FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions
For further information, read the race rules, which must be read by all participants.
Spectators
Entrance is free for the visitors starting from Saturday 8:00am.
The visitor car park will be accessible from Panorama Avenue (“Parking Rouge”) and pedestrian access will be via the Panorama entrance.
To avoid any risk of accident with a cyclist, animals are only allowed in the Houx campsite area, even on a leash.
Registration
The Le Mans Škoda 24 Hours Cycling is opened to competitors aged 18 or over in the year of the event (no exception).
Those turning 18 between August 24 and december 31 are required to have a certified parental authorisation (contact us to obtain the parental authorisation form).
Teammates’ names can be submitted on our website until the registration closing day. However, before the closing date of registrations mentioned above, the names, first names and dates of birth of all the riders of the team must be completed, and medical certificates or licenses in dematerialized format must be downloaded. via “My account“. Otherwise, the registration file is considered “incomplete” and the team is not authorized to take the start. Otherwise, the registration file will be considered as “incomplete” and the team will be
allowed to pick up their numbers only on Friday night at 6pm. All the fields requested on the registration form must be completed.
Non-members of French federation must show an original medical certificate stating no contraindication to competition cycling . The certificate has to be made less than one year prior to the race. The team representative will necessarily have to download their riders’medical certificates via “My account“, before the closing of registrations. No certificate will be delivered on site the day of the race.
Every team can ask to “bunk” with another team they are friends with. If you want to share your box with a specific team, please complete the “Pit sharing” section via “My account” and we will do everything to put you together.
The box is meant to be a waiting area and is a shared space, it is not a living space. Please respect each other.
D-day for competitors
Access to the circuit is allowed from Friday: follow the “Le Mans Škoda 24 Hours Cycling” signs. The schedule will be communicated via email after the closing of registrations.
Competitors and staff members can access through the “Entrée concurrent” (Houx campsite entrance) only on presentation of correctly attached wristbands, shown to the controllers on site. GPS coordinates: Lat 47.952484 x Lon 0.21919.
In case of loss of wristbands or access materials, no reissue will be possible.
The starting grid will be set according to the number of competitors per team, then by bib numbers: teams of 4 on the first line, followed by teams of 6, teams of 8, then finally Duos and Solos. Make sure to respect the starting order, if you don’t want to risk a penalty.
The “Le Mans Style” start is scheduled Saturday at 3pm, where the first relayers are on one side of the track, and on the other side their bike is being held by a team member.
For safety reasons, it is forbidden to push the relayer’s bike at the start. It has to stay motionless against the wall, under penalty for the Team.
Under specific circumstances (especially weather related) the organiser has a right to postpone the starting time and/or bring forward the finish time. If such, the announcement will be made through the microphone.
A 24 hour-long race is, no pun intended, long. Therefore, we advise you to bring your own supplies. Depending on the weather, remember to bring sodium tablets, they are good to fight dehydration.
It is forbidden for spectators to supply a rider on track outside of the designated relay area in the pits.
Registration fees include access to the campsite for teams. Placement is free to choose and will depend on participants’ arrival.
Fires, barbecues, fireworks etc. are prohibited within the Bugatti circuit.
Toilet and shower facilities are available in the paddock and in the campsite.
Electrical terminals are available for you. Think about bringing adapters and extension cords.
For the safety of cyclists, vehicles other than those belonging to the organization are prohibited in the Village/Paddock area. You can drop off your material in the time-limited parking space in the pits
Each team will be given a “quick drop-off” access pass on site, when you receive your bib numbers. The quick drop-off area will only be available for those with the access pass, to facilitate traffic flow.
A screen to follow the leaderboard.
Water and electricity: 2 electrical outlets of 220V and 6 three-pole single-phase sockets (blue). IMPORTANT: You should bring your own adapters and extension cords.
Vauban barriers, right behind your box, are available to drop off your bikes.
IMPORTANT: It is highly recommended to bring a security lock.
Each team is allowed to display one banner. It is to be fixed either in or on your stand, and should not damage the circuit’s infrastructure.
The organisation / we reserve(s) the right to remove any material.
Authorized bikes: racing bicycles, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes, equipped with disc brakes or brake pads. A team is allowed to use several types of bikes.
Non-authorised bikes: Unicycles, tandem bike, recumbent bikes, time-trial bikes, fixed-gear bikes, folding bike, handbikes, electric bikes, as well as stick wheels and lenticular wheels.
Lighting: A non-blinking red light visible from the back has to be set on the bike during night time.
Helmet use (EU standards), approved and attached, is mandatory.
Bike safety: Handlebar ends and stems plugged, no protruding parts. Handlebar extensions (horns) and triathlete handlebars are forbidden.
Handisport bike: The Handisport bike used can be modified as required (“Solo” category). These modifications mainly concern brakes, gears, bottom bracket and cranks. However, it must retain the appearance of an upright bike in accordance with FFC racing regulations.
The ranking will be updated every lap through your team’s microchip.
The microchip will be the baton that the riders pass on to each other in each relay. Make sure it’s securely fastened, and to pass correctly over the timing loops on the track and in the pits.
The ranking will be broadcasted live on our website.
Your speed in the pits will be automatically controlled through your chip. To ensure everyone’s safety you must respect the 20km/h maximum speed. If not, you are risking sporting sanctions. The relays will take place in the pitlane, in front of your box. A reminder will be given at the briefing!
Three lanes will be laid out:
1: “Arrival area” for the outgoing competitor who finishes their relay: they give their chip and return to their box.
2: “Waiting area” for the incoming competitor: they wait to take their relay. There is no point in getting there too early and waiting (your organization is up to you)
3: “Departure area” for the incoming competitor starting their relay.
The organizer has taken out an individual insurance policy for unlicensed competitors, which is included in the registration fees. Warranty details are presented in the Škoda 24 Hours Cycling registrations that every participant must read.
Licensed competitors are covered by personal accident insurance through their federation.
For additional warranties, we invite you to talk to your insurer or to contact our broker: ACMANS. Make sure to check your insurance before the race.
Be vigilant on track to avoid any fall during the race. The effort is taxing, and the disparities between participants are significant (solo/teams or experienced/novice). We recommend for the slowest to keep to their right, and to be careful not to zigzag. As for the fastest, we ask that you warn the slowest of your arrival, and that you communicate, either through gestures or by speaking, especially in the peloton.
If mechanical problems or a flat tire occur outside of the relay area, and if the competitor is unable to fix it from where they are, they have to finish the lap that they started, in the correct race direction, to join the pits.
After a fall that requires medical-staff assistance, the race doctor can forbid the rider to go back on track for safety reasons.
An emergency system is set up inside the circuit. It will be run by a first-aid team and doctors acting on behalf of an approved rescue organization.