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The start will be given in waves, with each wave launching up to 500 riders of the same age or same cycling speed onto the race course. The main purpose is to ensure the safety of the participants. Wave starts help to reduce crowds at the start, and as a result, there will be much fewer dangerous overtakings and falls.
At distances of 128 km and 60 km, participants can join a pace group at a suitable speed to ride the race under the guidance of an experienced group leader.
In the 128 km distance, cyclists 19 of age and older (except for the elite riders, see race regulations p 5.4) can participate in the GF.
Riders that have registered for the 128 km race distance of the RR will automatically be regarded as the Gran Fondo participants, and according to the Gran Fondo rules, the start groups are based on age. Age-based start times can be found in the programme.
During the event week, the 128 km cyclists will receive a GF participant declaration by e-mail, which is compulsory to confirm.
The 128 km participants who do not want to take part in the GF can start in pace groups. The Elite Group is only for the elite riders - you can read more about who can request a starting position in the Elite Group in race regulations p 8.2. Participating in the GF does not tie one to any obligations, nor does it give any disadvantages.
For safety purposes, the start of the RR is performed as a ceremonial Neutral Start, where the riders must ride in a calm manner at a restricted speed behind an accompanying vehicle (passing the vehicle is strictly prohibited) until the Technical Start sign, at which point the accompanying vehicle signals the race start, and the cycling speed is no longer restricted. The distance of the Neutral Start is 4 km for the two longer distances, and 500 m for the shorter 27 km distance. For each wave, timing starts at the firing of the start gun.
For each wave, timing starts at the firing of the start gun. The crossing of a start control mat is used for verifying traversing the start. Timekeeping for the 27 km distance starts at the starting line, for the 128 km and 60 km distances at the neutral start line. Net time is not counted.
The start wave is formed by the riders starting at the same time. There may be smaller start groups within one wave (e.g. age groups, pace groups).
No. You can make the decision to start in the pace group latest in the event morning, right before the start.
The location of the pace groups at the start is marked with the special flags. Group leaders wear special shirts and group members are given a colored wristband at the start gate. After the race, return the wristband to the organizer!
It is the approximate time it takes one to finish the selected distance.
The Elite Group is only for the elite riders - you can read more about who can request a starting position in the Elite Group in race regulations p 8.2. The winner of the RR will be determined among the Elite Group riders. Riders, who start in the Elite Group, do not participate in the Gran Fondo ranking.
To participate in the 128 km GF race, one has to start according to their age group. Ambassadors who do not wish to take part in the GF have the right to start in the 1st wave after the Elite Group or in pace groups.
In the 60 km distance, cyclists can choose the start group according to their expected finish time. The 27 km distance has only one start group.
The winners of age groups will be determined only among the GF age group riders.
The awards ceremony takes place in the finish area according to the race programme.
At the prize-giving ceremony, the following will be awarded:
The points are given based on the general finishing times; it does not matter in which start group someone started in.
The times of the wave starts in the programme.
More information is available in the RR race regulations.
