Rules

EVENT

The Trail de France is a new kind of event: a trail in 6 stages through a part of France with a course changing every year. It is an event for the general public that offers runners an incredible experience over a week.
The 1st edition will take place from July 8 to 14, 2022.

The event is organized by Trail The World in collaboration with the association Les Traileurs de France.

THE DIFFERENT PARTICIPATIONS

Several types of participation are possible on our event:

• The integral in Solo: to make the integrality of the 6 stages alone.e.s
• Team of 3 or 4 runners : run the whole 6 stages by taking turns on the first 5 stages and then run the 6th and last stage all together.
• One day stage: run the stage of your choice alone or in relay of 3 people

COURSE

The complete course is about 360 km long and 13.000m of positive difference in altitude in 3 regions for all 6 stages.

You will find online the main information on the stages with notably the kilometers, the differences in altitude, the profiles and the descriptions on the website www.letraildefrance.com
The precise details and the routes of each stage will be communicated directly to all registrants a few months before the event in the roadbook of the runners.

The organization reserves the right to modify the timetable and/or the routes up to and during the event.

REGISTRATIONS

• Age :

The Trail de France is reserved for all persons 21 years of age and older, except for the 6th and last stage which is open to persons 16 years of age and older.

• Conditions of participation:

No qualifying race will be required at registration. However, each person who registers for our event must be aware of the difficulty of such an event. You agree to register in good conscience, stating that you are in good health and well trained for this type of effort. 

To complete the entire challenge solo and to register, we advise you to have an ITRA rating of more than 420 (consultable on www.itra.run)

• Online registration: 

Registrations are exclusively online on the website https://www.l-chrono.com, you will have to accept the terms of use of their online platform. 

Participants are registered in the order of receipt of payment.

• Medical certificate:

In order to validate your registration, we ask you to provide us with a medical certificate of “no contraindication to the practice of trail running including in competition” less than one year old at the date of the end of the event + one day (made after July 15, 2021). The certificate must be signed by the doctor with the mandatory stamp. It must be inserted in your registration space on the registration platform of our provider L-Chrono.

Any missing certificate less than 2 months before the event will result in a cancellation of the registration and no refund will be required. 

• Number of bibs: 

Our event will offer a limited number of bibs, namely : 

150 bibs for the full solo race

50 bibs for teams of 3 or 4 runners on the full course

One-day stage: 100 solos and 20 teams per stage

• Waiting list : 

Once the quotas have been filled for each race, a waiting list will be created and each time a runner or team withdraws from the waiting list, we will select them in the order of registration. Attention, if you are selected, you will receive an email and you will have 48 hours to validate your registration. After that, the system will select the person behind you on the waiting list and your place will be lost. 

• Race entry fees: 

Several rates are proposed according to each participation. Here is what is included in each registration and the rates: 

• All-inclusive solo package: 890 euros
  • Participation in a single event
  • Bib with chip for timing
  • Timing each stage with intermediate times in live monitoring. Daily and general ranking of each stage
  • GPS beacon for real time tracking
  • Campsites for 5 nights: your place in a 4-person tent (2-person room shared with a runner of the same sex).
  • Refreshments: between 2 and 3 solids per stage + water points between the solid refreshments + a refreshment at the finish (except for the last stage where there will be no refreshments during the stage) 
  • Evening/night meals: In addition to the arrival refreshment, you will have a meal at the camp site – depending on your arrival time
  • Showers at the arrival of each stage
  • Shuttle service between each stage
  • Shuttles in case of abandonment to Valserhône (where the big start of the Trail de France)
  • Transfer of your spare luggage between the start and the finish of each stage
  • Gift to welcome you
  • Finisher’s gift to make sure you never forget your experience
  • Video of the event to remember it all your life
  • Photos of the event and at least one photo of each runner (but we hope for much more)
  • Complete roadbook for runners and companions with all the details of the event
  • Rescue to secure the event
  • 5 euros contribution to the partner association Les Traileurs de France
• The complete solo race – freedom number : 590 euros
  • Participation in a single event
  • Bib with chip for timing
  • Timing each stage with intermediate times in live monitoring. Daily and general ranking of each stage
  • GPS beacon for real time monitoring
  • Refreshments: between 2 and 3 solid refreshments per stage + water points between the solid refreshments + a refreshment point at the finish (except for the last stage where there will be no refreshments during the stage) 
  • Showers at the finish of each stage
  • Transfer of your spare luggage between the start and finish of each stage
  • Gift to welcome you
  • Finisher’s gift to make sure you never forget your experience
  • Video of the event to remember it for the rest of your life
  • Photos of the event and at least one photo of each runner (but we hope for much more)
  • Complete roadbook for runners and companions with all the details of the event
  • Rescue to secure the event
  • Contribution to the partner association Les Traileurs de France for 5 euros

