1. Race categories

Race Around Austria Single male/female
Race Around Austria Two person male/female
Race Around Austria Four person male/female

Race Around Austria 1500 male/female

2. Age

 Only persons of full age (over 18) are allowed to take part. In the team competition the team members have to be 16 years old. 

3. Bikes

Racing bicycles as well as Mountainbikes are allowed. The bikes have to be roadworthy and licenced for road traffic. The organizser will verify this during the acceptance test. Only verified bikes may be used during the race.

The bikes have to be equipped according to the StVO.

Additionally installed have to be:

• Rear reflector stickers on each wheel (at least 4 on each side of the wheel, min. size 5x1,5 cm)
• Rear reflector stickers on the seat post (min. size 2 cm wide, around the seat post) and on the backside of the bike (min. 10x1,5cm on each side)
  
• Rear reflector stickers on all shoes (instead of the rear reflectors on the pedals, side and back, min. size 5x1,5cm)
• Rear reflector stickers on the fork, left and right (forward view, min. size 10x1,5 cm)

Aerobars can only be used with racing bikes.

From 20:00 to 6:30 o´clock (night time) a bright white light has to be used on the front of the bikes and a red light at the back. We advise you to bring enough batteries and lamps as you are not allowed to continue the race during the night without sufficient illumination. The condition of the lights will be verified during the acceptance test. In your own interest we advise you to use very strong lights especially during descents.

All bikes which are used during the Race Around Austria have to be taken to the acceptance test.

4. Mandatory Helmets

At all time during the race the participants must wear helemets. Team riders must wear helmets during warm-up. The chin strap has to be securely fastened at all times, opening the chin strap is only allowed when standing still. There are no exceptions for ascents. The helmet must be brought to the acceptance test and its certification will be verified. The helmet stickers must be sticked on each side of the helmet.

5. Race Hierarchy

The officials are subordinate to the race organisers.

6. Prerogative of the race organisers, interpretation of the rules

If the race situation requires, the race organisers may create new rules.

The rules of the Race Around Austria must be interpreted threefold.

• Safety is top priority.
• Flow of traffic must not be disrupted unless the safety of the racers is more important than flow of traffic (f. ex. tunnels, dangerous legs, night legs, etc.)
• Each action of a rider or crew member which results in an unfair advantage or disadvantage for a rider, will be punished.

If the race organisers decide on new rules, these become binding for all participants after they have been online on the Race Around Austria Homepage for more than 12 hours. In case of the team’s direct notification by the race organisers, the rules become binding immediately.

7. Unforeseen Events

If the rider/crew cannot continue the race because of an unforeseen event (road blocks, bad weather, construction sites, route diversions, hazards), the race organisers must be informed. It is part of the Race Around Austria to deal with such an event oneself. In case of danger the team must choose an alternative that is beneficial to the race. Time credits or penalties are given after the unforeseen event has been dealt with.

8. Official Race Language

The official race language is German. Participants who do not speak German may use English.

9. Official race time, Cutoff times

The official race time is Central European Summer Time (CEST). Times must be announced in digital (military) time format without seconds. (f. ex.: 20:34; 09:48)

Cutoff times: Extreme Race Around Austria:
Intermediate Station Halbenrain: 48h
Großglockner Hochtor: 3T 04h 
Finish line: 5T 12h

Cutoff times: Race Around Austria 1500:
Finish line: 5T 

Participants will be taken out of the race, when it is not mathematically possible to achieve the finish in the cutoff time.

10. Officials

Officials are asked not to favour any riders. First Aid can only be rendered in case of an emergency.

A good relationship between officials and participants is beneficial to the atmosphere of the race.

In case of questions about the rules, the officials are ready to help you. However, the rules will be enforced according to the written rules and the race organisers.

Not all officials use marked vehicles. They observe the adherence to the rules and may also travel in unmarked vehicles.

