2 tire levers, quick chain link, multi tool, drill bits or patches, dropout)
Minimum 1.25L water supply (water bottle or hydration bag) at the Start
400kcal food reserve at the Start of each stage
Sunglasses
Wear jersey bib at all times
Wear the frame plate at all times (attached in accordance with the instructions received at the accreditation center when picking up your race number).

Additional compulsory equipment for Cyprus and Portugal :

Windproof jacket or vest
Wear your GPS beacon at all times (as instructed when collecting your number from the accreditation center).

The race jury reserves the right to inspect a participant's compulsory equipment at any time. If it does not comply with current regulations, the participant will not be allowed to start or continue the stage until he/she has completed or replaced his/her compulsory equipment.

PROHIBITED EQUIPMENT

The use of headphones, earpieces or two-way radios (i.e. "walkie-talkies") is not permitted during the race. Bone-conduction external sound devices are permitted.
Bluetooth speakers are prohibited in order to minimize noise pollution in the areas crossed.
Cameras may be mounted on the rider's bike but not on the rider himself (including the rider's helmet or chest). Cameras mounted on the rider's bike must be placed in a safe location and manner and may not protrude an unreasonable distance (in the opinion of the race jury) from the bike e.g. no selfie sticks. If a camera is used during a stage, the race organizer has the right to obtain the images.
All devices attached to the bike or worn on the body, such as tubes, straps or handles that allow the teammate to hold on, pull or push.
Water bottles made of non-malleable materials such as glass, aluminum, etc.

Other equipment. The race jury may at any time prohibit any other item of equipment (other than essential cycling equipment) at its discretion, and riders must comply with any such prohibition at all times.

The race jury reserves the right to inspect, at any time, the rider's bike, clothing, equipment, components and accessories used in the race to determine whether they comply with the regulations.

AUTHORIZED SHARES

Participants are allowed to stop in villages or deviate from the original route. They must return to the race route at the point where they deviated, failing which they will be penalized by the jury.
Drafting is allowed
Help and mechanical assistance for others

SAFETY

The safety of each participant and member of the organizing team, the public and local residents is paramount. To this end, participants undertake to:

Prohibition of dangerous behaviour: sudden braking in a group, aggressive overtaking, refusal to give way
Comply with the official Warming signs indicating any hazards on the route.
Respect the instructions of marshals and / or law enforcement officials.
Comply with the Highway Code.
Do not endanger other participants, the public or local residents.
Adapt the speed of passage through towns and villages.
Adopt appropriate behavior and speed on trails where other users, such as walkers and riders, are present.

Not all dangers encountered by participants on the routes are indicated by the organizers. It is the responsibility of each participant to ride at a speed that allows him or her to keep control of the bike at all times. The organizers decline all responsibility in the event of an accident.

SAFETY CHANNEL

An information channel on the WhatsApp application "Aurora Safety & Info Channel" is available to transmit any information relating to dangerous weather conditions or any other important and urgent information for the safety of participants. This platform is managed by the race management.

The link to the safety channel is sent to participants at least 3 days before the event. All participants are invited to join the channel if they have WhatsApp.

MEDICAL AND RESCUE SUPPORT

The medical service, a doctor or a member of the organizing committee may, at any time, ask a participant to leave the competition if they judge that his or her state of health does not allow the race to continue in complete safety. The organization is authorized to provide emergency medical care if necessary, and to hire an ambulance or rescue helicopter. The participant is responsible for all resulting costs. In the event of an accident, the organizers will not be held responsible.

Each participant undertakes to provide help and assistance to any other participant in the event of a health emergency. Assistance time will be deducted at the end of the stage if the participant notifies race management.

NAVIGATION

The trails are unmarked, except for the prologues.
Participants must follow the route provided in the GPX file and orient themselves independently using a GPS-type navigation device. If a participant deviates from the original route, he/she must return to the race route at the point where he/she deviated, failing which he/she will be penalized by the jury.
Itineraries (GPX files) must be uploaded by the participant on the www.openrunner.com platform, Aurora Gravel Rally Series collections. Direct link from www.aurora-gravel.com
It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that they have the latest version of the day's itinerary.
It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that he/she has mastered navigation and his/her navigation device.

