Competition regulations 2025
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The following rules are set by the Race Director and the Organization Committee (OC) of the Colourful Yunnan Granfondo Festival, which falls under the general Granfondo China regulations. These rules are binding for all race participants. So, all race participants must read these rules carefully before the start of the race. When you start the race, you are deemed to have understood and accepted these regulations.
The Organization Committee (OC) has the authority to adjust and revise the rules to balance the participation experience, safety and fairness, and may add or delete certain clauses according to the circumstances. Should this happen, the updated version will be released and announced in advance of the race.
A) GRANFONDO CHINA General Rules:
Any participant caught taking drugs banned by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) will be disqualified from the event. If you must take a banned product for medical reasons, please let the race director know in advance of the event providing a TUE（Therapeutic Use Exemption） or other proof that clearly states you must use the product during the event on medical grounds.
Except official event cars, ambulances and media motorcycles, no cars or vehicles are allowed driving on the course during the race. Team cars, or other supporting vehicles, are not allowed to follow participants in the race upon risk of disqualification.
Fair play is the order of the day: participants who are seen violating rules of the race or conducting unsporting behaviour will get a time penalty by minimum 1 hour and/or will be disqualified from the event by the Race Jury. This includes pushing or pulling others uphill. When participants are sprinting together to the finish line, changing direction is strictly prohibited. Once sprinting, the participant must keep his/her own straight line. Any violator will be disqualified from the race, and he/she will be held responsible for any injuries caused to others due to deviation from the sprint line.
Each participant must read through the full specific event regulations and guidelines as published in the Online Event Manual or on the official website of the event. By starting a race, the participant acknowledges and accepts the event and race regulations.
B) QUALIFICATION: Who can take part?
Active professional cyclists, according to the UCI Team Lists (e.g WorldTour, Pro Continental, Continental), are not allowed to register for the race.
Former professionals who have retired from pro cycling less than one year (365 days) before the date of a granfondo event, can only ride the granfondo 'out of competition', i.e., they will not feature in the result list nor receive any prizes.
Former professionals who have retired from pro cycling more than one year (365 days) before the date of a granfondo event, can register for the race normally.
Definition of a ‘professional cyclist’: The team rosters and names of professional cyclists are available on the website of the UCI, the International Cycling Federation.
Based on the date of birth marked on the registration documents, mainland Chinese residents, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign players who are 18 years old or older and under 65 years old or younger, i.e., those whose date of birth is between November 2, 1959 or older and November 2, 2006 or older, must register for the race with a valid identification document (mainland Chinese residents with a People's Republic of China Resident Identity Card, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan players with Pass or Residence Permit, Foreigners with Passport) to register.
Cycling is a high-intensity, long-distance competitive sport with challenging and sometimes technical race courses. Participants should be in good health to participate in the race. Participants with the following physical conditions are not allowed to participate in this competition:
(1) congenital heart disease and rheumatic heart disease.
(2) Hypertension and cerebrovascular disease.
(3) Myocarditis and other heart diseases.
(4) Coronary artery disease and severe arrhythmia.
(5) Diabetes with high or low blood sugar.
(6) Cold and flu within two weeks prior to race day.
(7) Pregnancy.
(8) Abnormal body temperature (over 37.3℃ or abnormally low) on the day of the race.
(9) Other diseases that make you unfit to participate in sports.
Participants in the long distance category are required to be long-term cycling riders, in good health: no vision, hearing, speech, fever, cold, heart disease, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, cerebral thrombosis, or any other physical diseases or disorders affecting the race, mentally healthy, emotionally stable, and have not consumed any beverages, alcohol, drugs, food, or health supplements affecting their sanity.
Any rider currently serving a competition ban by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is not allowed to take part in Granfondo Yunnan.
C) BIKE, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Granfondo Yunnan is a road bike event featuring road race bikes with bent handlebars in accordance with the rules and standards of the cycling sport. TT Bikes or bikes with “TT handlebars”used in triathlon competitions or time trials are NOT allowed to be used in this competition, except otherwise announced (e.g. when there is a TT competition). Gravel bikes are accepted to participate in the Road Bike category and will be classified as such.
In 2025 Granfondo Yunnan, the long-distance category is exclusively reserved for participants riding a road race bike. No MTB, folding bikes or other bike types allowed.
In 2025 Granfondo Yunnan, the short distance competition has two categories: 1) road race bike and 2) MTB bikes. No hybrid or other bike types allowed.
