Sporting rules

2.1 ŠkodaTitan Desert Almería is open to riders over the age of 18.

2.2 The following participation options are available:

2.2.1 Individual.

2.2.2 Teams – Teams of three riders who participate on an individual basis and can be of different ages and genders.

2.2.3 Mixed Duos – Mixed-gender teams of two riders.

2.3 Options with fewer than three participants/teams shall be cancelled.

There are several men’s categories:

• Under-23 — Born from 2001 to 2006 (18 to 23 years old)
• Elite — Born from 1984 to 2000 (24 to 39 years old)
• Master 40 — Born from 1974 to 1983 (40 to 49 years old)
• Master 50 — Born from 1964 to 1973 (50 to 59 years old)
• Master 60 — Born in 1963 or earlier (60 years or older)

For a category to take place, there must be a minimum of 5 registered participants. If there are no such runners, if they are under-23 they will be considered elite, if they are master 40 they will be considered elite, if they are master 50 they will be considered master 40 and if they are master 60 they will be considered master 50.

4.1 The organiser shall provide each registered participant with the following items:

• A number plate, an ID wristband, two race numbers, the online rules and regulations, and the route in digital format (GPX).
• A mandatory geolocation device to be installed on a hydration pack.

4.2 An approved rigid helmet must be worn at all times during the race.

4.3 The number plate must be placed on a visible spot at the front of the bicycle and may not be modified in any way.

4.4 Both race numbers —one on the jersey and the other on the hydration pack— must be visible.

4.5 All members on the same team must wear the same jerseys.

4.6 Riders must carry a thermal blanket, a whistle and a headlight with them at all times during the race.

4.7 Participants are required to start each stage with one (1) litre of water, which shall be provided by the organiser.

4.8 Use of a GPS device is mandatory.

4.9 Only the leaders of the male and female categories are allowed to wear the official Škoda Titan Series Almería leaders’ jerseys.

4.10 Bicycles must have two wheels of the same diameter in which the front wheel is the guide wheel and the rear wheel is the drive wheel, and with pedals driving a chain. Bicycles must be powered exclusively by the legs of their riders in a circular motion and using a bottom bracket. Electric assistance or any other type of assistance is forbidden.

4.11 Tandem bicycles are allowed. Both participants shall wear the same race number. There shall be a specific classification for tandems, which shall therefore be excluded from other stage or general classifications.

5.1The four-day event consists of four mass-start raid stages. Participants are required to overnight at the venues designated by the organiser.
 Stages are run as raid races. Individual times in each stage are added together to establish an individual general classification.

5.2 The GPS tracks provided to each rider include all the details on each stage, including a description of the course, kilometre points, a stage profile with altitude differences, start and finish points, and the waypoint start (WPS).
Locations shall be given in decimal degrees and minutes using the DATUM WGS 84 format.
There shall be no markers on the course.

5.3 Participants are required to go through all the checkpoints (CPs) in the order established by the organiser. Failure to go through a checkpoint shall result in a time penalty.

5.4 Participants are required to go through all the hydration stations (HSs) in the order established by the organisation.

5.5 Where applicable, neutralised and link sections are to be covered by bicycle on the course established by the organiser.

5.6 All participants are required to record their routes on their GPS devices and store the data for consultation by the organiser until the start of the next stage.

5.7 The race route is open to traffic. Participants are therefore required to follow traffic rules and exercise caution when riding through inhabited areas.

5.8 Riders shall follow the course of each stage.

5.9 The prologue sector will be ridden individually. Total time set by the rider will not count towards the race standings and will only be used to determine the groups for the start of Stage 1. Riders will take the start in the prologue stage according to bib numbers reverse order.

The general director assumes the direction of the test:

JESÚS ​​GARCIA – CEO RPM-SPORTS

MANUEL TAJADA – Technical and sports director.

JOSÉ CODOÑER – Marketing Director

ÁLVARO VILCHES –  Press Departament.

MIQUEL ESTEVE – Relationship with participants and registration

7.1 The start check opens one hour before the scheduled start of the stage.

7.2 The start check closes fifteen minutes before the scheduled start of the stage.

7.3 Start boxes:

7.3.1 The groups for the start of Stage 1 will be arranged according to the result of the prologue stage.

7.3.2 Two areas will be reserved on the other days:

Box 1:
– Top 20 riders in the general classification
– Top 3 women
– 1st Mixed Duo

Box 2:
– Riders 21 through 50 in the general classification
– Riders 4 and 5 in the women’s classification

Box 3:
– Riders 51 through 100
– Leaders of the tandem classification

Box 4:
– Remaining competitors in groups of 50 following the general classification

The various boxes shall start the stage at 5-minute intervals. Each rider shall be credited with the start time corresponding to his or her start box.

7.4 Participants who are no longer eligible for the classification but still want to race shall have to start from the back of the start box.

7.5 The start shall be given at the scheduled time using an acoustic signal and the timer shall start to run for all riders.

7.6 Each rider must go under the start arch.

8.1 The organiser shall provide water to all participants at the start (1,5 litre) and during the stage (at least once every 40 km). The locations of Hydration Stations shall be made known on the eve of each stage.