The organizers cannot be held responsible if a participant loses time finding the route or gets lost. No time deductions will be accepted, except in the event of a detour set up by the authorities or a major problem on the route during the race, in which case the decision rests with the jury.

FEED ZONE (Feed zones)

2 Feed zones per stage + 1 at Finish, prologue 1 at Finish. Location: refer to event Race Manual
Food and beverages: please refer to the event's Race Manual

Each participant is responsible for his or her own nutrition and hydration during the stages. Refreshments are a complement to each participant's nutrition and hydration strategy, and the participant cannot rely on all products being available at all times, as described in the race manual.

EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE

Outside assistance is permitted.

Each participant may be followed by his or her family or team. Each participant may benefit from outside assistance in the Feed zones, provided that this does not compromise the safety of the other racers and does not constitute cheating. Assistance in the Feed zones is limited to two people per runner without accreditation.

Participants are allowed to stop in villages or deviate from the original route to seek assistance. They must return to the race route at the point where they deviated, failing which they will be penalized by the jury.

BEHAVIOR AND SANCTIONS

All participants must demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship. The use of offensive or abusive language is forbidden. Unfair or disrespectful behavior towards the race jury, other participants, race personnel, premises or spectators is strictly prohibited.

Instructions given by marshals, flagmen or any other accredited personnel must be followed to the letter. Any behaviour that hinders the action of the officials may be sanctioned by the jury. Each steward may exclude and sanction a participant

The following principles are imperative:

Respect regulations and instructions given by the organization.
Respect for other participants, volunteers, medical staff, assistance teams, local residents and the general public.
Respect for the environment: no garbage, mechanical parts, inner tubes or water bottles may be disposed of outside the designated areas at Feed zones; any failure to comply will be immediately penalised.
Respect the highway code at all times, unless otherwise indicated by the organization or the police.
Respect for other users: appropriate behavior and speed on trails where other users, such as walkers and riders, are present.
Prohibition of cheating and doping. Unannounced doping control with obligation to submit on pain of exclusion.
No use of unmarked shortcuts or shortcuts not included in the GPX of the official route.
Prohibition of dangerous behaviour: sudden braking in a group, aggressive overtaking, refusal to give way
No discriminatory, sexist, racist or violent (verbal or physical) comments or behavior.
Obligation to help a participant or a person in distress in the event of an accident or danger, with deduction of time spent.
Obligation to respect silence in sensitive natural and agricultural areas.
Respect level crossings and keep track of downtime.

Indicative scale of penalties

Infringement	Minimum penalty	Maximum penalty
Late start to stage	5 minutes	Exclusion from classification if recurrent
Exceeding cut-off times	Withdrawal of classification

Littering outside the zones	30 minutes	Immediate disqualification and exclusion from the next edition
Cheating (shortcuts, motorized drafting, etc.)	60 minutes	Immediate disqualification
Verbal or physical aggression, threats	Immediate disqualification	Lifetime ban depending on severity
Non-compliance with mandatory equipment	15 minutes	Start refused until compliance
Non-compliance with traffic regulations	60 minutes	Disqualification
Use of radios or electronic assistance systems prohibited	15 minutes	Disqualification
Doping or serious fraud	Disqualification + ban on participation

The organization reserves the right to adapt these sanctions to the seriousness of the facts and their impact on the safety, fairness and integrity of the race. The Race Jury alone is empowered to make final decisions. A protest form may be completed within 30 minutes of publication of the provisional results.

Conformity checks may be carried out at any time (Start, feed stations, Finish).

RANKINGS

The daily classification for each stage or prologue is based on the cumulative times of the timed sections.