E-bikes are NOT allowed under any circumstance. Any kind of electronic, battery-charged or other mechanical aids on any part of the bicycle is forbidden. People caught cheating against this rule may be banned for life from Nordic Ways events. The Organization Committee (OC) reserves the right to check bikes before the start.
Registered participants must bring their own bike, helmet, equipment, protective gear, etc. by themselves. In addition, participants must remove non-essential parts that may cause injury (such as: locks, basket, footpeg, rear shelf, etc.) before the race.
Correctly wearing a helmet is mandatory for each participant. No helmet, no start! The race jury has the right to disqualify those who remove their helmets during the race.
Each participant should bring their own drinking water supply and energy supplements (gels, bars etc). It is highly recommended to carry at least 1000ml bottle of water or energy drink. Do not solely rely on aid stations.
D) NUMBER BIB/PLATE REQUIREMENTS
Please refer to the event manual for the bib number of each participant and the installation position of the seat tube sticker chip.
Participants and Bikes shall wear the number bib and frame plate issued by the the Organization Committee (OC) as required, which shall not be cut or transferred. Once found, the result of the race will be cancelled
E) CHECK IN AT START ARENA
Participants must bring their bikes and equipment to the check-in area near the starting point at the latest 30 minutes before start, and get ready for start.
The check-in staff will check whether the players are wearing helmets and bibs according to regulations, and whether the bikes have fixed number plates and timing chips according to regulations. If the above is not carried out in accordance with the regulations, the referee has the right to ask the participant to make the changes. If the participant refuses, the referee has the right to disqualify the participant from the race.
Those who fail to go through the check in procedure will be deemed to have abandoned the race and will be marked as DNS (Did Not Start) in the result sheet.
After the completion of the check-in, the participants can enter their relevant start block and should not leave the block before the start of the race (unless approved by the relevant referee).
Participants who wish to change race distance category can do so until maximum 90 minutes (!) before the race start. They should come personally to the race jury tent at the starting line to make the change. Note that participants who decide during the race to change distance category will be automatically ranked as ‘DNF’ (Did Not Finish) in the result list.
Participants who arrive late must start at the back of the block.
F) STARTING BLOCKS
The start of each stage in the 2025 Colourful Granfondo Yunnan will have 4 separate starting blocks. The Block A is reserved for the top riders in the general classification long distance (top 30 men and top 30 women). Block B is for remaining long distance road bike participants, Block C for short distance road bike participants and Block D for short distance MTB participants.
Participants who start in the wrong block will receive a time penalty of fifteen (15) minutes.
Smoking is not allowed in the starting and finishing area. There will be a designated smoking area on-site.
Leave No Trace - Participants are not allowed to throw litter around at any point during the start procedure or during the race. Participants who are seen throwing away plastic bottles, gels, wrapping paper will receive a time penalty of 2 hours for a first infringement, which corresponds to a yellow card that remains valid for the entire duration of the event. A second infringement tp this rule will result in disqualification from the event. It is everyone's responsibility to have a civilized race and protect the natural environment.
G) STAGES AND ROUTES
At all times, participants should be as self-sufficient as possible. it is recommended to bring common spare parts for any mechanical or bicycle-related issue (e.g. inner tubes, pump to handle punctures or tools for chain issues). As with nutrition, do not just rely on others.
Participants must obey all orders and indications of the race director and/or his assistant, and any official referees along the race courses.
During the race, the local authorities will regulate and control the traffic on the course. However, for your own safety and to avoid accidents, participants are requested to follow standard traffic regulations by keeping to the right side of the road, following the instructions of the marshals when encountering traffic light intersections, and paying attention to the flags and whistles of the volunteers to slow down when approaching dangerous corners and switchbacks or important changes of direction.
Remain cautious: the routes of some of the Granfondo Yunnan stages are challenging and highly technical. Some of the road surfaces may be damaged, and there will be sharp bends on downhills. If you have no experience riding on these type of roads, consider doing the less challenging short distance races for your own safety and the safety of others. Granfondo Yunnan should not be your first cycling experience in the mountains.
Some of the stages are at high altitude with strong sunshine. Be aware of potential altitude sickness, and protect yourselves from sunburn. Refrain from heroism should any respiratory difficulties or headaches occur. Health and safety always come first. For those who are sensitive to high altitude, it is recommended that participants arrive early to acclimatize to the environment.
