GranGuanche
gravel
GGAG5
22-MAR-26
RIDER MANUAL
// Before You Go //
about this manual
For safety and practical reasons, please read all the information in this manual carefully. To take part in the event, it is essential that you fully understand the logistics, route details, required documents, Audax rules, and mandatory equipment.
We believe that the information contained in this manual is clear and leaves little room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding. For this reason, we will not answer questions that are already addressed in this manual.
As organizers, we reserve the right to reconsider the participation of any participant at any point before or during the event if we consider that the participant has misunderstood the nature of the event, overlooked important information that could put themselves at risk, or misunderstood any part of the rules and principles in a way that could lead to an unfair event.
Pre-Event Form
Please read this Rider Manual carefully, ensure you have collected all the required documents and information, and submit the Pre-Event Form.
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The deadline to submit the Pre-Event Form is Saturday, 7 March. If we don’t receive your form by that day, unfortunately, you won’t be able to take part in the event.
Documents and information
Signed Rider Agreement
Download the rider agreement. You can sign it with a digital certificate in Adobe Acrobat without wasting paper. Otherwise, print, sign and scan it.
Rented Tracker Deposit
A refundable deposit of €100 is required.
The tracker must be returned at the finish line. Your deposit will be refunded to the card used for payment within one week after the event. For more details, please refer to the dedicated section in this manual.
Emergency Contact
Next of kin’s full name, phone number, and email. These details will be printed on your brevet card for quick access if needed. This information will only be shared in case of an emergency.
Insurance Policy
Participants must have liability, death, accident and health insurance covering emergency rescue, medical expenses and repatriation.
Insurance must be valid in the destination country for the whole event duration and cover cycling and mountain biking activities while participating in cycling events. Cycling Federation insurance policies or NHS cards will not be accepted.
We need a copy of your insurance policy or an official document from your insurance company that shows your name, policy number, validity dates, and confirms coverage for emergency rescue, medical expenses, and repatriation. Documents must be in English.
Your insurance details will be printed on your brevet card for quick access if needed. This information will only be shared in case of an emergency.
Cycling and travelling abroad with proper insurance is really important! One-week insurance coverage usually costs about 50€ and includes up to 10 million in repatriation coverage. Anything under 30€ is suspiciously cheap. Consider that repatriation in case of a spinal injury – even if it’s not too serious – may require a private medical flight, which can cost up to €100,000.
Here are some insurance companies – coverage depends on your country of residence: Intermundial (Spain) – Occident (Spain) – EuropAssistance (WorldWide) – YellowJersey (UK) – PedalCover (UK)
WhatsApp Groups
Official WhatsApp group
Only organisers can post – Used for official communications, route alerts and emergencies. For safety reasons, we highly recommend joining the group. If you’re concerned about your privacy, you can check your WhatsApp settings before joining.
Participant WhatsApp Group
All participants are welcome to post – This group is a space to connect, arrange shared accommodations or transfers, and cheer each other on during the event.
// logistics //
Get here
Fly to Lanzarote, Arrecife – ACE
The event starts in Lanzarote. Arrecife airport is well connected to most European cities. Arrecife and Costa Teguise are the recommended places to stay before the event starts and where we meet for accreditation and briefing. They’re close to the airport and offer plenty of accommodation options, good bike shops, and supermarkets.
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The Audax starts in Órzola, about 40 km away. It’s a small village with just a few accommodation options and only a couple of restaurants. We don’t recommend staying there. You can either ride to Órzola before the start along a quiet coastal road or arrange a taxi for around €40.
Fly back from Tenerife South, TFS
The route ends on a small island, where the airport has only a few international connections. Usually, the most convenient way to fly home is by taking the ferry back to Tenerife. Tenerife South Airport is about 20 km from the harbour.
accreditation
Sat 21 March – from 15:00 to 18:00 >> Accreditation
Marina de Arrecife – Lanzarote
Participation is mandatory – riders who haven’t been accredited or who are missing any of the mandatory equipment will not be able to officially take part in the event and will not be tracked.
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During this time, we will check bikes and mandatory equipment // Confirm the routes are loaded onto your GPS and your phone // Ensure you can charge the tracking device with your power bank.