8.2 Riders must write their race numbers on a visible part of their bottles, food containers and other belongings with a permanent marker. Failure to dispose of these items properly shall result in the offending rider (identified through his or her race number) receiving a warning. A second offence shall result in a one-hour penalty in the general classification. A third offence shall lead to disqualification from the race.

8.3 The organiser has the right to verify that all participants have marked their food and drinks properly at the start checks.

8.4 Each HS shall be considered a CP for the purposes of these rules.

9.1 Stage classification

Participants shall be ranked by finishing order after checking that they have completed the established course. These checks shall be carried out by reviewing CP and HS data electronically. Failure to go through a CP or HS shall result in a time penalty.

9.2 Time limit and withdrawals

Time limits shall be established according to the characteristics of each stage and announced at each daily briefing. These time limits may be extended to account for adverse weather conditions or for other reasons at the exclusive discretion of the race direction.

Time limits shall also apply to riders who have to repair their bicycles or receive medical assistance and then go on to finish the stage on their own. The time spent making repairs or receiving assistance shall count towards the stage time and shall not result in an extension of the time limit.

Riders who finish outside the time limit or drop out and wish to start the next stage may stay in the race as long as they have not finished outside the limit or dropped out of any previous stages. They shall no longer be eligible for the final general classification or any other classification.

9.3 Team classification

9.3.1 Teams shall be eligible for the team classification if all their members have completed all the stages of the race.

Teams shall be ranked in each stage by adding up the individual times of the three riders in each team. The top team shall be the one with the fastest cumulative time. In the event of a tie, the places of these three riders in the stage shall be added up and the higher-ranked team shall be the one with the lowest total. If the tie persists, the team with the highest-ranked rider in the stage shall be considered higher-ranked.
Only duly registered teams with three riders in the race are eligible for the team classification.

9.3.2 Mixed Duos are required to ride together, with no more than 1 minute between one rider and the other at each CP and at the finish. Failure to do so shall lead to their disqualification from the team classification and relegation to the individual general classification with a 90-minute penalty.

10.1 Individual general classification by time
The winner of this classification shall be the rider with the fastest cumulative time after all the stages.
In the event of a tie, the rider with the lowest cumulative total of places for all stages shall prevail.
If the tie still persists, the highest-ranked rider in the final stage shall prevail.
Only riders who have completed all the stages shall be eligible for this classification.
Riders racing as part of a Mixed Duo are ineligible for this classification.

10.2 General team classification
The winner of this classification shall be the team with the fastest cumulative team times for all stages. In the event of a tie, the places of these three riders in the stage will be added together and the higher-ranked team will be the one with the lowest total.
If the tie still persists, the highest-ranked team in the final stage shall prevail.

10.3 Special category classifications
Special category classifications are established for the Elite, Under-23, Master 40, Master 50, Master 60, women’s Elite and women’s Master based on the order of the general individual classification by time.

10.4 Protocol
During the briefing held at 8 pm in the designated place after the end of each stage, the organisation shall award a trophy and the leader’s jersey to the top rider in the male and female individual general classification. These riders are required to wear the jersey in the next stage.

11.1 It is the responsibility of the runner to pass the control in the starting area and through the arch installed for this purpose.

11.2 It is prohibited to circulate and cross any road or paved section that is not included in the track of the stage.

11.3 The use of any unfair method to gain time over other competitors is prohibited.

11.4 Only vehicles duly authorized by the organization can follow the test.

11.5 In order to maintain the safety of the participants and to maintain the spirit of adventure of the test, it is forbidden for any vehicle linked to any participant of the Test to circulate on the track during the development of the race, and ahead of the broom bikes of this.

11.6 The exchange of material during the race between the different participants in the race is allowed.

11.7 No outside material or technical assistance is allowed during the development of a stage.

11.8 The participants can be assisted by mechanics, masseurs or physiotherapists, etc. from the end of one stage to the start of the next, but never during the stage.

11.9 All these assistants must be accredited by the organization, and may only carry out their duties in official hotels, official camps and authorized areas.

Penalties

Appeals

Against the decisions of the organization and/or official classifications, the appropriate claims may be made in writing up to 30 minutes after the infraction has been communicated or the publication of the official classification, in the relationship store with the participants, and must make a deposit of 100 Euros, which are returned if the same is successful.

The RFEC protocols will be followed.

14.1 After the last stage, a briefing shall be held with all the participants including protocol ceremonies. The top 3 riders in the individual general classification by time (male and female categories) and the top 3 in the other category and team classifications are required to attend clad in the clothes set out in the rules.

14.2 Prizes
The highest-ranked riders in the men’s, women’s and Under-23 categories shall receive:

• Free registration for the 2022 Škoda Titan Desert Almería Stage Race

The top 3 riders in each category shall receive:

• Trophy

The top 3 riders in each category in the Team and Mixed Duo categories shall receive:

• Trophy

15.1 All participants must be courteous towards other participants, members of the organisation, media and the public.
15.2 The organiser reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
15.3 Registering in the 2023 Škoda Titan Desert Almería constitutes acceptance of these rules.