Below you can read some basic rules of Race Across Czechia.
1. RACZ STATUS
Though we have a word „Race“ in our name, RACZ is conceived as an individual bikepacking challenge, just with a mass start.
2. REGISTRATION
Event participants must register for Race Across Czechia (RACZ) via special form on this website in section REGISTRATION or on website of UltraBikers Cup (UB Cup) ultrabikers.eu/racz25-registration.
Registrered riders are added on the List of Riders of actual edition after payment of entry fee.
3. CANCELLATION FEES
If things go wrong and registered riders, who have paid entry fee, are finally not able to participate in actual edition, they have the option to transfer it to another UB Cup event (Moravia Divide, UB30 or Moravia Gravel) or for next edtion of RACZ or transfer their entry fee to another person (without any cancellation fees).
Anyway, depending to time lead before start of RACZ, there are cancellation fees deducted:
– Before 1st January – no cancellation fee is payable, we are willing to return entry fee in full amount
– 1.1.-31.3. – entry fee is no longer refundable, but it is possible to transfer it once to other UB Cup Event
– 1.4.-15.6. – cancellation fee of 500 CZK / 20 EUR
– after 15th June – cancellation fee is 1,000 CZK / 40 EUR
4. LIABILITY
Insurance against damages incurred during RACZ is paid by the participants themselves, it is not part of the entry fee. All riders must have third-party liability and property damage insurance !!!
During presentation before start, Riders will sign „Participant Statement“, where they declare, that they participate in RACZ at their own risk and that they keep on mind, that organizer bears no responsibility for any health, material or other damage that occurs to the Riders and also third parties during their participation (accidents, injuries, technical problems, bike destruction, theft, loss of equipment, fines, etc.).
5. PERMITTED BIKES
Riders can participate on RACZ only on bikes powered exclusively by human power.
We recommend to attend RACZ with gravel bikes with tyres width at least 35mm. Road bike is not recommended, but it is possible to attend also on hardtails, though we consider it not effective.
RACZ has only one List of Finishers, which does not differentiate type of bicycles.
RACZ can be attended also on scooters. In case of interest of a larger number of Riders on scooters, we will announce List of Finishers just for this category.
6. PASSING A FIXED ROUTE
RACZ Riders must pass its fixed route exactly as they receive it from the organizer as a gpx file.
If Riders decide to leave the predetermined route (e.g. to buy food, solve a technical problem or visit an off-route attraction), he must return back on The Route exactly to the place where they left it. A slight deviation from the route (e.g. parallel streets in cities, a cycle path along the road, crossing a turn, etc.), which does not significantly shorten fixed route, is allowed and the participant does not have to return to the original route.
7. TIME PENALTIES FOR SHORTCUTS
Time Penalties will be added for smaller shortcuts, no matter if they were done intentionally, by accident or as a consequence of deteriorated natural conditions (thunderstorms etc.).
Time Penalties for few specific shortcut will be predetermined in Race Itinerary, which riders will get before start of the event.
Other shortcuts will have Time Penalties, usually as:
– 20 minutes for every 1 kilometer for first shortcut
– 30 minutes for every 1 kilometer for second shortcut
– 60 minutes for every 1 km for other shortcuts
Riders are announced as „RACZ Finishers“, if they pass at least 99 % of predetermined route. Remaining 1 % of missed routed will be solved by time penalties, as stated above.
Riders who miss more than 1 % of The Route, will be announced as „RACZ Participants with incomplete route“.
8. ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS
If any unexpected road closure (due to construction works, etc.) occurs on RACZ fixed route, Riders must decide if to take the risk and try to drive through the repaired section (or walk, depending on the nature of the closure) or not.
If Riders decide to take a detour, they must return to the original route at the nearest possible point. The time spent on the detour will be (unfortunately) included to the total time.
RACZ organizer will do his best to check The Route cca 3 weeks before the event and will refer to the Riders about actual closures during event via WhatsApp and also recommend optimal detours.
9. PAIRS/GROUP CATEGORY
From RACZ25 edition, our event have a separate category „Pairs/Group“, regardless number of people.
If more Riders plans to attend RACZ in a a register as a Pair, they can share one GPS tracker and save 250 CZK / 10 EUR for its renting.
If a pair starting from the start with a shared tracker separate during the event (but both continue), the tracker will lead the faster one, while the slower one will enter its movement through photos for the rest of the race („UB Tracking“, which is used differently in races with GPS trackers voluntary only)
If one Rider of a Pair or Group will have to scratch, the remaining Riders can continue to the finish line and will be included to the category depending a place, where the Pair/Group was separated:
– before 600km as a solo rider
– after 600 km as a pair
9. FEMALE CATEGORY
As a „Fastest Woman“ will be announced only solo female Rider.
