The Event is designed for athletes aware of the unique challenges of endurance, off-road cycling events. Riders must be aware of their limitations and only participate if they are properly trained and at a level of fitness and health commensurate with advanced, endurance athletic/cycling events. 

The Galway Gravel Grinder is a “self-supported” event. This means that there will be no bike maintenance crews on the course to assist with mechanical breakdowns or flats. It is the Rider’s responsibility to understand basic bike maintenance, such as changing a flat tyre. Further, it is the Rider’s responsibility to understand their nutritional needs for the Event. While the Event organizers will deploy “Feed Stations” along the course, Riders are responsible for carrying enough food and water to traverse the distances they’ve selected carrying with them what they need between the Start/Finish Line and “Feed Stations.” All Riders will have the Event Organizers’ contact information and crews will be deployed for anyone who abandons the event by contacting the Event Organizers.  

Riders of the Event must be members of Cycling Ireland. Riders who are not members of Cycling Ireland will be required to purchase a one-day license.

All Riders must be 18 years of age or older on the date of the Event.

Riders of the Event are responsible to follow the rules of the road and also understand that portions of the Event follow public pathways, walkways and access through public car parks that are open to pedestrians and vehicles. It is the responsibility of the Riders to safely share the roads (gravel and other), pathways, walkways and car parks with runners, hikers, walkers and vehicles alike. Riders should be prepared for vehicles at all times and understand that all roads are fully open to traffic.

While the organizers of the Event will mark the routes with signage, as well as provide Riders with GPS files of the routes prior to the Event, it is the responsibility of the Riders to navigate the route on their own. As this is a gravel cycling sportif, there will be limited marshals on the course. All Riders must follow marshal instructions when they are present. 

Riders must pay attention to obstacles, other Riders, and signs posted throughout the routes. Portions of the routes are two-way and will be marked with signage identifying the same. Riders should stay to the left and be aware of oncoming traffic. 

Littering on course is strictly forbidden. What goes in with you comes out with you, or into rubbish bins at the Feed Stations or Start/Finish Village. 

Portions of the Event routes will be run over private land. For this reason, we will not publish the final routes until the week of the event. Riders are forbidden from riding on private land leading up to and following the Event. Access to private land is ONLY for the day of the Event! If any Riders do a recon of the route prior to, or after, the Event, DO NOT ENTER PRIVATE LAND by bike, on foot, or by vehicle. Any participating Rider found to violate this rule will be eliminated from the Event with no exceptions and with no refund. We cannot stress this rule enough. 

There will be photographers and videographers throughout the course and at the Start/Finish area. Riders agree and accept to have their images captured and that those images may be utilized by the Event organizers for promotional, media, and/or press purposes. 

Cutoff Times: There will be cut-off times announced with the route announcement the week leading up to the Event. The cut-off times will be strictly enforced for Rider safety on the course.