Article 1 – Race

FFE 2024, the Flanders Fields Epic of 2024, is a bicycle race with MTB, gravel bike or racing bike open to participants aged 18 and over, regardless of gender or nationality. The event includes three rides, with a total distance between 320 and 450 kilometers depending on the type of bicycle chosen at registration, spread over various locations in both Flanders and Wallonia.

The race involves completing a route determined by the organization per day. The use of motorized means of transport is prohibited. All participants compete in teams of 2 people or solo. The goal of FFE2024 is to complete the rides in the shortest possible time.

Participants drive on GPS and respect the Belgian highway code. A ranking is drawn up based on the times of each participant.

Article 2 -Registration

Registrations for Flanders Fields Epic 2024 are limited to the number of available places determined by the organization. Registrations end on June 21, 2024 or when the total number of possible participants has been reached. The registration form can be found on the website, www.flandersfieldsepic.be.

Participants can confirm their registration by completing the form.

The organization will contact the relevant team via the email address provided when registering. This will inform you whether the registration request has been validated. If the request for registration is validated, the interested party must pay the amounts required by the organization

have been determined. The registration application will be approved after payment of these amounts. A registration is only complete after approval and validation

the organisation.

The organization retains the right to decline a registration, without having to motivate this decision.

The registration price is the price listed on the Flanders Fields Epic website per package. This price is per person. Registration will be approved after payment has been made. If the payment rules are not adhered to, the registration application will be rejected. If it already was

approved, a withdrawal of approval will be attributed. Participants are not entitled to a refund of the amount paid if the event cannot take place for reasons beyond the control of the organizer, namely for reasons of force majeure, natural disaster, legal obligation or order from a public authority or a private body with supervisory powers in cycling. The organization may at any time withdraw approval of a registration application based on violation by the participant of these regulations or the ethical principles of the sport.

Article 3 - Withdrawal from the race

If you withdraw before the start of the race, the organization must be informed by email. If you withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances, you must communicate this by e-mail. The registration will be retained for the next edition.

Article 4 - The parcours

The rides consist of unpaved, paved roads as well as forest paths and cobblestone roads. The trail also includes public paths on and off the road and crosses villages and towns. The route is not marked on the ground.

The course is not closed for the race. Participants must take into account the possibility of confrontation with vehicles, people and/or animals driving in both directions on the course. It is mandatory to follow the race route. Sanctions are provided for those who do not comply with this rule. These are decided by the competition director. Before the start of the competition, the organization will make the routes available so that participants can install them on their own GPS devices. The GPS is the only navigation tool that allows participants to follow the course. Everyone is responsible for the operation of his/her GPS equipment and must ensure that the GPS records progress on the ground.

The course may contain dangerous intersections and roads. A participant who does not respect the Belgian highway code will be excluded from the race.

A participant can leave the course whenever he/she wishes without penalty, provided that he/she resumes the course at the same point where he/she left it or at an earlier point.

Article 5 - Transportation

Participants arrange their own transportation to d-hotel, which is both the starting point and the end point of each ride.

Article 6 - Self-sufficiency of the team

Participants may not obtain outside assistance. This means: any pre-programmed action in which physical assistance is provided in any way to a participant, regardless of whether he requests it or not. An exception to the above point is the option to apply for this assistance, coupled with a 1-hour penalty. Medical emergencies are not penalized. Assistance provided by the organization to the participating teams is lawful. Assistance between teams is allowed during the race.

The organization of Flanders Fields Epic is not liable for accidents that occur on or around the course. Participants participate in the event at their own risk and must arrange for the necessary insurance themselves. It is the responsibility of the participants to adhere to all traffic rules and safety regulations.

Article 7 - Use of mobile phones for emergencies

Participants are required to carry a cell phone with them from the beginning to the end of the ride. This is for emergencies.

Article 8 - Equipment & devices

The use of a helmet compatible with the chosen means of locomotion is mandatory when the participant is not traveling

foot moved. It is recommended that you bring your own first aid equipment so that you can quickly provide your own treatment. However, the organization is ready to provide medical assistance during the rides, with a doctor traveling along.

Article 9 - Number & token

Stickers and a plaque with corresponding competition number will be provided. This is placed at the front of the chosen means of propulsion in a visible manner

applied as well as on the GPS device.

Article 10 - Handicaps

The natural inequalities in physical capabilities between teams (due to age and gender) are corrected by the chronological advancement of the starting time. The earlier start time is a percentage determined by the organization.

Article 11 - Arrival

Participants end the ride when they cross the finish line. The finish is marked by a line on the ground, banner or information board.

If a team or one person from the team does not reach the finish line within the set time, the ride will not count. All teams hand over their GPS to the race leader upon arrival. This person will check whether the course has been respected and apply any sanctions if necessary.

Article 12 - GPS

FFE2024 works through Garmin. It is recommended to use a Garmin GPS. (e.g. Edge series). For other types of GPS devices, no guarantee can be given that the GPX tracks will be displayed correctly.

Article 13 - Withdrawal from the race

The team can withdraw from the match at any time. Those who choose this are not entitled to a refund.

Article 14 - Service - technical assistance

Naturally, every bicycle complies with the Belgian road code regarding bicycles and is technically in order before the start of the race. Free technical assistance is provided to all participants. A team of professionals is responsible for this. All spare parts and/or accessories required for repairs will be paid for by the participants themselves.

Article 15 - Services & Massages

The organization has a team of professionals available to perform massages after every ride except the last day. Each massage lasts 25 minutes and always takes place in d-hotel. The organization makes the planning for the massages per participant who wants massages.

Article 16 - Disqualification

De wedstrijdleider heeft het recht om deelnemers van de wedstrijd uit te sluiten die zich in de volgende situaties verkeren:   

Vrijwillige of niet-vrijwillige staat van lichamelijk of geestelijk onvermogen 

• Unsportsmanlike conduct
• Violation of the competition rules
• Illegal behaviour
• Lack of respect for the organization and/or other competitors
• Lack of respect for the environment: the organization provides waste zones at different spots along the parcours.

Article 17 - Classifications

In the results or rankings, all billable times are measured in hours, minutes and seconds. For teams that have not completed all the stages, their position in the rankings will be ranked first by the number of completed stages, then by the number of kilometers traveled and finally by the least responsible time in the race.

Article 18 - Interpretation of the competition rules

All issues not described in these regulations as well as any doubts about their interpretation are integrated and resolved by the organization, subject to the principles of equality and impartiality.