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rider manual

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Download the rider agreement HERE

You can sign it with a digital certificate in Adobe Acrobat without wasting paper. Otherwise, print, sign and scan.

Participants must have liability, death, accident and health insurance covering emergency rescue and repatriation.

Insurance must be valid in Spain for the whole duration of the event and include cycling and mountain biking activities.

We recommend insurance company HeyMondo and EuropAssistance

Mail the signed rider agreement and your insurance policy to rideragreement@granguanche.com, please include your name and number in the mail subject.

If we don’t receive your signed agreement and a copy of your insurance within one week before the start you will not be able to take part in the event:(

Please PayPal 100€ for the tracking device deposit at PayPal.me/GranGuancheRoute 

Include your full name in the payment note.

The deposit can only be paid and refunded via PayPal. If you don’t have an account ask a friend to pay the deposit.

If we don’t receive your deposit within one week before the start you will not be able to take part in the event.

The tracker shall be returned at the finish line and the deposit will be refunded during the week after the event.

If you don’t make it to the finish line please ship your device to:

Matteo Minelli X9662971G

Calle Los Buitres, 6 – Nazaret

35539 Teguise

Las Palmas, Spain

Fly to Lanzarote – fly back from Tenerife South

The route starts in Lanzarote, just a 40km ride from Lanzarote airport.

The route ends on a small island with no international flight connections. To fly back home, you must take the ferry back to Tenerife, Tenerife South airport is 20 kilometres from the harbour..

Camp and accommodations

Camping is recommended as an enriching experience but only allowed in camping areas.

In need of an emergency shelter set up late, strike early and never start fires

Plenty of other accommodation options.

Accreditation

We will give you the participant kit with the GPRS  tracking device.
You can give us a small bag to be delivered at the finish line.

Any of those two dates:

Sat 27 January – any time from 15:00 to 17:00

Playa Bastián, Costa Teguise – On the north side of the beach. 

Sun 28 January – any time from 7:00 to 7:30

Ermita de Orzola – It’s a small church, just outside town.

Grand Depart
Sun 28 January – from 8:00
Ermita de Orzola – It’s a small church, just outside town.

Riders will start in small groups ordered by cap number and stated Audax approach:

08:00 – #10 to #54 // 08:05 – #55 to #99 // 08:10 – #100 to #139

If a group of friends has been split into different groups, you can start all together with the last group. 

Cut-off time

There’s no established cut-off time. We will be at the finish line until the next Sunday.

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 tracking device.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to download the GPX files only from the links in this Rider Manual: GranGuanche Audax Road

The Audax route differs slightly from the GranGuanche Road route.

The route can change without notice until 2 days before the Audax starts.

You can download GPX files with no need to create an account: Click on More >> Export as File >> GPX track (.gpx) >> Download .gpx File

Upload the GPX files directly to your GPS device (Wahoo, Garmin, Hammerhead, etc)

Avoid uploading and synching with route planning apps (Komoot, Strava, Wikiloc, etc)

It’s not easy to control a long route along 5 islands, in case of interruption or closed roads, take a picture as proof, find your way around the interruption and join the official route again.

There are no water sources except supermarkets, bars and restaurants. During the night there are no resupply options.

1 – Lanzarote
Teguise, km35 – marketplace, walk 200 meters.
2 – Fuerteventura
Expect hot weather.

Betancuria, km65 – water fountain

Costa Calma, km115 – sand on the cycling path, keep it safe.

Morro Jable, km130 – short gravel path, 200 meters.
3 – GranCanaria
Las Palmas, km0 – work in progress on the cycling path, find your way out of the city.

Tejeda, km95 – water fountain.
4 – Tenerife
Anaga, km25 – Expect cold and wet weather
km65: in case of snow and road closure, follow the alternative route included in the collection.

Mt. Teide, km100 – Expect strong winds and cold temperatures. We don’t recommend to ride this section at night.
5 – La Gomera
km50: decent on wet and slippery tarmac.
Last descent – keep it safe and don’t race or overtake other participants. Regarding the final results, we will consider your positions before this descent.

Finish line – San Sebastian is a charming town, there are showers on the beach, plenty of good restaurants, supermarkets and accommodations.

It’s an easy route in a well-developed country. The main challenge is the elevation gain and the changing weather.

The device shouldn’t be stored next to other electrical devices or under other equipment.
The device is water-resistant but not water-proof.


Turn on your device at least one hour before the start: press and hold the little button on top and leave it ON during the event.
The button on the front is not active. GREEN LED blinks if the device is ON. RED LED starts to blink if the charge is below 10% (recharge it with a USB-C cable) the battery usually lasts about 5 days.
Once idle, the device goes into standby mode to save energy, and LEDs go off. Once the device detects movement, LEDs start blinking again.

Please return the tracker to our staff at the finish line.

We will transfer small bags and backpacks (max 30 litres, 10 kg) from the start line in Lanzarote to the finish line.

If you don’t make it to the finish line we can ship your bag to your home address, shipping costs will be at your charge.

Not included in the entry fee.

Available from 250€ pp –

Including hotel accommodation in Lanzarote and Tenerife

Booking and information here.

(Service is subject to hotel availability)

Available for 60€ pp –

Only bike box transfer, provided by Vadebicis bike shops

Drop your box at Vadebis Lanzarote (4 km from Lanzarote Airport – ACE) and pick it up at Vadebicis Chafiras, Tenerife (4 km from Tenerife South Airport – TFS)

(before booking, please check each bike shop’s open times and closure days)

Booking and information here.

