1. GENERAL

(1) The BIKE Transalp ("Event") is a mountain bike event organized by Delius Klasing Verlag GmbH ("Organizer"), in which e-mountain bikes are also permitted. The Event consists of 7 individual stages ("Stages").

(2) These regulations govern the terms of participation of every participant in the Event ("Participants") and are binding to them. A precondition to participate is full acceptance of these regulations.

(3) The Organizer has complete event authority and is entitled at any time to make decisions relating to the event, particularly to change the route, to extend or shorten to a reasonable extent the distance of the stage for objective reasons (e.g. damage to roads) - even shortly before the stage in question.

(4) Instructions from Event staff and uniformed forces (police, fire service, THW - technical assistance organization) must be complied completely and immediately. In the event of non-compliance, the Organizer is entitled to penalize the Participant in question (see point "Sanctions" of these regulations). "Event Staff" and those acting on behalf of the Organizer means all those persons identified as such (e.g. marshals).

2. ELIGIBILITY – HEALTH

(1) Recreational, amateur and professional athletes are eligible to participate.

(2) The minimum age of the participants at the start of the Event is 18 years.

(3) Only a person whose general health permits participation in the Event is eligible to participate. The Organizer strongly advises participants to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical doctor immediately before participating in the Event. The Organizer is entitled at any time to have the health of participants assessed by a qualified medical doctor, and if he or she expresses justified concerns in respect of the physical condition of the Participant, to exclude the Participant in question from the stage or the entire Event (or the rest of it) without a legal claim by the Participant arising from it.

(4) A precondition, for every Participant to take part in the event, is the presence of the participation confirmation (see general terms and conditions of the Event) as well as a signed original declaration of liability (sent out by e-mail approximately 2 weeks before the Event).

3. EQUIPMENT

(1) Commercially available mountain bike pedelecs with motor assistance up to a maximum of 25 km/h are permitted. These are considered bicycles and are therefore exempt from insurance and registration. S-pedelecs with unlimited pedal assistance are regarded as mopeds or motorcycles and are not permitted to start. Anyone who starts with an S-pedelec with a motor assistance of more than 25 km/h is not only in breach of the regulations, but also of the road traffic regulations and is therefore liable to prosecution. The organizer strongly advises to have the bicycle checked by a specialist for functionality/safety immediately before participating in the event.

(2) Systems that can be switched from pedelec to speed pedelec during the competition are excluded from the race.

(3) The participant must ensure that his/her battery capacity amounts to a total of (minimum) 1.200 watt hours. It’s possible to add one (1) second battery or one (1) range extender.

(4) It is mandatory to wear a helmet with a closed chin strap at all times during the entire event, without exception. Each participant shall ensure that his/her helmet is in perfect condition at all times, in particular that it is undamaged and adapted to the participant's head size, and that it complies with the recognized DIN standard 33954, the SNEL and/or ANSI standard. The organizer strongly advises that helmets be checked by a specialist immediately before participation in the event to ensure that they are free of damage/safe and fit properly.

(5) The event is a multi-day mountain bike event at which e-mountain bikes are also permitted. Each participant should equip themselves accordingly. This includes clothing for all weather conditions and first aid equipment. It is recommended that participants carry tools and spare parts.

(6) The organizer is entitled to have the bikes/equipment checked by a specialist at any time. Random checks of motor assistance up to a maximum of 25 km/h will be carried out before the start and along the route. If the expert detects violations of the requirements defined above in the "Equipment" section of the regulations, the organizer is entitled to exclude the participant concerned from the event (or continuation) until the violations detected have been rectified, without this giving rise to any rights for the participant.

(7) The participants may support each other within the framework of the road traffic regulations. Mechanical connections between bicycles / riders (pull ropes or similar) and technical aids such as straps are not permitted.

(8) Participants are responsible for fully charging their own batteries. The organizer will provide charging facilities in the finish area.

4. START

(1) The official start time of each stage is determined by the Organizer.

(2) Formation of each start grid begins 60 minutes before the official start time of the stage. The daily briefing for all Participants by the sporting director begins 15 minutes before the official start.

(3) Each day, the start is possible until 15 minutes after the official start time. Participants who set off more than 15 minutes after the official start time, the following applies:

Should the Participant ride the stage anyway, he does so outside the event and at his own risk.

(4) The Organizer reserves the right to implement a so-called "neutralized Start" on individual stages. A neutralized Start will be announced by the race director in advance at a briefing and signaled with a red light or a red flag on the roof of the race control vehicle. The following regulations apply:

The leading car or the marshall decide when the stage may be opened. Clearance is given by placing a green light or a green flag on the roof of the leading car. In exceptional cases, the start can also be cleared by marshals in front. In this case, the clearance is also given by a previously defined sign (e.g. hand signal) communicated to the participants.