• The complete team of 3 people: 1790 euros
  • Participation in a unique team event
  • Bibs with chip for timing
  • Timing each stage with intermediate times in live monitoring. Daily and general ranking of stage and stage
  • Camps for 5 nights: you will have a whole tent per team
  • Refreshments: between 2 and 3 solids per stage + water points between the solid refreshments + a refreshment at the finish (except for the last stage where there will be no refreshments during the stage)
  • Evening/night meals: In addition to the arrival refreshment, you will have a meal at the camp site – depending on your arrival time
  • Showers at the end of each stage
  • Gift to welcome you
  • Finisher’s gift to make sure you never forget your experience
  • Video of the event to remember it for the rest of your life
  • Photos of the event and at least one photo of each runner (but we hope for much more)
  • Complete roadbook for runners and companions with all the details of the event
  • Rescue to secure the event
  • 5 euros per person for the partner association Les Traileurs de France

• The complete team of 4 people: 2190 euros
  • Participation in a unique team event
  • Bibs with chip for timing
  • Timing each stage with intermediate times in live monitoring. Daily and general ranking of each stage
  • Camps for 5 nights: you will have a whole tent per team
  • Refreshments: between 2 and 3 solids per stage + water points between the solid refreshments + a refreshment at the finish (except for the last stage where there will be no refreshments during the stage)
  • Evening/night meals: In addition to the arrival refreshment, you will have a meal at the camp site – depending on your arrival time
  • Showers at the end of each stage
  • Gift to welcome you
  • Finisher’s gift to make sure you never forget your experience
  • Video of the event to remember it for the rest of your life
  • Photos of the event and at least one photo of each runner (but we hope for much more)
  • Complete roadbook for runners and accompanying persons with all the details of the event
  • Rescue to secure the event
  • Membership fee to the partner association Les Traileurs de France of 5 euros per person

• Stage 1 for one day : 70 euros
• Stage 2 for one day : 90 euros
• Stage 3 for a day : 85 euros
• Stage 4 for a day : 90 euros
• Stage 5 for a day : 90 euros
• Same criteria for stage 1 to 5:
  • Participation in a single event
  • Bib with chip for timing
  • Timing of the stage with intermediate times in live monitoring.
  • Refreshments: between 2 and 3 solid refreshments on each stage + water points between the solid refreshments + a refreshment point at the finish (except for the last stage where there will be no refreshments)
  • Showers at the arrival of the stage
  • Gift to welcome you
  • Finisher’s gift
  • Photos of the event and at least one photo of each runner
  • Relief to secure the event
  • Membership to the partner association Les Traileurs de France for 5 euros per person

• Stage 6 for the day: 20 euros
  • Participation in a unique event
  • Bib with chip for timing
  • Timing of the stage with intermediate times in live monitoring.
  • Refreshments at the finish
  • Showers at the arrival of the stage
  • Gift to welcome you
  • Finisher’s gift
  • Photos of the event and at least one photo of each runner
  • Relief to secure the event
  • Membership to the partner association Les Traileurs de France at 5 euros per person

In addition to these fees, there are management fees for payment on the registration platform, depending on participation, between 1 and 9 euros for solos and between 9 and 12 euros for teams.