Included in the entry fee.

Collect your bike box at Vadebicis Chafiras – please check opening times and closure days.

You can otherwise buy a cardboard bike box in Tenerife, Los Cristianos for 25-30€ at Bike Point or FreeMotion (please check availability)

– GPRS tracking device, check instructions here below.

– Numbered stickers for your bike

– Numbered tag for your bag (please place it on the bag to be delivered at the finish line)

Bike:

Bring your well-trusted road bike with low gearing.

Storing your bike on ferries may result in scratches or cosmetic damage.

The route includes a massive elevation gain and steep climbs, choose a light bikepacking setup.

Tires:

30mm tires are a good trade between speed and comfort.

The tarmac is generally in good condition.

Sleeping kit:

Sleeping a few hours at the harbour before the ferry will make a big difference, we recommend bringing a minimal sleeping kit and a bivy bag.

Extra gear and tools:

We recommend gravel pedals and shoes you can comfortably (and safely) walk with. You will have to climb slippery stairs on ferries. You will need to walk in bars, supermarkets and accommodations.

Bring a complete toolset to fix the most common mechanicals. 

Clothes:

You will find cold to freezing temperatures at night at high altitudes.

Bring a rain jacket, mid layer, leg warmer, shoes warmer and gloves. 

As for local rules, a reflective vest is mandatory at night.

Dotwatcher.cc – Bikes Of

dotwatcher.cc will publish a list of bikes of GranGuanche Audax.

You can send a description of your bike and gear with a nice picture (max 4MB) HERE

Expected weather:  

“Calima” wind is expected for the all duration of the event.

This east wind direction is quite unusual and while it brings sunny-dry-warm weather, can also bring some sand from the Sahara desert. Small particles could deteriorate air quality, but it’s hard to predict how and if this will happen.

Expect headwinds in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Expected temperatures:

Sea Level -> 15ºC ~ 30ºC
1000mt -> 5ºC ~ 25ºC
2000mt -> -5ºC ~ 15ºC


The landscape is ever-changing because the weather is ever-changing.
Expect strong wind, heat, mist, rain and eventual snow.

Ferries can be booked before the Audax starts to avoid queues at the ticket office.

Plan your Audax, target a ferry and book it! If you don’t make the ferry, you can always change the ticket for the next ferry with the same company, or ask for a voucher to be used in the following connections.

You will notice that ferry companies’ websites are not the most user-friendly. If they don’t let you book the bike, book for the passenger, you can always add the bike at the ticket office at the harbour or bring it on board as luggage.


You must be at the harbour at least 10 minutes before the ferry departure if you have a ticket, consider 20 minutes if you don’t have a ticket.

To make the most of the rest on ferries, use earplugs/earphones, and wear warm clothes.

Boarding and roll-off is not a race, take it easy and keep it safe.

Don’t scratch at night:)

If you decide to scratch from the Audax it’s important you mail your decision to scratch@granguanche.com
Turn OFF your device (press and hold the little button on top).

1. Leave no trace

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.

Audax’s direction takes this rule seriously, if we have any evidence of Participants not complying with these principles, we will immediately impose disqualifications.

2. Be nice to people

Be considerate of others, there is no space for racism, sexism, homophobia or any other kind of discrimination.

Rescue of any other Rider injured or in danger is the priority.

Audax’s direction takes this rule seriously and will immediately impose disqualifications.

3. Audax and Self-support principles

In the spirit of Audax, participants are allowed to draft each other. This will encourage participants to ride in groups between ferry connections, plan stages, and share meals and accommodations.

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 before the event starts to avoid long lines at the ticket office.

Audax’s direction approaches those principles with common sense and an open mind but still can impose penalties or disqualifications before, during and after the event.

4. Safety and local laws

Riders must sign and agree with the rider agreement and be older than 18.

Riders are fully responsible for knowing, observing and complying with local laws.

Small parts of the route may be forbidden for cycling, Riders are responsible for pushing the bike across those sections.

In case of road interruptions or closures, Riders are responsible for finding a way to turn around the interruption and join the official route again.

Observance of local laws has priority over following the route track.

5. Tracking

Riders should follow the official track from start to finish. If they temporarily leave the route they must return to the point they left. The tracker file will validate each ride.

Riders are responsible for their tracking device. If a device is switched OFF or dies because of low batteries the participant will be considered withdrawn.

6. Insurance and Responsibility

Audax Direction will not provide insurance, emergency rescue or 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. We will ask for a copy of your insurance before the event.

7. Code of Honor

A fair and safe Audax depends on fair and honourable Riders.

Communications, reports and podcasts.

We have a WhatsApp group for all the participants to gather and keep in touch, you can join the group HERE.

The group will be the main resource for the Audax coverage, you are welcome to post pictures, audio or text about your experience:

Dotwatcher.cc will cover the Audax with daily recaps.

Josh Ibbett will release a recap video.

LaEscapada.cc will release a daily podcast with interviews and news, get in touch to share Spanish or English audio contributions.

(if you don’t want other participants to see your phone number you can update your privacy settings on WhatsApp) 

Media

Here we will upload pictures before, during and after the audax:

GGAR3 – Media

Download before sharing. Please mention the event and the photographers:)

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