REGULATIONS for Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur®

(updated on August 12, 2023, revisable until August 2023)
STARTBIKESTIME LIMIT
Sunday from 16h00 to 17h00
(from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
Solo bikes80 h
Sunday at 17h15 (5:15 PM)Tandems, triplets, trikes and all special bikes90 h
Sunday from 17h30 to 21h00
(from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM)
Solo bikes90 h
Monday at 04h50 (4:50 AM)Tandems, triplets, trikes and all special bikes84 h
Monday from 05h00 to 06h00
(from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM)
Solo bikes84 h

Article 1

The Audax Club Parisien is holding the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® on August 20-24, 2023.

This event is a 1200 km free-paced BRM in which riders are not allowed to get any support, except as permitted by the organizers.

Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® is run according to the FFCT event charter.

Article 2: Entry conditions

Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® is open to all riders 18 years of age at the date of the start.

Riders must have completed a Super Randonneur brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600 km) of ACP-sanctioned brevets in 2023, which are run in many countries by duly ACP-approved organizers. Any ACP-sanctioned brevet of a higher distance can be substituted for a missed brevet.

Article 3: Rider restriction

The number of starters will be limited to 8000. 2500 slots with be reserved for candidates of French nationality.

Article 4: Preregistrations

Preregistrations are first open to those who have completed at least one BRM (qualifying ride) in 2022. The  preregistration date depends on the longest brevet validated in 2022 and spots are subject to availability at the time of preregistration.

BRM ridden from Nov 01, 2021 to Oct 31, 2022Preregistration starts on (at 12 PM French Standard Time => CET, UTC +1)
1000 km or RM 1200 and +January 14, 2023
600 kmJanuary 28, 2023
400 kmFebruary 11, 2023
300 kmFebruary 25, 2023
200 kmMarch 11, 2023
noneMarch 25, 2023

Some countries may apply local conditions to validate the preregistration. For example, in France, non-FFCT members will only be allowed to pre-register seven days after FFCT members who have ridden the same mileage.

Pre-registration secures a place for Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® 2023 as soon as your payment gets accepted. Places at the event are subject to limited availability and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Pre-registration can only be purchased via the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® website

https://www.paris-brest-paris.org indicating your homologation number of the longest BRM (or RM1200 and +) you rode.

For a multi-rider vehicle, the rider who rode the longest BRM (or RM1200 and +) will initiate the preregistration, so that their co-rider(s) will get the same priority to preregister.

The pre-registration fee is €50. It is non-refundable but deducted from the registration fee.

Pre-registrations will be cancelled if remained unpaid for three clear days and your departure time will be released on June 10, 2023 if the registration was not initiated (at least three BRM must be indicated in the registration form).

Article 5: Registrations

Registrations can only be made through internet on the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® website https://www.paris-brest-paris.org where you can view the status of your registration validation.

You can register as soon as you have completed at least three of the four qualifying brevets which are scheduled between November 01, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Registration SchedulePreregistered riders, FFCT-licencees and non-preregistered international riders*Others*
Opening (at 12 PM, French Standard Time)May 27, 2023June 3, 2023
Deadline (at 11:59 PM, French Standard Time)July 2, 2023July 2, 2023

* Places at the event are subject to limited availability

Your place will be definitively reserved at the time your payment is accepted.

Registrations will be processed according to the date of payment until the limit of available places is reached. If said limit of availability is reached, you will be placed on a waiting list and your payment won’t be cashed.

Applications that have not been completed on July 02, 2023 at midnight (French Standard Time) will be cancelled once and for all and the rider is to be considered unregistered. Any registration is definitive and non-refundable except when asking for a registration cancellation before June 25, 2023. In this case riders will be refunded with a deduction of €50. 

Your application will be processed only when you have completed your registration form with the homologation numbers of your four qualifying brevets. Then you will receive a confirmation email with instructions concerning the ride.

If the follow-up of your form on the website indicates « validated » and you do not receive the confirmation email, please contact the organizers at the following address: inscription@paris-brest-paris.org

Article 6: Payment

A secure payment option will be proposed at the end of your preregistration and/or registration. It may be individual or collective. No payment by wire transfer, check or cash will be accepted.

The preregistration fee is €50, non-refundable and deducted from the final registration fee.

The registration fee is €190There is €20 reduction for FFCT members.

The registration fee includes:

• participation in Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® 2023

• official water bottle

• official reflective vest

• left luggage at the starting line

• meal at the finish line

• official document pouch

• PBP 2023 frame badge

• PBP 2023 brevet card

• PBP 2023 rider follow-up

• souvenir medal if you reach the arrival before the closure of the facilities (and time label mailed after homologation)

• arrow signs on the course

• supervision by official cars and motorcyclists

• access to the various checkpoints and food stops

• emergency support at the checkpoints

• the PBP movie available on our website

The costs of food, sleeping and repatriation in case of DNF, are the sole responsibility of the participants.

Article 7: Cancellation

Initiated by the participant:

Registration reimbursement possible before June 25, 2023, with a deduction of €50.

Initiated by the organizer:

In the event of the organizer cancelling PBP because of unforeseen circumstances, whether the organizer is responsible or not, you will be refunded of the registration fee less the expenses already incurred by Audax Club Parisien and stage sites. No other indemnity will be paid. Requested jerseys will be delivered if, at the date of cancellation of the event, the order has already been placed with the supplier by the Audax Club Parisien.