All officials are authorised to monitor the race and to give penalties in case of a breach of the rules. Officials are also authorised to disqualify a participant in case of a severe breach of the rules. If a rider appears to be unable to continue in the race, officials are authorised to ban him/her from continuing and order him/her to take a break from the race. Officials are also authorised to stop a rider in order to explain rules or safety regulations.

Is the rider unable to continue the race because of permanent adverse effects (for example "Shermers Neck", concentration problems), the race organizers are eligible to take the rider out of the race. 

11. Penalties

In case of a breach of the race rules or road traffic regulations, officials and race organisers may give penalties which will add up during the race. The rider respectively the crew may collect 4 penalties, the 5th penalty results in disqualification.

Penaltiy-structure SOLO:

1. Penalty: 15 min – or according to the offense
2. Penalty: 15 min (total 30 min)
3. Penalty: 45 min (total 75 min)
4. Penalty: 45 min (total 110 min)
5. Penalty: Disqualification

1. Penalty: 15 min - or according to de offence
2. Penalty: 15 min (Total 30 min)
3. Penalty: 20 min (Total 50 min)
4. Penalty: 30 min (Total 80 min)
5. Penalty: Disqualification

A breach of the rules committed by the team, caravans or media cars, will count as a penalty for the rider.

The length of the penalties can be adapted according to the severity of the offense.

Penalties can also be given after a video- or photo-analysis.

12. Time Credits

Riders can receive time credits in case of an unforeseen event. Time credits can only be given by the race organisers. A high number of penalties may have a negative effect on the time credits given.

13. Information on Time Credits and Penalties

Penalties and time credits can be viewed on the homepage during the race.

14. Serving of Penalties

The collected penalties and the difference time of TEAMS have to be served in the penalty box.Solo Riders hasn´t to stop, their Penaltys and different start times will be added to the finish line.

In case of a breach of the rules during the last kilometres of TEAMS, the penalty will be added to the finishing time too.

15. Disqualification

The following severe breaches of the rules will be punished with immediate disqualification:

• consumption of alcohol by the athletes
• Use and possession of performance enhancing drugs. The rules of the NADA will be applied.
• Refusal of a drug test before, during or after the race. 
• Completing part of the race in a vehicle.
• Accompanying the rider in a vehicle not in accordance with the road traffic regulations (StVo) or in an inadequately prepared or uninsured vehicle
• Stopping next to a moving vehicle (motorised and non-motorised).
• The refusal to complete a sleeping break as ordered by an official or the race organisers
• Severely endangering the safety of the race or other road users
• Harassment of other riders
• Race hurtful behaviour
• Missing declaration of indemnity of an athlete or coach/manager
• Collection of 5 penalties.

In case of a third disqualification, the rider will be banned from the Race Around Austria for life.

16. Construction sites

Construction sites (torn up asphalt, gravel roads, etc.) may be passed on the bicycle or IN THE PACE CAR. As soon as the roads are passable (asphalted), the bike has to be used again. If traffic lights are in use, it is not allowed to bypass the construction site on the bike while the lights are red.

17. Executive Authority

The Race Around Austria is conducted on open roads and therefore the road traffic regulations (Straßenverkehrsordnung – StVO) must be followed.

The following rules must be followed:

• All participants have to abide to the rules of the road traffic regulations (Straßenverkehrsordnung – StVO) and all applicable laws during the race.
• The executive authorities may override the rules of the Race Around Austria at any time.
• If a participant is asked to leave the race course by the police, he/she must meet their request immediately and inform the race organisers.
• If the participant has neither committed a breach of the rules of the Race Around Austria nor the road traffic regulations, the race organisers may give time credits.

18. Road Traffic Regulations (Straßenverkehrsordnung)

All participants must follow the rules of the Straßenverkehrsordnung. Special attention should be paid to traffic lights and stop signs. All breaches of the Straßenverkehrsordnung will result in a penalty.