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Participants must arrive at accreditation with their bike fully ready to ride. Please follow the order below to avoid long waiting lines:
15:00 to 16:00 // CAP 01-40
16:00 to 17:00 // CAP 41-80
17:00 to 18:00 // CAP 81-120
CAP numbers will be shown on the tracking map, which will be ready a couple of weeks before the start.
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During this time, you can hand us your small bag to be delivered to the finish line.
Sat 21 March – 18:00 >> Briefing
Marina de Arrecife – Lanzarote
Participation is recommended but not mandatory.
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We will briefly discuss event details, with insights about the route and the expected weather. Participation is recommended but not mandatory.
start
This schedule may change during the week before the start to accommodate ferry timetable changes.
Sun 22 March – 12:30 >> Ready
Make sure your GPS device is switched on at least one hour before the start.
The start takes place in front of a small church just outside Órzola, about 30 km from Arrecife or Costa Teguise. You can ride there along a quiet coastal road, or arrange a taxi for about 40€.
Sun 22 March – 13:00 >> Steady
Please check the tracking system to ensure your position is updating correctly and your device is fully charged. If your device is not working properly, we will replace it. This is your last chance to hand us your small bag for delivery to the finish line.
Sun 22 March – 13:30 >> Go!
Riders will depart in small groups, ordered by cap number:
13:30 // CAP 01-20
13:32 // CAP 21-40
13:34 // CAP 41-60
13:36 // CAP 61-80
13:08 // CAP 81-100
13:40 // CAP 101-120
CAP numbers will be shown on the tracking map, which will be ready a couple of weeks before the start.
Under no circumstances may participants change their starting group.
finish
Timijarauqe is a small village with a good restaurant, a mini market, and just a few accommodations. There’s a nice beach equipped with showers and a BBQ area. It’s OK to bivy at the beach if you finish at night—the arbour is just 1 km away.
Thu 26 March – 20:00 >> Finish Line Campfire
We gather for a few drinks at the beach, no worries if you’re still on the route, as we meet every evening.
Sun 29 March – 13:30 >> Cut-Off time
After the cut-off time, participants will have to collect their bags in an established facility and ship back the tracking device.
tracker device
Please check the GPS Tracker User Guide & instruction videos.
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Turn ON your device at least one hour before the start: press and hold the little button on top.
Green LED blinks if the device is ON, once idle, the device goes into standby mode to save energy, and LEDs go off. Once the device detects movement, LEDs start blinking again.
Red LED starts to blink if the charge is below 10%, the battery usually lasts about 5 days, battery status is available on the live-tracking map.
Recharge the device with a USB to USB-C cable – the device does not recharge with fast USB-C to USB-C plugs.
The button on the front is not active.
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You are fully responsible for your device, and time penalties will apply if it is switched off or runs out of battery.
The tracker shall be returned at the finish line and the deposit will be refunded during the week after the event.
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If you scratch from the event or don’t make it to the finish line before the cut-off time, please send your device to:
Matteo Minelli
Calle Los buitres, 6
35539 Nazaret
Teguise – Las Palmas
Spain
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Please ship it before leaving the Canary Islands to avoid import fees — any such fees will be deducted from your deposit. Your deposit will be refunded when we receive the device.
Small bag transfer
Included in the entry fee – we will transfer one small bag (maximum 10 litres or 5 kg) from the start to the finish line. This service is intended only for carrying fresh clothes and comfortable shoes to use at the end of the route.
Please do not include documents, keys, or any valuable items, as we cannot assume any responsibility for loss or damage.
We will collect bags at accreditation or at the start line.
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If you don’t reach the finish line before the cut-off time, we can ship your bag to your home address during the week after the event. Shipping costs will be at your expense.
BIke Box Transfer
Provided by
Vadebicis Bike Shops
– from 70€ –
Drop your bike box at Vadebicis Lanzarote, check the shop’s opening times, and note that it will be exceptionally open on the Saturday before the Audax events, from 15:00 to 17:00 (24 Jan 2026, 21 Mar 2026).
