Self-sufficiency

Race Through Slovakia is an unsupported race. You must complete the entire race by bicycle, under your own power and without any pre-arranged assistance from family, friends or other people.

During the race, you may only use services that are available to everyone under the same conditions – for example shops, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses or bicycle repair shops.

You may not use a support vehicle, public transport, private accommodation with family or friends, or any other assistance that is not available to other participants.

Exceptions apply in emergency situations and to assistance between riders who are officially registered as a pair.

Safety

Each participant is responsible for their own safety, decisions and manner of riding.

Throughout the race, you must comply with the traffic laws and regulations of the country you are riding through.

Mandatory equipment includes a helmet, two functional and independent brakes, and two independent sets of lights – two front lights and two rear lights. In conditions of reduced visibility, you must use reflective elements.

Riding without a helmet or with an unfastened helmet will result in disqualification or exclusion from the classification.

Rules

1. Complete the race under your own power

You must complete the entire route on a bicycle powered by your own effort.

2. No outside support

Family, friends or other people may not provide you with material, logistical or any other form of support during the race.

They may come to cheer you on, but they may not bring you food or equipment, arrange repairs for you or assist you in any other way.

You may only use commercially available services that are also available to other participants.

If the route passes your home or the home of family or friends, you may not use it for food or refreshments, rest, repairs or to replenish your equipment.

3. Assistance between participants

Assistance between individual participants is permitted in emergency situations.

An exception applies to riders officially registered as a pair, who may assist each other during the race.

Only participants who complete the race in accordance with the principle of self-sufficiency may be included in the overall classification.

4. No drafting

Drafting behind motor vehicles or other participants is prohibited.

It is perfectly fine to ride alongside another cyclist during the race and have a conversation. However, riding together for an extended period goes against the principle of self-sufficiency. If you want to complete the race together with another person, register as a pair. You may also announce during the race that you will no longer ride individually and will instead finish as a pair or as part of a larger group.

5. Carry your equipment with you

You may not leave equipment somewhere along the route with the intention of collecting it later. For example, you may not leave a backpack or other equipment at the bottom of a climb and collect it again after descending.

6. Mandatory segments

You choose your own route between the mandatory segments. However, mandatory segments must be completed in their entirety, in the prescribed direction.

If you deliberately leave a mandatory segment – for example to visit a shop, accommodation or repair service – you must return to the route at the same point where you left it.

Minor unintentional navigation errors are tolerated. For example, if you miss a turn and rejoin the route a few dozen metres later, this is not considered a violation of the rules as long as you do not gain an advantage from it.

7. Impassable mandatory segment

If a mandatory segment cannot be ridden safely due to an unforeseen event, such as a traffic accident, road closure, damaged bridge or other obstacle, take the shortest reasonable and safe detour.

Return to the prescribed route as soon as possible.

8. Compliance with traffic regulations

Throughout the race, you must comply with the traffic laws and regulations of the country you are in, including rules governing the use of cycling infrastructure.

Dangerous riding or violation of traffic regulations is grounds for disqualification.

9. Mandatory safety equipment

During the race, you must have:

• a cycling helmet,
• two functional and independent brakes,
• two front lights,
• two rear lights,
• reflective elements for riding in conditions of reduced visibility,
• isotermic blanket.

Riding without a helmet or riding with an unfastened helmet will result in disqualification.

10. Emergency contact

Each participant must provide an adult emergency contact during registration whom we can contact in an emergency or if we are unable to reach the participant directly for an extended period.

Participant responsibility

Race Through Slovakia is a self-sufficient endurance cycling event without outside support.

The organisers define the race concept and mandatory segments, but each participant plans their own route between them and makes their own decisions regarding pace, rest, food, accommodation and how to proceed.

You must be prepared to deal independently with mechanical problems, adverse weather, fatigue, health issues and other unforeseen situations.

The organisers do not guarantee a support vehicle, transport or assistance along the route. If you are no longer able to continue safely, your priority must be to stop riding and get yourself to safety.

By participating in the race, you acknowledge the risks associated with endurance cycling and accept responsibility for your decisions while riding.

You enter the race on the understanding that you are responsible for yourself in every situation you may encounter. As organisers, we accept no responsibility for any damage to property, injury or loss of life.