• Bypassing of red traffic lights, intersections, pedestrian crossings, construction sites, etc. is not allowed.

19.  Pre-Race Phase – Requirements

The rider and the teams must take part in the Pre-Race – Meeting and in the acceptance test. The timetable can be found on the Race Around Austria Homepage. Each rider also must be present at the drawing of the starting numbers and at the photosession after the Pre-Race - Meeting. Violation against this requirements will be punished with a penalty time of one hour for the race. 

All team members, crew members and riders have to hand in their signed liability exclusion statements until the day before the start of the race.

20. Communication

Each team has to submit two domestic mobile phone numbers to the race organisers, under which they can be contacted during the race.

21. GPS Tracking and Time Stations

The race will be monitored through GPS Tracking. The device has to be switched on and be fully working and be fixed in or on the pace car during the race. In case of a malfunction the race organisers have to be informed immediately.

The transition from one time station to another one can only be completed while being escorted by a pace car, in order to receive accurate transit times.

Reporting of the transit time over phone is not necessary. 

22. Duty of Information

The crew/team has to contact the race organisers by phone under the following circumstances.

• A change of crew members, if these members are not known to the race organisers (missing liability exclusion statement!)
• Road blocks, accidents, hazards or other unforeseen events, crashes
• A malfunctioning GPS - Tracker
• Untimely termination of the race

23. Escort Vehicles

Each participant of the Race Around Austria must be escorted by at least one four-wheeled escort vehicle. This vehicle has to be equipped like a pace car. At least three persons have to be able to drive and each driver must be given the possibility to sleep at least 6 hours each day. Motorhomes are not allowed as Pace Cars. It´s only valid to use one car for the whole race as a pace car. Only in a case of emergency it´s possible to chance the pace car. 

There is no maximum number in escort vehicles. As the rider can only continue the race accompanied by a pace car during the night, a second escort vehicle is recommended.For each additional escort vehicle are at least two drivers necessary.

Each vehicle must be approved for road traffic and should be sufficiently insured. If there is a bad weather forecast, winter equipment has to be carried along (if the car is not fitted with snow tyres, snow chains have to be brought along). The Race Office will inform you about this if it will be necessary as soon as possible.

During the acceptance test, the vehicles will be tested for their safety.

All escort vehicles (except for the pace car while escorting the rider) have to move at normal traffic speed. Traffic congestions are to be avoided. Caravaning (slow driving of several escort vehicles one behind the other) is forbidden.

In heavy traffic or on very busy roads, the rider can only be attended to through „leapfrog“ during the day. Leapfrog means that the pace car must overtake the rider at normal traffic speed, find a suitable parking space and continue the supervision from the roadside. 

24. Light Arrangements

Additional lights are not allowed on the escort vehicles by administration, we accept them, if the lights are helpful for athlete´s safety.. §102 Abs. 2 Z3 KFG allows the driver to switch on the hazard lights in order to warn other road users from danger. Therefore we suggest switching on the hazard lights when following the rider, in order to call attention to the low speed.

25. Badges for all vehicles

The windscreen, the left and the right window have to be kept free in order to ensure good visibility. On the hood, 50x40 cm space has to be reserved fort he starting number.

On the rear side of the pace car the „ACHTUNG RADRENNEN“ the „RACE AROUND AUSTRIA“ badges and the start number have to be attached (view to the back must not be obstructed!) The round „Race Around Austria“ badges have to be attached too. All the badges can be found in the starting documents.

26. Pace Car

Each rider has to be accompanied by a pace car. During the night the pace car has to directly follow the rider at all times. During the day the pace car can directly follow the driver but does not have to stay there at all times. (see rule 23!)

Stereo equipment can be installed on the car. During the night, in residential areas and in nature reserves, the volume has to be adapted.

On the pace car two orange flashing lights (masked on the frontside) must have to be installed. When the rider is paced, the orange flashing lights have to switched on, if he will be not paced, they have to be switched off. 