Collect it at Vadebicis Chafiras, Tenerife – 5 km from Tenerife South Airport (TFS) – check the opening times and consider the shop will be exceptionally open on the Saturday after the Audax events, from 10:00 to 13:30 (31 Jan 2026 – 28 Mar 2026)
Vadebicis can also pick up and deliver your bike box to your hotel in Lanzarote and Tenerife (from €45), and clean and pack your bike at the end of the trip (from €60). You can find all the information here, or get in touch with gestiendas@vadebicis.es
This service is available to all bikepackers riding the route, even outside the Audax events.
Cardboard Box
A cardboard bike box is included in the entry fee – you can collect it at Vadebicis, Tenerife (4 km from Tenerife South Airport – TFS).
The shop will be exceptionally open on the Saturday after the Audax events, from 10:00 to 13:30 (29 Nov 2025 – 31 Jan 2026 – 28 Mar 2026).
At other times, please check the shop’s opening hours and closure days.
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You can otherwise buy a cardboard bike box in Tenerife, Los Cristianos for 25-30€ at Bike Point or FreeMotion (please check availability)
// the Audax //
ferries
Participants can book their ferries in advance, during the week before the event begins, to secure a place, avoid queues at the ticket office, and allow for last-minute boarding. You can plan your Audax, target a ferry and book it. If you don’t make it in time, you can change your ticket to the next ferry operated by the same company.
Ferry companies are aware of the Audax event, and we provide them with an estimated number of cyclists for each ferry connection, but there is no official agreement in place.
Bike storage may be limited on some connections – Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria is the most critical, with only two ferries a day allowing a maximum of 50 bikes per ferry.
If the ferry has sold out its bike slots, once at the harbour, you can ask a driver to load your bike into the back of their car or van. As a last resort, you can simply buy a ticket for the next departure.
If you already have a ticket, you should be at the harbour at least 10 minutes before departure. If you don’t have a ticket, allow at least 20 minutes. Boarding and roll-off are not a race — take it easy and stay safe.
To make the most of the rest on ferries, use earplugs or headphones, and wear warm clothing.
Ferry schedules can change at short notice, always check on ferry company websites.
route tracks
The route is subject to change until two days before the start. Please ensure you download the latest version before setting off.
The route is available as a Ride with GPS collection, one route for each island. The tracks include points of interest (POIs) such as main towns, bike shops, water sources, and hike-a-bike sections.
- Download the routes from Ride with GPS (More > Export as File > GPX Track.
- Upload the routes to your GPS device and ensure that local maps are downloaded. Avoid syncing through third-party apps such as Komoot.
- Upload the routes to your phone using your preferred app (MapOut, Komoot, Ride with GPS, etc.) and make sure they’re available offline as a backup.
During accreditation, we will verify that the tracks are loaded on both your GPS device and your phone.
It’s not easy to control a long route along five islands. In case of interruption or closed roads, take a picture as proof, find your way around the interruption, and rejoin the official route.
route notes
Along the route, there are no water sources, so you’ll need to buy and carry all your water. During the night, there are no resupply options.
1 – Lanzarote
km 40, Teguise – marketplace: You may be required to push your bike through the town.
2 – Fuerteventura
No resupply options if you ride during the night.
Hot and dry weather if you ride during the day.
Water fountain in Betancuria, km 60 – (POI in the route track)
3 – GranCanaria
km 0, Las Palmas – work in progress on the cycling path, find your way out.
km 120, Maspalomas – Resupply
4 – Tenerife
km 45, La Laguna – Resupply.
5 – El Hierro
km 70 – About 20 minutes of hike-a-bike on a mountaintop, often exposed to wind and rain.
km 95 – The last descent is exposed and usually extremely windy. The final time will be taken before the descent.
bike and gear
Check the mandatory equipment listed in the rules section. Start the route with new brake pads, and make sure your bike is in good condition.
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The elevation gain is the main challenge: choose low gearing, pack wisely, and keep it as light as possible.
2 liters of water capacity will be enough to reach the next store or water source.
Clothing: check the mandatory equipment listed in the rules section. With a no-rain weather forecast, a waterproof jacket and rain pants should be sufficient for the occasional drizzle.
