The Alpentour Trophy is a mountain bike stage race (XCS) in UCI class S1.

1. Scope and Authority

• The UCI Regulations (Part 4, Mountain Bike), the Cycling Austria regulations, the Technical Guide and these rules apply. In the event of a conflict, the UCI Regulations prevail.
• The Commissaires’ Panel monitors compliance and imposes penalties. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse.
• Instructions from the police, commissaires, course marshals and medical staff must be followed under all circumstances.
• Changes will be announced at the briefing, at the Race Office or on the official channels. All participants are responsible for keeping themselves informed.

2. Participation

• The minimum age is 19.
• A valid UCI licence is required for the Men Elite and Women Elite categories. UCI points are awarded for the general classification only.
• Team managers must attend the meetings listed in the programme. All riders are strongly encouraged to attend the riders’ briefings.
• Each participant is responsible for their own health and fitness to race. On the instruction of the medical staff, the organisation may prohibit a rider from starting or continuing.
• All participants are subject to the UCI Anti-Doping Rules and may be tested. Suspended persons are excluded from participation.

3. Safety and Traffic

• Mountain biking is dangerous. All participants are responsible for their own safety and must adapt their speed to the course, the weather and their riding ability.
• The Road Traffic Regulations apply without exception on public roads. Expect oncoming traffic.
• Helmets are mandatory throughout the entire event. Riders without a helmet or with a damaged helmet will be refused the start; anyone who removes their helmet during the race will be disqualified.
• Closed level crossings must not be crossed. Level crossings protected by a red light are considered closed. Any violation results in disqualification.
• Faster riders must be able to overtake unhindered.

4. Bike and Equipment

• The bike must comply with the UCI Regulations. Otherwise, the rider will be refused the start or disqualified during the race.
• The following are prohibited: drop handlebars, clip-on bars and inner bar ends, metal studs in the tyres and, except in the Alpentour Duo E-Plus (section 12), any form of electric assistance.
• Radio and other remote communication with riders is prohibited.
• Issued transponders and tracking devices must be carried.
• The frame must not be changed during a stage. Changing it between stages is not permitted either.

5. Race Numbers and Jerseys

• Race numbers must not be altered or reduced in size. Riders must reach the finish with the same handlebar number they started with.
• The leaders of the men’s and women’s individual classifications and of the mountains classification must wear the leader’s jersey provided. The organiser’s sponsors must not be covered.
• Reigning XCM world and national champions wear their champion’s jersey unless they are required to wear a leader’s jersey.

6. Course

• The entire course must be ridden on the marked routes. Shortcuts and riding on unmarked routes are prohibited.
• Anyone who leaves the course must return to it between the same two markers.
• The course is marked with neon green/black arrows measuring at least 30 × 20 cm. Hazards are marked with white-and-black downward-pointing arrows, and wrong routes with an X. All participants should also orient themselves independently.
• The course may be ridden as a race course only during the race and the official training times, and in training only with the handlebar number fitted.
• In the event of severe weather or danger, the Commissaires’ Panel may, after consulting the organisation, change, shorten or cancel a stage.

7. Feeding and Technical Assistance

• Feeding is permitted only in the feed and technical zones. Bottles and food must be handed over by hand; helpers must not run alongside riders or spray them with water.
• Technical assistance from helpers, mechanics or the neutral service is permitted only in these zones. All parts except the frame may be repaired or replaced.
• Tools and spare parts may be carried, provided they do not endanger anyone.
• Elite: Outside the zones, assistance is permitted only between riders of the same UCI or national team.
• Amateur and Duo categories: Outside the zones, assistance is permitted only within the same Duo team. Tools and spare parts must be carried by the riders themselves. In the event of accidents or injuries, anyone may and should help.
• Anyone who turns back on the course to reach a zone will be disqualified.
• Support vehicles and helpers, including those on bicycles, must not ride on the course.

8. Timing, Time Limits and Classification

• The general classification is the sum of the stage times, including time penalties.
• The intermediate time limits at the checkpoints are set out in the Technical Guide. They are deliberately set so that amateur riders can also meet them comfortably.
• The finish cut-off time for each stage is set out in the Technical Guide. Anyone who misses an intermediate time limit or the finish cut-off will be taken out of the race.
• Elite: Anyone who does not finish a stage, or who misses an intermediate time limit or the finish cut-off, is eliminated from the general classification and may not start again.
• Amateur and Duo categories: Anyone who does not finish a stage or misses a time limit may apply to the race management (see the Technical Guide for the telephone number) by 18:00 on the day of the stage at the latest to remain in the general classification. If the race management grants the application in consultation with the Commissaires’ Panel, the slowest time of all participants plus 30 minutes is credited for the stage concerned. This application may be made only once. Podium places and prizes are no longer possible afterwards.
• Amateur and Duo categories: Anyone no longer riding in the general classification starts from the last row. Neither course marshals nor police will control traffic for these participants, and the sweep motorcycle will not stay behind them. They are responsible for complying with the Road Traffic Regulations themselves.

9. Early Withdrawal

Anyone who ends a stage early must report immediately to the organiser on site, at the Race Office or via the emergency number on the back of the race number. If no report is made, a search may be launched at the expense of the person concerned.

10. Environment and Hygiene

• Waste of any kind may be disposed of only in the feed and technical zones or the designated waste zones.
• All bars and gels must be marked with the race number. The race management carries out random checks before each start.
• The start and finish areas must be kept clean; damage to the property of others must be avoided.
• Bikes may be cleaned only in the bike wash area. No oil, grease or materials may be left behind. Bikes must not be leaned against vehicles.
• Relieving oneself is not permitted within built-up areas or in view of spectators.

11. Alpentour Duo (Teams of 2)

• Both team members ride together. The gap between them must not exceed 2 minutes at the finish and at the checkpoints.
• The team time is the time of the second team member.
• If the gap is exceeded, a 10-minute time penalty applies the first time and a 20-minute penalty the second time; the third time, the team is disqualified.
• If one team member drops out, the team is removed from the classification. The other team member may continue from the last row without a general classification ranking.

12. Alpentour Duo E-Plus

• Each team consists of 2 participants, one of whom rides an e-bike.
• Teams are ranked only if they ride the entire race together. The two participants must therefore always remain within sight of each other. This is to prevent e-bike riders from overtaking other participants on climbs and then obstructing them on descents. If visual contact is not maintained, the team will be disqualified immediately.
• Commercially available eMTBs (pedelecs) with pedal assistance up to a maximum of 25 km/h and a maximum motor output of 250 watts are permitted. All participants must bring their bikes to the bike check before the start on race day.
• One spare battery is permitted, but it must be carried by the riders themselves. The battery may be changed only at the feed stations, and not out on the course by third parties.

13. Prizes

• Elite: Prize money is based on the UCI Financial Obligations and is the same for men and women.
• Amateur and Duo categories: Prizes are awarded only if at least 5 participants start in a category.

14. Penalties and Protests

• Penalties are based on the UCI MTB incident table (Chapter XX). In the Amateur and Duo categories, a time penalty may be imposed instead of a fine.
• Protests must be submitted in writing to the Race Office no later than 1 hour after the provisional results are posted. The procedure follows the UCI Regulations and Chapter 12 of the Cycling Austria regulations.

15. Liability

• Participants are themselves responsible for violations of the Road Traffic Regulations and their consequences.
• To the extent permitted by law, the organisation accepts no liability for damaged or stolen bikes and luggage.
• Liability for personal injury and for damage caused intentionally or through gross negligence remains unaffected.