"People don't take trips, it's the trips that people take"
"A JOURNEY DOES NOT BEGIN WHEN YOU LEAVE NOR END WHEN YOU RETURN.
IN REALITY IT BEGINS MUCH BEFORE AND NEVER REALLY ENDS."
ABRUZZO GRAVEL | AG25 REGOLAMENTO
RULES BOOK
2° EDITION
ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025
Trail dei Pastori
RULES BOOK
ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 (AG25) is a non-competitive event with an Unsupported formula (no type of support during the routes) a format dedicated to bikepacking and nature lovers. AG25 revolves around the theme "in the wild heart of Abruzzo" and will be open to GRAVEL, MTB and E-MTB bikes.
The event is organized by the ABRUZZO GRAVEL Amateur Sports Association and is an event affiliated with the Association of Italian Sports Centers (ACSI).
ART. 1 – REGISTRATIONS
All people who:
- They have reached the age of eighteen at the time of registration;
- They are members or non-members of a sports body/association and are in compliance with the medical certificate;
- They come from every nationality, none excluded;
- Registration for the event will take place by completing a form on our official website (www.abruzzogravel.com). Payment can only be made via PayPal;
- The registration fees paid are non-refundable, cannot be transferred to another participant and cannot be frozen for future other editions;
- Physical unfitness or the presentation of a medical certificate do not constitute a reason for reimbursement of the registration fee;
- Attention: anyone who is not up to date with the payment, does not have insurance coverage or the data is incorrect, will not be able to leave and will not be considered among the participants;
- The event will take place in any weather condition. In case of suspension due to alerts/weather or emergencies not dependent on the organization, the registration fees cannot be refunded;
- In the event of suspension of sporting events following National or Regional Prime Ministerial Decrees, the ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 event could be brought forward/postponed;
ART. 2 – MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
- For all participants, the medical certificate of aptitude for cycling and compliant with the Ministerial Decree 18/02/1982 and/or the Ministerial Decree 26/04/2013 issued by a Sports Medical Center or by a doctor is MANDATORY; must expire after 01 September 2025;
- The same must be uploaded during registration in digital format (PDF);
- The Competitive Medical Certificate must be specific for CYCLING, certificates issued for other disciplines cannot be accepted;
- Attention: Participants who have not sent the certificate or the certificate expires before September 1, 2025 will not be allowed to leave. Furthermore they will not be considered among the participants;
ART. 3 – ROUTE DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL
- ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 (AG25) will start from Pineto (TE) at our “Bike Village” on 28 August 2025 in the time slot 04:30-05:00
- The start will be French, 10 participants at a time to avoid traffic obstructions;
- Departure times other than the one mentioned above are permitted;
- At the time of registration the route is indicative as it may be subject to possible changes. One week before departure, an email will be sent to all participants containing the definitive GPX track;
- Participants will have to upload the track provided onto their GPS device or on-board computer and follow it for the best outcome of the event. The organization reserves the right to change the route up to a few days before departure, any change will be communicated in time;
- The return is scheduled in Pineto (TE) at the starting point between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on August 31st;
- The staff will not guarantee the presence of staff in the days following the event.
ART. 4 – RESPECT FOR THE ROAD CODE
ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 (AG25) is an event that will take place on asphalted roads, dirt roads and country or mountain paths; some sections of the route will always be open to traffic and therefore it is MANDATORY for all participants to respect the Highway Code
ART. 5 – CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EVENT – WARNINGS
The route is not signposted, each participant travels at their own risk. There is no health, food or mechanical assistance service provided by the organizers along the route; There is no recovery service for those who have withdrawn and there are no obligations on the part of the organizers to search for participants on the route. It is also mandatory to have your own repair kit for breakdowns and punctures. In the spirit of bikepacking it is forbidden to request any type of external support from the organizers. Support will be given in case of absolute emergency, the reference contact is the following (we will communicate it to each participant later): The participant undertakes to communicate his/her withdrawal to the organizer by sending an SMS or a message on WhatsApp to the telephone number (it will be communicated later). The participant is aware that the ABRUZZO GRAVEL Amateur Sports Association is not a professional organizing body, but it acts for recreational and non-economic purposes only (1174 Civil Code); and therefore participation in the ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 (AG25) event always takes place by free choice and for recreational purposes, in any case not for financial purposes. It therefore follows that the A.S.D. organizer is free from any responsibility connected to the ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 (AG25) event. It is free from any responsibility regarding events that happen to the cyclist such as: accidents, loss of route, physical problems, accidents, breakages, thefts, attacks by any wild animals, etc.
ART. 6 – CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EVENT – WARNING
All participants must:
- Be physically prepared and have good health;
- Have off-road driving skills and bad roads;
- Have a spirit of adaptability;
- Have a good understanding of the use of GPS and basic orientation systems;
ART. 7 – MANDATORY KIT
For their own personal safety, each participant is advised to carry the following minimum safety equipment with them for the entire duration of the event:
- Reflective vest for possible night walking (chosen by the participant);
- Light (we recommend 1500-2000 lumen) for any night riding;
- -
- Whistle or bell;
- Personal cell phone;
- Powerbank (we recommend 20000 mAh battery capacity);
- GPS on-board computer/navigator;
- Live tracking (es. WHIP LIVE, KOMOOT, GARMIN ecc..);
- Suitable technical clothing and personal documents;
- Tent, sleeping bag and any overnight stay kits;
- Approved helmet to be worn at all times;
- White front and red rear lights;
- Repair kit for any mechanical breakages;
- First aid kit;
ART. 8 – REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION FEES
Registration opening: 08/12/2024 – Registration closing: 30/06/2025
Maximum number of participants: 150.
The organization reserves the right to open additional slots for participants.
Registration cost: to do refer to the dedicated page
REGISTRATION INCLUDES: refer to the dedicated page
ART. 9 – OTHER RULES
Each participant DECLARES:
- To have read and approved this regulation and to accept every part of it;
- To have become aware that ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 is a non-competitive event of resistance and notable physical, psychophysical commitment and without rankings;
- To have become aware that ABRUZZO GRAVEL 2025 is a non-competitive event of resistance and notable physical, psychophysical commitment and without rankings;
- To be aware that some sections may be bumpy and require good riding technique, where necessary the participant will overcome, according to his/her own judgement, the difficult section by getting off the bicycle and proceeding on foot;
- To have good knowledge of devices and GPS navigation on off-road routes;
- To have experience and to be aware that the route is not marked, it is not monitored and there are no safety posts and/or rescue personnel along the route;
- To have experience and be aware of the possibility of encountering adverse weather conditions;
- To be physically prepared to face many hours riding a bike non-stop and in complete self-sufficiency;
- Not to use doping or drugs or medicinal substances that could alter performance or cause situations of harm or danger to oneself or others;
- To be aware that unforeseen events may occur along the route such as landslides, sun, wind, rain, hail, lightning, cold, night, darkness, fog, snow, ice, landslides, encounters with unattended and/or wild animals, falls, accidental collisions with other participants or with people passing by and/or with vehicles on the stretches of road and declares to be adequately prepared to deal with emergency situations;
- He/she guarantees his/her own behavior during and after the event;
- Declares to be in possession of the medical certificate of aptitude for cycling and compliant with the Ministerial Decree 02/18/1982 and/or the Ministerial Decree 04/26/2013 issued by a Sports Medical Center or by a doctor;
- Declares to be in good physical condition;
- Expresses consent to the use of his data, including for commercial purposes, in accordance with the provisions of Privacy Law no. 196 of 30/06/2003;