The general classification (GC) is based on the cumulative times of the timed sections of each stage, including the prologue.

The participant accepts that his surname, first name, year of birth, country of origin, start number and result (place and time) be published in all media relating to the event (list of participants, list of results, etc.).
Participants may object to the disclosure and publication of their personal data by contacting the organizer in writing or by e-mail.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

No yellow jersey for Aurora Gravel Rally Series, but socks, the Yellow SOX !

Each "Class leader" in his category each will receive a pair of the famous Yellow SOX to wear the next day as a distinctive feature.

The distinctive "Yellow SOX" socks must be worn as long as the participant is leading the category.

CEREMONIES AND AWARDS

At the end of each stage and at the end of the race, the prize-giving ceremonies take place in the form of a convivial time with the podiums of the day's different categories or the general classification (GC). The first three competitors in each category must attend the ceremony.

Location and times: please refer to the Race Manual for details.

Awards and prizes :

Trophies and medals
Prizes, AGRS discount coupons, other.

TOTAL ABANDONMENT

Any participant who voluntarily withdraws from the race (outside the stage or during the stage) must be reported to the steward or race director or to one of the persons in charge, and the GPS beacon must be handed over to the timekeeper as soon as possible.

If the participant does not announce his withdrawal from the race, the organization may initiate a search procedure. In this case, all search costs will be invoiced to the participant.

In the event of abandonment during a stage, participants who are able to do so must make their own way to the Finish line. No costs will be charged to the organization.

The "Broom wagon" repatriation vehicle ensures the repatriation of participants who have withdrawn for reasons that do not allow them to reach the Finish (physical or mechanical). Access to the repatriation vehicle is granted after the race marshals have examined the case. The organization is only obliged to provide repatriation at points accessible to a 4×4 vehicle.

It is possible to abandon a stage (partial abandonment) and take the start of the following stages, being excluded from the ranking if the reason is not medical.

PARTIAL ABANDONMENT

It is possible not to take the Start of a stage and to take the Start of the following stages. In this case, the participant will not be classified for the day's stage and will be excluded from the general classification.

In the event that the start of a stage does not correspond to its Finish location, a private shuttle transfer fee will be charged. The participant undertakes to pay these costs directly to the service provider.

CANCELLATION OR MODIFICATION OF THE COMPETITION

The organizers may shorten, postpone or cancel the event, or any part of it, in any manner whatsoever, or if any of the equipment, goods or services related to the event are no longer provided, whether due to force majeure, legal restrictions, litigation, safety reasons, failure of service providers or any other reason or cause.

If a stage is abandoned or shortened, the following rules will apply:

- If three riders have completed the stage before it is abandoned, the stage will be classified as an official stage of the race and will count towards the overall results. Otherwise, the stage will not constitute an official stage and will be disregarded for the general classification results.
Riders will be classified DNF if they abandon the stage or do not reach a Cut-off within the applicable time limit before the stage is abandoned or shortened.

IMAGE RIGHTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

The Organizer may film and photograph the event and use these images (website, social networks, press, print media, TV), including for promotional purposes, without geographical or temporal limits. An isolated commercial focus on a participant (individual portrait) requires his/her agreement.

Data processing operations are described in the Website/Event Privacy Policy.

The Aurora Gravel Rally Series logo may not be used on anything other than official clothing.

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS

Personal sponsor logos may only appear on clothing and equipment used during the event. All advertising devices (banners, flags, etc.) are forbidden on the trails and at the Finish (possible penalty).

PROTETS

Each participant has the right to appeal against a decision of the stewards or race management. Complaints must be made in writing on the organizer's form on the day of the race, and handed in to race management no later than one hour before the podium ceremonies.

A deposit of 100 euros is required from the claimant. This sum is refunded if the claim is accepted by the jury.

MISCELLANEOUS

Race Manual" online at aurora-gravel.com at least 4 weeks before the event.
Additional information on www.aurora-gravel.com
Contact : ride@aurora-gravel.com