As long as the traffic situation allows, the rider can be attended to from the pace car 6 times each hour for one minute each time at the most. If other road users were to be endangered, the rider must be attended to from the roadside. (narrow roads, rush hour, heavy traffic, restricted visibility)

Caravans cannot be function as pace cars. Only in cases of emergency during the night, a caravan can be used (for 6 hours at the most). Should this be the case, the race organisers have to be informed. Refuelling, using the toilet, breaks, etc. do not count as emergencies. In these cases the rider has to stop too.

27. Espionage

Spying on other teams or riders is possible. The other crew or rider must not be disturbed. Espionage is only allowed when using cars which can be clearly identified as participants of the Race Around Austria. In case of harrassment of other teams, penalties will be given.

28. Rider

The rider must not leave the route. Exceptions are access to sleeping areas or emergencies. The rider cannot be pushed on by other persons or vehicles. In no case can the rider travel in slipstream of other vehicles. Cycling on damaged bikes is not allowed, therefore in this case pushing the bike is allowed. Should two riders of the same team meet, they can cycle next to each other (for a maximum of 15 min a day) but can only be accompanied by one pace car. One cycling behind the other is not allowed as a slipstream corridor of 100 m (!) has to be considered. Taking over should happen quickly.

At stop signs or red traffic lights, the rider must not hold onto vehicles or persons in order to keep his balance.

There must not be a connection between the rider and the bike (except for clipless pedals). Oxygen lines, cables or water tubes are forbidden. In case of a drug test or the reception of a penalty, the rider can be stopped. He will not be credited with the lost time.

Riders always have to use the very right lane. If they are attended to from the pace car, this can only happen from the passenger side.

If there is a cycle path, the rider can use it without being escorted by a pace car during the day. He can also choose to cycle on the road. In case of heavy traffic, we recommend ustin the cycle path.

Before, during and after the race, the rider has to cooperate with the media as long as it poses a reasonable task to him. Unfriendliness or refusal to cooperate for no reason can be punished with a penalty.

IPods are allowed as long as the volume does not affect the rider’s ability to take part in road traffic. Only one ear-phone is allowed, one ear has to remain free at all times.

29. Crew

Every Team/Rider need at least three supporters. At least three instructors with driving licence must be provided for the pace car, if there are more cars, each car need two additional instructrors with driving licence. 

All crew members have to hand in the signed liability exclusion statemenrts the day before the race.

The rider is responsible for the behaviour of the crew. Mistakes will be ascribed to the rider.

30. Fairness

Fairness towards all participants is of utmost importance. Fair behaviour is a major concern for the race organisers.

31. Support

The rider can only be followed by the pace car. During the day the rider does not always have to be followed by the pace car. In case of a development of a traffic congestion behind the pace car (3-4 vehicles), the pace car has to let the other vehicles pass (entry into a side road and waiting until the rider has been taken over). When the rider is not accompanied by the pace car, the pace car must move at normal traffic speed.

Communication with the rider should happen over a microphone with outside speakers. The volume should be turned down to a minimum during the night.

If escort vehicles stop, they must not disrupt traffic.

32. Handover

Handovers from the car are only allowed when the (oncoming) traffic allows it. The rider can be attended to from the pace car 6 times each hour for one minute each time at the most.

The person attending to the rider must not lean out of the car or hold on to the rider. The rider must not hold on to the car or the person attending to him.

33. Overtaking

If a rider passes another rider, the process of overtaking should proceed as follows:

The leading pace car lets the rider pass on the passenger side while slowing down and clearing the way. Now both riders will be in the light beam of a pace car. If one rider takes off, the leading pace car has to let the second one overtake. The second rider now has to keep a distance of 100 m to the leading pace car.

If both riders decide to cycle next to each other for a while (no slipstream!), they can only be accompanied by one pace car. The other pace car hast to travel at traffic speed in the meantime and may wait at a parking space.