• Option Rates: 

Several options are available such as shuttles or accompanying meals. They are available with the rates on the registration and payment platform. 

In addition to these rates, there are management fees for payment on the registration platform of 2% of the price of the option. 

• Accompanying persons: 

In the event that a team wishes to be accompanied by a third party (e.g. a driver), this person is not considered by these rules as a participant. The captain nevertheless undertakes to declare the presence of any person accompanying the team for security purposes. The registration of accompanying persons (free of charge) is done directly in the registration space on the platform of our partner L-Chrono.

• COVID-19: Within the framework of Covid-19, the organization is doing everything possible to work with the possibility of a virus still circulating in the summer of 2021 and therefore able to adapt to the health conditions known in September 2021. However, as the authorization of organization is up to the competent authorities, we will not have the power of decision on the D-day. In case of cancellation for Covid-19 by the competent authorities, we will propose two modalities:

– A refund of 70% of the total amount (excluding payment fees) + a 30% discount on a future registration for the same person without validity date. 

– A postponement of the registration on one of the two following editions.

RULES OF THE TEAM CHALLENGE

The team registration can be done with 3 or 4 people. On each stage, relay zones will be defined where runners will have to change. 

In case of injury or abandonment of one or two persons, a team is allowed to continue its progression with two runners minimum. 

However, it must declare to the organization any person of the team who is injured or who stops running. If a person is declared injured, the team will be disqualified.

The last 11 km stage must be run by the whole team together. Team members must stay together throughout the stage. 

SUPPORTERS

Accompanying persons are allowed on the whole event. But they must respect certain rules: 

It is forbidden to accompany a participant on the course

It is allowed to see a runner pass by in places that are easy to access by car

It is possible to assist a participant in the refreshment and water zones

There will be no possibility to sleep on the participants’ camp

In case of non-respect of the rules by the accompanying persons, the penalty will go directly to the runner concerned

As an option, we offer evening meals or access to the food supplies: 12 euros per evening meal (or lunch for the last stage) per person (see details in the relevant paragraph), 6-meal pack, or 6-meal pack + access to the runners’ food supplies

WITHDRAWAL OF RACE NUMBERS

The times and modalities for the withdrawal of race numbers will be indicated in the program of the event a few months before the event on the website www.letraildefrance.com

At the time of the number collection, an identity document must be presented by each solo runner and by all the members of each team.

TIME BARRIERS, TIME AND TIMING

• Timing:

Timing will be done electronically with a partner specializing in running/trail events. All complaints can be made up to 3 days after the date of the event, after this period, no changes will be made.

The participants registered in solo on the integral will be equipped with a GPS beacon to locate them in real time. 

• Time barriers:

There will be time barriers that must not be exceeded throughout the different stages. They are set taking into account the shuttle schedules between the different stages. They will therefore be very strict and no free pass will be granted. In addition, depending on the stages, deviations or shortcuts may be set up to allow the runners to finish in time.

Thus, the time barriers for the 2022 edition are broken down as follows: 

The general time barrier for the entire 6 stages will be 105h. On a course of about 360 km, this corresponds to an average of 3.4 km/h. But there will be a time barrier for each stage.

• Stage 1 – 51 km : time barrier – 13h30 of race
• Stage 2 – 69 km: time barrier – 20:15 of race
• Stage 3 – 72 km : time barrier – 20h00 of race
• Stage 4 – 79 km : time barrier – 22h30 of race
• Stage 5 – 73 km : time barrier – 24h30 of race
• Stage 6 – 11 km: time barrier – 4h15 of race

There will also be two to three intermediate time barriers in each stage. The details will be specified in the participants’ roadbook which will be online in the months before the event.

Participants who exceed a time barrier will have their number withdrawn and will no longer be part of the race. 

CLASSIFICATIONS AND REWARDS

• Classifications:

Each stage will have its own scratch rankings and rankings by category: solo, team, day. 

A general classification will be established from day to day, also by category according to the cumulated times: solo, team.

