GranGuanche Audax Gravel is a self-supported, single-stage, fixed-route, ultra-cycling event across the Canary Islands. It’s a collective adventure and a challenge to finish the route. It’s a personal race against the clock, not against other riders.
The Audax pace is a challenge to connect all the ferries in a non-stop ride and complete the route in 2 days. Only achievable by the ultra-cycling elite, the entry fee will be fully refunded to every rider fast enough to make it.
It’s a demanding route for experienced riders as it includes serious climbs, high mountains, and remote areas. Experienced means well trained, technically skilled, and wisely equipped. Exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and night rides add even more risk to a challenging ride. Participants are fully responsible for their safety and logistics.
Route
The Audax follows the GranGuache GRAVEL route from Lanzarote to El Hierro (excluding La Graciosa) with just a few differences. Download Audax Gravel gpx files here.
The route goes by fast gravel roads, secondary paved roads, avoiding rocky single tracks or sandy sections. It’s open to any kind of bike, we recommend gravel bikes with low gearing and min 40mm wide tires.
More information and recommendations about the route.
The event is focused on the experience rather than the final results. There’s no time limit. There are no prizes, no medals, no brevet cards or finisher diplomas. Those pace scenarios are just a planning resource, not an achievement.
AUDAX
PACE
|
Audax starts at 22:00
1st Night – Lanzarote
110km +2.000m » Next ferry in 9h30min
Take it easy, you will finish around 3-4 am. Resting a few hours will make a big difference
≈ Ferry: Armas 08:00 (35min)
1st Day – Fuerteventura
160km +2.300m » Next ferry in 7h40min – Avg speed 21km/h
It’s another easy one, you will finish around 4 pm. Rest as much as possible on the 2 hours ferry.
≈ Ferry: Fred Olsen 17:00 (120min) or Armas 18:00 (170min)
2nd Night – Gran Canaria
140km +3.600m » Next ferry in 9h30min – Avg speed 15km/h
After 24 hours on the bike, you will have to keep a steady pace on the steep climb and be careful on the unpaved descent.
≈ Ferry: Fred Olsen 06:00 (80min)
2nd Day – Tenerife
170km +4.500m – Next ferry in 9h25min – Avg speed 18km/h
It’s the real challenge. Time limit as reference: Km-0 Santa Cruz h07:30 Km-40 La Laguna h10:00 Km-105 Observatory h15:00 Km-140 Vilaflor 16:30
≈ Ferry: Armas 17:30 (165min)
3rd Day – El Hierro
You made it! For safety reasons, we will sleep a few hours and start the final loop at 5 am.
You will finish around 12, plenty of time to catch the Ferry back to Tenerife at 2 pm.
4 DAYS
PACE
|
Audax starts at 20:00
1st Night – Lanzarote
110km +2.000m » Next ferry in 9h30min
Take it easy, you will finish around 6 am, try to sleep a couple of hours.
≈ Ferry: Armas 08:00 (35min)
1st Day – Fuerteventura
160km +2.300m – You could try to make the 18:00 ferry or take it easy and take the first ferry the next morning.
2nd Night – Sleep in Fuerteventura, Morro Jable
2nd Day – Gran Canaria
≈ Ferry: Fred Olsen 06:30 (120min)
140km +3.600m » Next ferry in 11h – Avg speed 13km/h
Not an easy ride, the climb is steep and the descent is unpaved. There’s not much time to stop, the last ferry is at 20:00.
≈ Ferry: Fred Olsen 20:00 (80min)
2nd Day – Tenerife
40km +1.250m
It was a long day and it’s not over. You have to climb to La Laguna or La Esperanza. You will be there at 1 am.
3rd Night – Sleep in Tenerife, La Laguna
3rd Day – Tenerife
130km +3.600m – Start riding at about 5 am.
It’s a long ride in a remote area with no resupply options. You can’t lose the next ferry, it’s only once a day.
≈ Ferry: Armas 17:30 (35min)
4th Night – Sleep in El Hierro
4th Day – El Hierro
120km +3.900m – You made it!
PARTY
PACE
|
There’s only one ferry a day from Tenerife to the last island El Hierro, it’s at 17.30. Plan your Audax to sleep in La Laguna or La Esperanza and start riding early the next morning (about 5 am).
1st Night – Lanzarote
40km +1.000m
Sleep near Teguise or Famara, you will be there at about 1 am.