5. IMPORTANT RULES OF CONDUCT DURIG THE EVENT

The Event is taking place on public streets that are not specially closed for the event, so that the following basic rules must be adhered to in particular when participating:

1. General rules of conduct for participants

a. The Participants must at all times obey the rules of the road of the respective country.

b. Participation requires constant vigilance and mutual consideration. Care must be taken on parts of the course with blind turns. When travelling downhill Participants must always be ready to brake and oncoming traffic should be expected.

c. Participants must behave in such a way that no one else is harmed or endangered. Fair cooperation, especially between mountain bikers and e-mountain bikers, e.g. in overtaking maneuvers, bottlenecks, etc., is always required. E-mountain bikers should bear in mind that mountain bikers are taking part in a timed race.

d. All Participants must travel on the right-hand side of the road (as far right as possible) throughout the entire event. Cutting corners is not permitted. Traffic overtaking from behind should be expected.

e. Helmets are compulsory at all times without exception for the entire duration of the event (see also the provisions on material in section “equipment”).

f. Under no circumstances may items be thrown away or permitted to fall, particularly not food packaging, bottles or drinking cups.

g. Slower Participants must immediately make way for those overtaking.

h. At closed railway crossings, once the red light is lit no crossing is permitted. No time will be credited to Participants held up at closed railway crossings.

i. Participants must repair defects alongside the route, without obstructing other Participants.

j. During the sprint to the finish, changing lane is not permitted.

(2) Mutual support/external assistance by third parties

a. Riding along (direct accompaniment) for the purpose of catering or quick technical assistance by external third parties with a car, motorcycle, e-bike or bicycle is not permitted. Accompaniment on the route by external third parties, e.g. for photo/film shoots, may be permitted in exceptional cases, but must be agreed in advance with the sports management.

b. It is not permitted to hand over food from a moving vehicle, motorbike or moving e-bike/bike.

c. Participation for the sole purpose of supporting a mountain biker is prohibited. Pushing and pulling a mountain biker is also prohibited. Teams of mountain and e-mountain bikers are not permitted.

6. INDIVIDUAL CATERING, TECHNICAL SUPPORT ON THE COURSE

a. The handing out of food, drinks, clothing or spare parts by guides standing at the side of the course is permitted as long as the course is not hindered.

b. The exchange of complete bicycles during a stage is permitted (e.g. in the event of a defect). The exchange must be reported to the sports management (marshal, race office, etc.). The bike will be checked after the finish.

c. Exchanging the battery (range extender) is not permitted during a stage. A battery change zone will be set up, and battery changes are only permitted there. Only one battery change is permitted per stage.

d. A battery change zone will be set up (approx. halfway along the route). Participants will receive their spare/second battery or range extender there, provided they have handed it in at the start.

e. Provided that no assistance and refreshment zones are designated, supporters may stand at any point along the route, provided that they reach this point on foot or by bike, do not hinder the course and do not directly accompany the participants they wish to support.

f. Entering roads and paths closed to public traffic by car or motorcycle for the purpose of assistance and catering is expressly prohibited and will be subject to a penalty for all accompanied participants. Permission to use these roads and paths applies exclusively to participants and escort vehicles of the organizer.

7. FOOD AND DRINK

(1) Every Participant is responsible for their own food and drink during the stages.

(2) The Organizer will provide appropriate food at the food stations, while supplies last. However, the Organizer does not guarantee the availability of food and drink.

(3) These food zones will be signposted in advance advising of the distance. To receive food, each Participant must give a clear hand signal, move to the right and then carefully enter the food zone before finally coming to a stop.

8. START NUMBERS AND PARTICIPANT ID

(1) Every Participant is obliged to have his start number clearly visible on his bike (handlebars) and body (on their back) throughout the entire Event. The advertising on the start numbers may not be covered or otherwise rendered unrecognizable.

(2) Every Participant must carry their Participant ID throughout the entire Event.

9. TRANSPONDER

(1) Every Participant receives a transponder during the accreditation at the start location.

(2) The transponder serves to record the individual time.

(3) The Participant is responsible for ensuring that he carries this transponder with him throughout the entire event, correctly mounted on the bicycle. Otherwise the time registration and consequently the evaluation cannot take place and the following applies:

The stage is considered “not finished” by the Participant.

(4) The Transponder must be returned by every Participant to the appropriately signposted point in the finishing area of the final stage.

10. CHECKPOINTS AND MINIMUM SPEEDS

(1) The Organizer reserves the right to deploy checkpoints for each stage and determine minimum passing times. The minimum passing times dependent among other things on the length of the race and the topography of the particular stage.