• Rewards : 

For the rewards of the general classification solo integral, we reward :

the first 3 men and the first 3 women 

the 1st man and the 1st woman of each following age category: 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years and 70-79 years

For the overall 3-person team awards, we will award:

The first 3 men’s teams, the first 3 women’s teams and the first 3 mixed teams.

For the awards of the general classification of the teams of 4 persons, we reward :

the first 3 men’s teams, the first 3 women’s teams and the first 3 mixed teams

For the awards of the classification for the runners on the day of the stage :

The first 3 men and first 3 women of each stage and the first 3 teams

The awards are not cumulative, a participant can have only one award at most.

BIB PICK UP

Except for a serious injury requiring emergency medical intervention on the spot and/or follow-up, each abandonment must be reported to the nearest stopover point (relay point and/or refreshment point). As soon as an abandonment is reported to the organization team, the runner(s) is/are no longer allowed to continue the race or to resume it later, the organization will decline any responsibility in this case. 

• Withdrawal for full solos: 

When a solo runner has reported his/her withdrawal at a relay and/or feeder point, the organization will take care of his/her transportation to the finish area. From there, we will offer transportation to the camp to rest (except if the person abandons on the first stage). A shuttle will be offered after the start of the next stage for a return to the start of the 1st stage, where you left your vehicles.

• Abandonment for the teams :

When a team has reported its abandonment to the organization team at a relay and/or supply point, it is responsible for its own repatriation and the organization will not offer transportation since each team is independent in transportation. 

COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT

In order to make the participants more responsible during the races, our list requires only the strict minimum, namely

• A survival blanket for everyone 
• A (real) waterproof rain jacket for everyone
• A small red flashing headlamp to put on the back at night only (in addition to the headlamp in front)
• The GPS beacon only for the participants in full solo. 

Another important thing, in our approach of eco-responsible event, and in a sanitary prevention, we will not give any dishes or cups throughout the event. It is therefore up to you to have your own personal belongings for the refreshments and the pre- and post-race meals. (A laundry area will be available to wash your dishes).

However, we recommend a non-exhaustive list of items to have with you or in your bags in order to cope with all possible weather conditions: 

• Smartphone with French network coverage and one or more external batteries is highly recommended. 
• Water reserve minimum 1 liter
• 2 or 3 lamps (headlamp and camping lamp) in good working order with spare batteries for each lamp
• Survival blanket of at least 1.40m x 2m
• Whistle
• One or more elastic adhesive bands to make a bandage or a strapping 
• Food reserve for each day
• Jacket with a hood to withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof and breathable membrane (minimum 10,000 Schmerber and recommended RET less than 14)
• Long-legged running pants or tights OR a combination of tights and full leg socks
• Cap or bandana or Buff®.
• Additional warm second layer: a warm long-sleeved second layer garment 
• Hat
• Warm, waterproof gloves
• Waterproof overpants
• Identity document
• Minimum 50 euros in cash in case of unforeseen circumstances.
• Sunglasses and sun cream

REFRESHMENTS AND MEALS

As a reminder, the organization will not provide any dishes, plates, cutlery or cups during the event. It is advisable for each participant to bring everything accordingly.

• Refreshments :

On each stage (except the last one), there will be between 2 and 3 solid refreshments during the stage as well as several water points. 

The details of the refreshments (locations, compositions) will be communicated in the race roadbook before the event. 

• Meals : 

More substantial meals will be offered after each stage in the camp area. They will be available according to the arrival time of each participant. All details will be communicated in the race roadbook before the event.

Every morning a breakfast will be served to all participants.

SEMI-AUTONOMY 

Semi-autonomy means that each runner must be self-sufficient in food, equipment and guidance between the refreshment points set up by the organization. The marking will be natural by the GR trail and the white and red marks as well as the signs. A complement can be brought by our team by place but you will have to have a GPX track on your watch or GPS for complement.