34. Nighttime driving/cycling

Nighttime driving begins at 20:00 and ends at 06:30 o´clock in the morning. The following rules also apply in fog and poor visibility.

During these time periods the riders may only continue the race when being accompanied by a pace car. Lights have to be fixed on the bike. If the pace car stops, the rider must stop too. The rider must always be in the light cone of the pace car. This rule is extremely important and substitutes all other rules on handovers, city traffic, traffic congestions, etc. During the night the safety of the rider is more important than traffic obstructions.

In these night times crew members have to wear reflecting jackets when they are outside of the car (Motorhome, Pace Car, Media Car). 

35. Private Film Crews

Private film crews are allowed but have to be registered as mistakes and breaches of the rules will be attributed to the rider. The vehicles of media crews have to be registered and sticked with a Race Around Austria-Sticker but will not have to go through the acceptance test.

36. Rules for Team Riders

All the rules have to be applied to team riders. In addition, the following rules have to be adhered to:

At least one rider always has to cover the route (breaks are allowed). More than one driver being on the way is allowed too. Travelling in slipstream within a team is allowed too.

If a team loses its way, another team rider can continue the race at any place the team has already passed.

37. Rider Changes of Teams

Rider changes are dangerous because other road users do not know what is going on. Therefore the following rules must be adhered to:

Rider changes can only happen when the traffic situation allows it. Flying changes are not allowed in urban areas, in heavy traffic, in proximity to intersections or to traffic lights.

Rules for flying changes:

The rider who is taking over waits at very slow speed for the rider who is handing over and the pace car. When both riders are on a level with each other, the change is completed without the riders having to touch each other. Now the pace car overtakes the rider and accompanies the new rider or picks up the former (only possible during the day).

Rider changes during the night have to happen in the light beam of the pace car. The rider who is taking over can only accalerate in the light beam of the pace car. Speed has to be slow enough to make a safe change possible.

When in doubt, it is better to stop and continue the race with the new driver.

38.  Toll Charges

Toll roads:

Großglockner, the Gerlos Alpenstraße and the Silvretta Hochalpenstraße are toll roads.

Großglockner Hochalpenstraße: The rider must not pay for using the road but escort vehicles have to pay the toll during the day. They have to buy a ticket at the tollbooth. At night tickets are cheaper and during the night taking the road is free. The organisers and the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße free themselves from any liability, as the road is not supervised during the night. The first road check by the Großglockner Hochalpenstraßen AG is being carried out in the morning. Therefore we advise you to be especially careful. One lane next to the tollbooths is always withoug barriers. Please use this one. Tariffs and prices: http://www.grossglockner.at

Gerlos Alpenstraße: Toll must be paid from about 07:00 – 22:00, Cyclists can pass for free. Tariffs and conditions: http://www.gerlosstrasse.at

Escort vehicles which do not want to pay the toll during the day can use the old Gerlosstraße. This road however is very narrow and in bad condition. For bigger vehicles such as caravans, this road is impassable.

Silvretta Hochalpenstraße: Toll must be paid from around 06:30 Uhr – 20:00. Tariffs and conditions: http://www.silvretta-bielerhoehe.at

Bypassing for additional escort vehicles is possible over Landeck-Bludenz or on the Inntal-Autobahn or on the Bundesstraße. 

Because of the different times of arrival of the participants we cannot offer you combination tickets for the toll roads. We ask you for your understanding!

39. Terms and Conditions for Start and Finish

The following rules concerning the start and the finish have to be adhered to:

• The start takes place with all team members. A team of four therefore starts with all four riders. Until the end of the village the team has to stay united, later only one rider has to cover the route. The same applies to two person teams.
• The finish can but does not have to be completed with all riders. The race ends at the entrance of the start and finish village. The rest of the route is neutralised, overtaking is forbitten, also when a rider is stopping.