1st Day – Lanzarote -> Fuerteventura
90km +800m
15:00 or 16:30 ferry to Fuerteventura.
Sleep near El Cotillo or Tindaya
2nd Day – Fuerteventura
130km +1.900m
Sleep near Morro Jable.
Take the first ferry in the morning to Gran Canaria.
3rd Day – Gran Canaria
80km +2.600m
Sleep near Tejeda.
4th Day – Gran Canaria -> Tenerife
90km +2.100m
14:00 or 16:00 ferry to Tenerife.
Climb Anaga mountains, Sleep in La Laguna
5th Day Tenerife -> El Hierro
130km +3.600m
Start riding at about 5 am.
17:30 ferry to El Hierro.
Sleep in La Estaca or Valverde
6th Day El Hierro
120km +3.900m
You made it!
05/Apr/2022 – 08:00 | granguanche.com :: Registration is open
–
18/Mar/2023 – 15:00 to 18:00 | Lanzarote :: Accreditation and Briefing
18/Mar/2023 – 22:00 | Lanzarote, Orzola :: Grand Départ
–
There’s no established cut-off time. We will be at the finish line until next Sunday 25/Mar/2023. There’s plenty of time for all the participants to complete the route. After that, participants will have to collect their bags in an established facility and ship back the tracker device.
The entry fee is 240€.
The Audax will be open to a maximum of 99 participants.
Participants can only register as SOLO, there’s no PAIR category.
–
Tracking
GPRS tracker device rental and live tracking will be provided by followmychallenge.com
A refundable deposit of 70€ against tracker device loss or damage will be required for each rented tracker to be paid on PayPal the week before the start. The deposit will be refunded via PayPal when the tracker will be returned at the finish line.
Personal GPRS and SPOT devices will not be accepted or tracked.
–
Luggage transport
Included in the entry fee.
We will collect small bags (max 30 litres – 10 kg) during the briefing in Lanzarote and deliver them to the finish line in El Hierro. If you don’t make it to the finish line we can ship your bag to your home address for 20€.
Cardboard bike boxes will be available in Tenerife, Los Cristianos at bike shops and post offices for about 30€.
–
Bike box transfer
Available for about 300€ extra fee, will include:
1-night accommodation in Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen.
1-night accommodation in Tenerife, Los Cristianos.
Bike box transfer from one hotel to the other.
–
Refund Policy
Until 10/Jan/2023: 80€ refund in case the rider can not participate in the event.
After 10/Jan/2023: No refund will be available in case the rider can not participate in the event.
1. Self-support
In the spirit of Audax, participants are allowed to draft each other. This will encourage participants to plan stages and ride in groups between ferries connections.
Like any self-supported race, participants are not allowed to assist, support or resupply each other and must not receive any 3rd party assistance, private lodging or resupply.
Accommodations or any service can be booked by Riders only after the event starts.
Ferries can be booked online before the race start, to avoid queues at the ticket office.
–
2. Safety
Riders must sign and agree with the rider agreement, be older than 18 and always know, observe and comply with local laws.
–
3. Tracking
Riders must follow the official track from start to finish. If they temporarily leave the route they must return to the point they left. Each ride will be validated by the tracker file.
Riders are responsible for their rented tracker. Devices will be carried on the bike and switched ON one hour before the start and must always stay ON during the Audax. If a device is switched OFF or dies because of low batteries the participant will be considered withdrawn.
–
4. Insurance and Responsibility
Audax Direction will not provide any kind of insurance, emergency rescue or race marshall. Audax Direction will not be responsible for any direct or indirect damage that may occur to you or other parties.
Riders must have liability, death, accident and health insurance covering emergency extraction and repatriation valid for the whole duration of the event.
–
5. Code of Honor
Race Direction can impose penalties and disqualifications, but can’t ensure all the Riders comply with the rules. A fair and safe Audax depends on fair and honourable Riders.
Rescue of any other Rider injured or in danger has first priority.
–
6. Leave no trace, be nice to people
Follow the “Leave No Trace” principles: leave everything as you found it, or better. Respect Natural Parks rules, don’t cycle or step outside the official paths. Camp only in camping areas and never start campfires. Dispose of, remove and recycle waste. Respect animals and plants. Be considerate of others. Participants not complying with these principles could be disqualified.
–
6. Communications
In case of emergency or withdrawal, the communication must be addressed to the email provided during accreditation.