This implies : 

to leave at the start or after a refreshment station with the quantity of water and food to hold the distance until the next point of the organization

to be informed that for the slowest runners, you can go several hours without refreshments (each runner must calculate according to the race profile and the elements that will be indicated in the roadbook)

not to be supplied by anyone outside the supply zones.

To be able to follow a GPX track in a watch or a GPS

CAMPING AND NIGHTS

For the participants of the 6 stages, solos and teams, we propose a camp every night between each stage. The tents are provided directly by the organization. They are 4 places tents, with 2 rooms for 2 people with a central space for changing.

Each team (of 3 or 4 people) will have a whole tent and the soloists will share the room and the tent with other participants of the same sex. 

In the case of an always present and active Covid-19, the organization will adapt to respect the social distancing within the camp and the tents. 

Participants should bring their own air mattresses or sleeping mats and sleeping bags. They will be transferred with each person’s luggage between the start and finish of each stage. 

SHUTTLES

Several types of shuttles are concerned by our event (the schedules and places will be specified before the event in the Roadbook and on our website www.letraildefrance.com):

Shuttles between the stages: they concern only the runners in solo. These are the five transfers between the stage arrivals and the next day’s departures. They are included in the registration fee and will last between 1h30 and 2h30. Between 3 and 4 shuttles will be provided at the end of each stage to take the participants according to their arrival time.

The “drop-off” shuttles: they only concern solo runners. The details are given in the Abandonment paragraph.

The “one-day stage” shuttles: they concern the runners who register for a one-day stage. They will take you from the arrival of a stage to the departure. Optional at a cost of 15 euros.

 PENALTIES

Here is the table of penalties in case of non-respect of the rules in order to be clear and precise towards all the registrants. 

Thus, according to the “infraction” committed, here is the penalty that goes with it: 

DOPING

The organization reserves the right to carry out anti-doping tests in accordance with the rules of the AFLD – French Anti-Doping Agency.

RESPECT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Participants are required to have a respectful attitude towards the environment before, during and after the race. The organization reserves the right to disqualify participants in case of abuse.

The commitment of the organization : 

With the will to be an eco-responsible and committed event, Le Trail de France wishes to obtain the Label Zero Impact Event and thus respect a maximum of the requested criteria. The different criteria as well as the presentation of this label is available on their website: www.zeroimpact-event.com. 

SAFETY, RESCUE AND ROAD PRIORITY

• Safety and rescue:

An adapted medical aid system will be put in place throughout our event by an external service provider. Each participant who registers for our event must be aware that depending on the place where the rescue is needed, the delay may be more or less long if it is easily accessible or not. It is also important to be aware that both the organization and the emergency services will be able to contact the 112 emergency services directly in order to complete the arrangements in place if the situation requires it. In this case, it will be the responsibility of the participant or his or her individual accident insurance to cover the costs. 

Any person in the rescue team is authorized to withdraw from the race any person deemed unfit to continue the event. In this case, the person will be considered to have withdrawn.

• Priority on road sections:

On all stages, there will be road crossings and/or road sections. The participants will not have the right of way and will have to respect the highway code and give priority to the vehicles on the roads. During the passage on the road sections, race zones can be materialized by blocks or markings, it will be compulsory for the participants to respect them under penalty of disqualification.

COMMITMENT AND INSURANCE

• Registration: 

All registrations are firm and final, no transfer of registration is allowed for any reason whatsoever. Without subscription to the cancellation insurance, and in case of cancellation from a registered person intervening more than 6 months before the event, the organization commits itself to refund 70% of the total amount whatever the reason. For a cancellation between 3 and 6 months before the event, we propose a refund of 50%. No refunds will be made for cancellations made less than 3 months before the event without taking out cancellation insurance. 

Any person who transfers his or her number to a third party will be held responsible in case of an accident occurring or caused by the third party during the event. The organizer declines all responsibility in case of accident in this type of situation.

• Cancellation and multi-risk insurance: 

For those participants who wish, a cancellation and multi-risk insurance are proposed in addition on the registration platform, we propose two options: a simple cancellation option for the day stages and a cancellation and multi-risk insurance for the integral solo and team over the 6 days.