Sleeping System: the route can be ridden solely relying on accommodation, eliminating the need to carry any sleeping system.
A light bivy setup can be useful to rest in emergency shelters or at the harbour before the ferry leaves. Bringing a tent adds significant weight and is not recommended if you intend to finish within the time limit.
expected weather
This section will be updated during the week before departure with the weather forecast.
Expected temperatures:
Sea Level -> 15ºC ~ 30ºC
1000mt -> 5ºC ~ 25ºC
2000mt -> -5ºC ~ 15ºC
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The landscape is ever-changing because the weather is ever-changing.
Expect strong wind, heat, mist, rain and eventual snow.
scratching
If you decide to scratch from the event, email your decision to scratch@outerdetours.com
and include your name and cap number. Then, turn OFF your tracker.
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Scratching is fairly easy — if you leave the route and descend to the shore, you’ll find bigger towns and milder weather. Buses usually allow bikes, or you can easily arrange a taxi.
Communications
As a self-supported event, interaction and communication with the organizers must be limited to cases of real emergencies. The main channel to contact the organization before, during, and after the event is via email at outer@outerdetours.com
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As already stated, we will not answer questions that are already addressed in this manual.
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During the Audax event, and only in case of a real emergency, you may contact the organizers via WhatsApp message. Click on our name to open a WhatsApp chat. Please use text messages only, we will not answer phone calls.
rules
Riders must sign and agree to the Rider Agreement and must be at least 18 years old.
Mandatory equipment
Lights: front light, head/helmet lamp, 2 tail lights
Clothing: reflective vest, winter gloves, rain jacket, rain pants, mid-layer or down jacket.
Spare tube.
Emergency blanket or bivy.
Power bank and USB-to-USB-C cable for the tracker device.
Leave no trace // be nice to people
Leave everything as you found it—or better. Respect Natural Park rules, do not cycle or step outside the official paths. Dispose of, remove, and recycle waste.
Be considerate of others; there is no room for racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other form of discrimination.
Rescuing any rider who is injured or in danger is a top priority.
Respect Local laws
Riders are fully responsible for knowing, observing, and complying with local laws. In the event of road interruptions or closures, riders are responsible for finding an alternate route to bypass the interruption and rejoin the official route.
Self-support
Participants are not allowed to assist, support, or resupply each other and must not receive any third-party assistance, private lodging, or resupply. Accommodations or any services can only be booked by riders, without external assistance, and only after the event starts. Ferries can be booked in advance to avoid queues at the ticket office. Private media crews can only be arranged by the organization. Drafting and group riding are permitted.
Route and 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. Riders are responsible for their tracking device.
Insurance
Participants must have liability, death, accident, and health insurance covering emergency rescue, medical expenses, and repatriation, valid for the event’s duration. We will ask for a copy of your insurance before the event.
Code of Honor
A fair and safe ride depends on fair and honourable Riders.
Non-observance of the rules will result in DNS (Did Not Start), DSQ (disqualification) or time penalties.
// Extras //
Media Folder
We’ll edit all photos in the week following the event and email participants when they’re ready.
The pictures are shared in a Dropbox folder. You’re free to download the entire folder or individual images in full resolution — the folder is publicly accessible, no Dropbox account is needed.
Feel free to use them privately or share them on social media — please mention the event and the photographer. Commercial use is also okay, but please get in touch so we know how and where the pictures are being used.
Media Folder
The Confidence Gap
Jana Kesenheimer is an ultracycling legend and a researcher at the University of Innsbruck. Jana and her team are currently working on the research project “Psychological experiences before and after ultra-cycling races”.
Work builds on the idea of the “confidence gap” which is often observed not only between genders but also between majority and minority groups. In short, minorities tend to underestimate their abilities and explain failures more internally, while successes are more often attributed to external factors. We expect this gap to shrink with greater experience, success, and a larger representation of the minority group.
To study this, they’re running a short survey on psychological experiences pre- and post-race. We share the link to the survey and we hope this will help to eventually reduce the confidence gap. Please note that the survey has two parts: one before the race (between a few days and four weeks) and one after, sent separately.