(2) For Participants who do not pass the checkpoints and/or do not attain the minimum passing times at the measurement points, the following applies:

The stage is considered “not finished” by the Participant.

If the Participant does continue the Stage, it is done outside of the Event and at the Participant's own risk.

11. SWEEP CAR

(1) Behind the last Participant there will be a so-called sweep car. The sweep car takes in Participants who are unable to continue due to exhaustion, empty battery or breakdown and transports them to the finish line.

(2) If the sweep car is full, the race management will try to organize alternative transport.

12. MARSHALS AND TRACK COMMISSAIRES

(1) Compliance with these regulations will be monitored during all stages by appropriately identified marshals and so-called commissaires.

(2) The marshals and commissaires are authorized to immediately impose and implement sanctions for breaches of the rules. The sanctions include warnings as well as (for serious breaches) immediate expulsion from the Event (see point “sanctions”). The choice of the sanction is made by the marshals and commissaires at their dutiful discretion or by the race management after the stage.

(3) The instructions of the marshals and commissaires must in all circumstances be followed immediately, and if necessary, the stage must be immediately interrupted. An objection to a sanction imposed by the marshals may only be raised after the end of the stage (see point “Jury and Protest”).

(4) In addition, every breach (regardless of whether it receives a sanction or not) will be notified by the marshals and commissaires who will submit the breach to the jury for consideration.

13. FINISH LINE AND TIME KEEPING

(1) At the finish line for each stage the Participants must ride over the contact strips in the ground.

(2) There will be (at least) one challenge per stage on which the participants can compete. The time will be taken in this fixed section. The three fastest men and the three fastest women will be awarded prizes in the start/finish area.

(3) There will be (at least) one challenge on each stage.

14. RANKING & AWARD CEREMONY

(1) There is no timekeeping from start to finish on the stages. Participants only need to have ridden the entire route by the end of the stage. Only then is the stage considered complete. In order to receive the finisher shirt at the end of the event, participants must have completed all stages.

(2) Participants will receive detailed information on the challenges in good time before the start of the stage.

15. PREMATURELY ENDING A STAGE OR THE ENTIRE EVENT

(1) Participants who end a stage prematurely must sign out immediately with the Organizer on site (race office or checkpoint) or using the emergency phone number printed on their Participant ID. For Participants who do not sign out at the race office or check points or use the telephone number provided, the Organizer will launch a search mission at the expense of the Participant.

(2) Participants who let themselves be picked up by the Sweep Car are automatically deregistered by the event personnel. The same applies to participants who cannot finish the stage after medical treatment. Anyone who fails to complete the minimum passage times and falls behind the Sweep Car or the final marshals, must deregister at the race office or the event personnel on the route. The continuation of the stage is then at the participants own risk.

(3) Anyone who wishes to end the whole Event prematurely must also sign out in the race office, hand back the transponder and when necessary cancel the booked rooms. Each person is responsible for his or her own return journey.

16. FINISHER

Every finisher receives a so-called finisher's jersey. A "Finisher" is anyone who completes all seven (7) Stages in accordance with the rules. The size given during registration for the finisher's jersey is binding.

17. JURY AND PROTEST

(1) The Organizer shall create a jury ("Jury") for every Event. The Jury consists of three (3) members chosen at the Organizer's discretion (generally sporting director, head of the organizing committee, head of timekeeping).

(2) The Jury decides on breaches of rules and protests notified to it (e.g. by marshals or commissaires). "Protests" are breaches of the rules notified by Participants from other Teams or complaints by Participants against the actions (e.g. sanctions) of Event staff. Protests must be submitted no later than one (1) our after the finish time in the race office and set out in writing, if necessary with reference to documentary evidence (e.g. witnesses) The fee for lodging a Protest is 50€ and must be paid with the submission of the Protest. The Protest fee remains with the Organizer if the Protest is rejected, otherwise it is returned immediately.

(3) The Jury deliberates and decides on breaches of rules and Protests taking into consideration all the relevant circumstances. The decision, particularly to impose sanctions, is made at the discretion of the Jury. The Jury is entitled to increase already imposed sanctions or to set them aside or to supplement them with additional ones.

(4) The Jury deliberates in private in the absence of the Participant involved. The decisions of the Jury are binding, there is no legal remedy against a decision of the Jury.

(5) The Participant will be notified no later than the start of the next stage and/or at the end of the Event before the announcement of the ranking.

18. SANCTIONS

(1) The Jury is entitled to impose penalties for breaches of these rules.

(2) Participants who have already been sanctioned, ride for the rest of the Event (i.e. the current and all subsequent stages) on " probation". Sanctioned Participants who receive another penalty may be expelled immediately from the Event.