10. DRAFTING AND RIDING “IN THE HOOK”
RACZ is perceived rather as a „social ride“, during which you can not only test and measure your condition, visit new places and discover unknown landscapes, but also meet new friends and share your experiences with them. RACZ rules therefore do not prohibit riding in a hook, nor do they prevent contact with other participants, as is usual at some self-supported races.
We think that even if you can get a certain advantage by riding in a pair or group, we do not prohibit cooperation between competitors either. Our theory is that a large part of the time you gain thanks to cooperation will be lost elsewhere (for example, when your partner needs to go shopping, to the toilet or to solve some technical problems).
If you find other Riders during RACZ, who are riding at more or less the same pace, you can ride together and take turns at the front, without fear of disqualification or time penalty.
However, the opposite is situation when one Rider overtakes another (or a smaller group) and is the only one who refuses to take turns at the front, even though the other members of the group have invited him to do so. This behavior is not fair, we do not want it at our events and we believe that Riders will respect it. In case of complaints that some Rider repeatedly violated this rule, he may not be allowed to start other UltraBikers Cup events in the future.
11. CONTACT WITH RELATED PERSONS DURING RACZ
In a similar spirit, we also want to set rules regarding contacts with close people during races. We don’t want to go to the extreme, where any contact with acquaintances (taking photos, greeting, sharing a short ride, handing over snacks, etc.) is prohibited and is subject to disqualification or penalties.
Again, we appeal for fair play.
We consider fair contact with related persons to be :
– verbal contact, taking pictures or filming without any restrictions
– 1x handing out of a small snack during the race (1 bar, 1 beer for pleasure)
– a short carpool of a maximum length of 1% of the total length of the race (of course in total; it is not meant that each of the 10 friends can go for one percent)
We consider unfair use of related persons:
– handing over a larger package with food and drink (more than 3 pieces of food)
– ordering food in a restaurant for a Rider in ahead, so that he does not have to wait for him and come straight to the ready
– handing over spare clothes (if this underestimate, buy during the race yourself)
– removal of a part of the equipment (e.g. sleeping system before the last day of the race)
– carpool longer than 1% of the total route
– come to help with solving technical problems or with spare parts when called (however, it is allowed, if the Rider reaches the repair shop or service where a close person works, by his own power by disconnecting from the route and later returning to the place where he disconnected from it)
Repeated acceptance of refreshments from close people is prohibited.
12. ACCEPTANCE OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
Rider can accept any kind of selfless help from outside (offer refreshments, sleep or help with solving technical problems), if it is not agreed in advance and if the person providing the help was not asked (e.g. by phone) to come and help the competitor directly on the route .
The provision (or at least the offer) of help in difficulties by other competitors is not only allowed, but on the contrary, welcomed and appreciated.
Rider can solve technical problems (with the bike, navigation or equipment) by visiting a service center, buying a new piece of equipment, etc.
13. MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
All RACZ Riders have to take this mandatory equipment:
– a bicycle helmet
– a mobile phone to contact the organizer
– in the case of riding in the dark, a high-quality front and rear light and reflective elements
14. RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
We also recommend to take this equipment:
GPS device, spare battery, power bank (especially for multi-day events), or spare phone, high-quality waterproof jacket, thermal insulation film and waterproof bags.
15. ROAD TRAFFIC RULES
Participants are obliged to follow the rules of movement on public roads and road traffic and to behave with care towards nature and their surroundings.
16. BEHAVIOUR IN PROTECTED AREAS
In national parks, protected areas and nature reserves, the Riders are obliged to follow the rules of movement on them (do not enter outside marked routes, camp in places designated for this, do not throw garbage, in places where cycling is prohibited, push or carry a bicycle on foot ).
The organizer is not responsible for any fines imposed for violating prohibitions in protected areas.
17. SENDING THE RECORD OF RIDDEN ROUTE
In order to be included in „the „List of Finishers“ (and to receive points to UltraBikers Cup general ranking for their performance), Riders are required to provide to Organizer their gpx files with ridden route – if possible in finish line, or via sending a link to a track record in the Strava or Garmin application no later than 7 days after the end of the event.
The time including breaks („Elapsed time“ data) is included in the score sheet.
At events in which participants are equipped with GPS trackers, the track record is also used as a record from the tracker.
RACZ performances are entered by Riders via simple form on UB Cup website ultrabikers.eu/zadani-vykonu
18. CONSENT TO SHARING PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
By filling out the registration form, the RACZ Riders give to the organizer their consent to share the photos and videos on which they are displayed on social networks, websites and in the gallery on the Zonerama website.
Participants who do not wish to share photos and videos with their person must inform the organizer before the start of the event.
RULES QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about RACZ rules, do not hesitate to ask via email at ciza@ultrabikers.eu, via WhatsApp at tel. number +420 605 556 524 or by sending a message to the Race Across Czechia Facebook page .