It covers you in the event that one of the valid reasons of the contract is declared before the event, including pandemic or epidemic reasons (all details in the link below)

By accepting it, the participant accepts the general and specific conditions of sale from the insurer, available on the following link: http://bit.ly/AnnulationTDF

• Individual insurance : 

When registering, each runner must be in possession of an individual accident insurance covering search and evacuation costs in France. PS : Helicopter evacuations are not free of charge. The choice of evacuation depends exclusively on the organization. The choice of the evacuation method and the place of hospitalization is the sole decision of the organization.

As indicated in the paragraph “safety, rescue and road priority”, the costs resulting from the use of exceptional means of rescue or evacuation will be borne by the person rescued who will also have to ensure his or her own return from the place where he or she has been evacuated. It is the sole responsibility of the runner to constitute and present a file to his personal insurance within the given time limit.

• Organizer’s liability insurance: 

The organizer takes out a specific insurance policy for Civil Liability of the Organizer, which covers any damage that may result from the event. 

In addition, the specific travel agency guarantee, which is mandatory when an event offers transportation and/or accommodation, insures you in the event of the organizer’s default. 

• Equipment insurance:

The organizer declines all responsibility for damage to participants’ personal property, including vehicles, even if the organizer has custody of them (such as theft, breakage, accident, …). Participants will not be able to claim against the organizer for any damage caused to their equipment. It is recommended that each participant takes out insurance to cover these risks.

CANCELLATION AND MODIFICATION OF THE EVENT BY THE ORGANIZERS OR AN EXTERNAL ELEMENT

The organization reserves the right to make any changes before or during the event.

In case of cancellation of the event for any reason whatsoever (except Covid-19 – see relevant paragraph), independent of the organizers’ will, occurring more than 30 days before the start, the organization undertakes to reimburse 70% of the registration fee to the persons registered. Percentage according to the expenses already incurred to allow the organization to meet these costs. The organization will also propose a postponement of the registration for one of the next two editions. In the case of a partial refund, the amount determined will be based on the basic registration fee, excluding options, fees or insurance. 

If the cancellation for the same reasons occurs less than 30 days before the start of the event, the organization does not guarantee any refund. A postponement of the registration for one of the next two editions may be proposed.

From 3 completed stages, whatever they are, the organization will be able to propose a general classification. Therefore, in case of cancellation of 1 to 3 stages, for any reason beyond the control of the organizers, the event will be declared as completed. No claim or refund will be made by the participants.  

IMAGE RIGHTS

By validating the registration by payment, each person authorizes Trail de France, or its service providers during the event, to use all or part of his image and/or his voice, for any legal exploitation.

DATA PROTECTION

According to the French law of August 6, 1978, and in accordance with the new General Regulation on Data Protection (RGPD EU 2016/679), every competitor has the right to access and rectify his or her data.

The information is collected as part of a registration for one of the Trail de France races, for the needs of the organization, and in particular to identify each competitor individually in order to communicate to him before, during or after the event any information related to his participation.

All the data of the runner is kept for a period of 10 years, renewable at each registration, corresponding to the legal period of conservation of the medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice of running in competition, or of the sports license. Beyond these 10 years, and unless explicitly authorized by the runner, all data are deleted except name, first name, date of birth, gender and nationality to maintain the rankings.

Any request to modify data can be made by email to hello@letraildefrance.com

Any request for access or modification of personal data will be processed within 1 month from receipt of the request.

Concerning the CNIL, according to the law of August 6, 1978, you have the right to access and rectify all information concerning you. This information is only used within the organization and concerns technical data such as your e-mail. The organization does not use your data for any other purpose. In accordance with the law, each runner has the right to access and rectify his or her personal data. To do so, please send us an e-mail mentioning your name and surname.

However, in the first instance, by validating the registration through payment, the participants authorize the organizer to send them newsletters and various communications related to other sporting events organized by the organizer.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES

The registration validated by the payment includes the reading and the express acceptance without reserve of the present rules.