(3) The following list of penalties is not exhaustive. The Jury is entitled to impose penalties and/or sanctions for breaches of the rules other than the following penalties/sanctions. The decision of the Jury whether to impose a penalty, and if so at what level, is made at the Jury's sole discretion.

Misdemeanor: Penalty

Starting grid with an illegal bicycle, technical defects in equipment: no starting until remedied

Back and handlebar numbers not visibly attached: Warning

Incorrect starting block formation: warning and penalty

Dangerous / aggressive riding: Warning and penalty or exclusion from the event

Failure to wear or remove the helmet on the course: exclusion from the event

Deliberate obstruction of a participant, gross unsportsmanlike conduct: Warning and penalty

Illegal behavior, insult, threat, incorrect behavior: exclusion from the event

Attempt to be classified without having completed the entire course: exclusion from the event

Detaining on a vehicle: warning and penalty

Non-compliant mechanical assistance: warning and penalty

Doping: exclusion from the event

Non-compliance with the StVO: Warning and penalty or exclusion from the event

Non-observance of the instructions of the race management, marshals, commissaries etc: exclusion from the event

Environmental pollution, throwing away waste, drinking bottles etc. (outside the marked areas at the refreshment posts): Warning and penalty (in case of recurrence exclusion from the event)

Not wearing the leader's jersey: warning and penalty

Non-appearance of the leaders at the award ceremony: penalty

Participants accompanying vehicles that obstruct the event: Warning and penalty

19. IMAGE RIGHTS

(1) The Organizer is entitled to take photographs and videos of the Participants or have them taken as part of the Event and to use, and especially to publish and/or edit these - subject to subsection (2) - without limitation as to time, location or content on TV, the internet, in printed materials, on any known or future medium, including for advertising purposes, without any time limits and free of charge, i.e. no payment or damages is required to be paid in respect of same. This includes in particular the right to grant third parties (e.g. sponsors of the Event) the right of use.

(2) Expressly not included is the use of individual Participants (or a group) in such a way that the focus is on the Participant(s) in question rather than the Event or participation in the Event. Such use requires prior approval by the Participants in question.

(3) The Participant agrees that the personal data obtained may be passed on to third parties for the purposes of timekeeping, drawing up the lists of results and putting these lists on the internet.

(4) The Participant agrees to the publication of his or her surname, forename, year of birth, residence, Team name, start number and result (placing and times) in all media relevant to the Event (list of Participants, list of results etc.).

(5) The Participant may object to the disclosure and publication of his or her personal details by contacting the Organizer in writing, by phone or e-mail.

20. LIABILITY OF THE ORGANIZER

(1) The liability of the organizer is limited as follows: The liability of the Organizer for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health, which is based on a negligent or intentional breach of duty by the Organizer or a legal representative or vicarious agent of the Organizer, is unlimited in reason and amount. For other damages, which are based on an intentional or grossly negligent breach of duty by the organizer or a legal representative or vicarious agent of the organizer, the organizer is also liable without limitation in reason and amount. The organizer is not liable for damages based on a negligent breach of duty by the organizer or a legal representative or vicarious agent, unless it is a matter of damages resulting from the breach of cardinal obligations. The liability for damages resulting from the violation of cardinal obligations is, however, limited in terms of amount to compensation for damages foreseeable at the time of conclusion of the contract and typical for this type of contract. "Cardinal obligations" are those whose fulfilment is essential for the proper execution of the contract and on whose observance the participant may regularly rely.

(2) The participant is hereby once again expressly informed that the organizer and/or his legal representatives or vicarious agents are not liable for damages for which they are not responsible. This applies, for example, to damages caused by misconduct/riding errors of other riders or the fact that participants are prevented from participating in whole or in part due to legal regulations and/or official orders.

(3) The present limitation of liability also expressly applies to lost valuables, items of clothing and equipment and damage to the bicycles caused during transport.

21. LIABILITY OF THE PARTICIPANT AND INDEMNITY

(1) The Participant is once more expressly reminded that he or she is liable for damage to the Organizer or third parties (e.g. other riders) to an unlimited extent if the Participant is responsible for same, e.g. the Participant is charged with acting deliberately or negligently. The Organizer recommends that Participants obtain a policy of public liability insurance for events such as these.

(2) The Participant hereby undertakes to indemnify the Organizer and/or third parties engaged by the Organizer ("Indemnified Parties") in full in respect of all third party claims as soon as so requested and to pay the costs claimed as against the Indemnified Parties in respect of the loss or damage caused by the Participant and all costs incurred in this regard (including legal defense).

Status: November 2023