Participants must follow the course as marked by the Organizing Committee (OC). As last-minute changes can always occur for a variety of reasons, note that the course markings or marshal signalling always overrule the GPX files distributed before the races! Be aware that Participants are responsible for the consequences of any accidental injuries sustained while riding off the race course.
H) CUT-OFF TIME, COLLECTION TIME AND CHECKPOINT
Cut-off times (COT) / Minimum speed requirements: Due to the pressure of urban traffic, there will be time limits for the long and short distance courses. Cut-off timing points are set taking the cycling terrain, race distance and local authority requirements into account. Please pay attention to the Organization Committee (OC)’s final announcement of the cut-off times at the designated aid stations. If someone fails to arrive at an aid station within the allocated time, he/she will be required to stop cycling and enter the DNF bus. Note that the cut-off time refers to the time a participant must leave the aid station, not when a participants enters it. No excuse or discussion will be accepted by participants who are outside the cut-off time.
Intermediate checkpoints with electronic time measurements are put at random places along the course and must be passed by each participant. No passage at a checkpoint or any other kind of shortcutting will result in disqualification from the day's competition. Note that participants going off the official course will be self-responsible for any risk or injury occurring during this time.
For those who have actively or passively abandoned the race, we have pick-up points at various locations, usually aid stations, where you can either go to be collected or wait for the DNF bus. Once on the bus it will be considered a DNF (did not finish the race) and your number bib will be recorded and there will be no finish result.
I) RANKINGS AND CEREMONIES
The general classification (GC) of the 2025 Granfondo Yunnan is based on the accumulated race times of each rider in every stage of the event. The classification of each stage will be based on race time (gun time at the start) and the ranking order of riders across the finish line. If a rider fails to finish one stage, he will not be ranked in the GC classification
In addition to the general classification, there will also be age group rankings and ceremonies for the long-distance riders in the +40, +50 groups.
There will also be a team classification. Teams must consist of minimum five riders, regardless of gender, and cannot be changed after the start of the first stage. In order to obtain a ranking in the general team classification, minimum 3 riders of the team must reach the finish within the time limit of the race. The finish times of the three fastest riders of each team are added up to produce the team's finishing time.
The best riders in the overall and age group rankings will be invited to a podium ceremony. Please follow the instructions given on race day. For the prize money, check our policy for details. The award ceremony is very important. Podium placers are expected to be present at the ceremony venue in time. If there are any special circumstances, please arrange for an agent to receive the prize on stage in advance. If he/she do not attend the ceremony on time, he/she will be regarded as forfeiting your prize.
The leaders in the general classification male/female will receive a yellow leader’s jersey to be worn in the next stage
Duo TT results do not count towards the GF Yunnan General Classification
J) COMPLAINTS/DISPUTES
Complaints and disputes about race results can be communicated to the race jury at the finish line until 30 minutes after the participant’s finish time. When complaining, a written complaint request must be submitted at the race jury table with the content of the complaint clearly, signed time and name. Note that a deposit of 300 RMB will be required for the jury to handle the case. If the complaint is deemed justified by the race jury, the person who filed the complaint will get the deposit back, otherwise the deposit will not be returned. Timely filing a complaint and immediate payment of the deposit will be considered as the beginning of the review process. If the complainant's request involves the awarding of prizes and the podium ceremony, and if the result of the complaint is not yet available before the start of the podium ceremony, the awarding of prizes will continue to be based on the results provided by the Timing Team and signed by the Director of the race, in order to respect the event timetable. After the result of the complaint is out, and if it is successful and valid, involving the change of the award results or the podium placers, the Organization Committee (OC) will notify the relevant participants of the change, and exchange the prizes and awards, and make a public announcement to inform the relevant participants of the change. In any case, the complaint procedure of the Colourful Yunnan Granfondo Cycling Festival is based on the principle that whoever is in charge of the complaint should provide relevant supporting materials (e.g. photo, video, testimony etc), and the complainant or the complained party should prepare their own supporting materials. The Race Jury Team will make the final decision after reviewing the supporting materials of the complainant or the complained party. Once a Jury decision has been made, the complainant or the complained party must accept it.
K) INJURIES & FORCE MAJEURE
Please use the telephone number printed on your bib. Please only use this number for real injuries or other emergencies, such as injuries from a crash or other urgent situations.
The Organization Committee (OC), is authorised to alter the course, shorten race distances or cancel the event due to unforeseen or exceptional circumstances that jeopardize the security of the event or its participants.
If anything is unclear, please address your question to a Nordic Ways staff or to info@nordicways.com