Article 8: Rules for bikes

Any bike with two or three wheels steered by a handlebar and propelled by muscle power via a transmission consisting of one or several chain sets may be used. The bike must not exceed 1 metre wide. Bikes not meeting those criteria will have to be vetted by the Audax Club Parisien. For safety reasons, the use of extenders is strongly disadvised in peloton. Electric bikes are forbidden.

Bikes must be in compliance with French regulations. Bikes must possess a lighting system powerful enough to be seen at a distance of 100 m from the front and 150 m from the rear. It must be securely and permanently fixed on the bike, even during daytime, and in working order at any time. Flashing LEDs at the rear are forbidden.

Backup lighting systems are strongly recommended. Lights must be turned on at any time during hours of darkness or other low-light conditions, whether the participant rides alone or in a group.

If controllers stop a rider because of no lighting or insufficient lighting, they will not allow him or her to continue until the lighting failure has been repaired, unless he or she has emergency lighting. In this case he or she may ride to the next checkpoint.

We recommend that riders of recumbents add a protection to the crank set, either a chain guard fixed at the frame, or a chainring guard slightly larger than the big ring. We also recommend at least a left driving mirror which may be attached on the back of the glove. Finally, it is strongly recommended to mount a safety flag with reflective stripes, at the top of a pole, at least 1.40 metre above ground. The bikes with fairing must imperatively be equipped with reflective stripes at the front, back and sides.

To test their equipment, riders are advised to complete at least a 400 km or 600 km event on the same bike that will be used for Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur®.

In order to make checks easier, all riders will have their number marked on a frame badge which must remain attached to the bike throughout the ride.

Article 9: Equipment

According to French traffic law, a high visibility vest MUST be worn when riding at night (safety standard number EN 1150 or EN ISO 20471). The vest handed to all participants before the starting line is conform to French regulations and it is highly recommended you wear it during PBP Randonneur. If your reflective vest is hidden (e.g. because you are carrying a backpack or riding a recumbent), make sure that you have additional reflective material to  ensure you are seen.

Light-coloured clothing is recommended for night riding.

It is requested by the french administration to wear an approved helmet throughout the event.

It is recommended to wear a randonneuring club’s jersey, the official PBP jersey or any other RM event’s jersey. Professional cycling team jerseys are prohibited.

Article 10: Route and checkpoints

The official route sheet will be sent when your application will be processed. The route is subject to  the authorities’ agreement.

The out and back ways are marked by arrow signs of different colours.  

Official checkpoints are:

On the way out: start checkpoint at RAMBOUILLET, then VILLAINES-LA-JUHEL, FOUGÈRES, TINTÉNIAC, LOUDÉAC, CARHAIX, BREST.

On the way back: additional checkpoints at MORTAGNE-AU-PERCHE and DREUX.

A food stop is provided on the way out at MORTAGNE-AU-PERCHE. Sleep and food stops are provided at QUÉDILLAC on both ways, SAINT-NICOLAS-DU-PÉLEM on the way out and GOUAREC on the way back.

There may also be secret checkpoints on both ways. Riders must stay on the official route. Please be aware that the insurance cover will be invalid if you deviate from the official route.

The organizers reserve the right to modify the above-mentioned route or checkpoints in case the competent authorities deny the authorization to take a certain route.

All riders and all support crews must everywhere and at any time act correctly towards the control personnel or be subjected to penalties.

Article 11: Responsibilities and insurance

Under all circumstances, riders must obey the French traffic law.

It is expressly stated that cyclists participate in Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® ride at their own risk and that riders are not covered unless they have taken out an individual insurance. The participant commit to being covered by insurance, including repatriation medical assistance, when registering.

A « Responsabilité Civile – Défense & Recours » policy has been taken out by the organizers for the duration of the event, for all material or corporal damage caused to a third party by a participant.

This policy does not cover any damage to bike or equipment in case of a fall or in case of theft.

Personal insurance must be bought to cover those risks.

In any place, riders should care for their personal belongings. The ACP cannot be held responsible in case of loss or theft.

Article 12: Rider tracking

A brevet card and an electronic tracking device will be distributed to each rider before the start. The rider must keep both in good condition. It is recommended to stick a recent passport picture on the brevet card (35 x 25 mm).

Riders must always carry their brevet card and must personally ensure that their card is validated at each checkpoint, whether official or secret.

Loss of the brevet card and loss of the tracking device, missing or incomplete validation, whether from an official or a secret checkpoint, will result in disqualification.

Article 13: Sign-in

You will  receive your brevet card, tracking device, frame badge and other items on the eve of the brevet’s start. An additional distribution will be made on Friday afternoon for the Sunday starters.

Start control: It will take place in Rambouillet, from 30 to 60 minutes  before each official start. To avoid the crowd, please don’t go to the start place earlier. Lighting and reflective vests will be checked at the start control. 

Beware: A missing brevet card validation and a missing tracking device recording at the start will result in disqualification.

Start: As required by the police headquarters, riders will start in waves. For safety reasons, official vehicles will lead the riders through the first kilometers. It is forbidden to overtake them (offenders will be attributed a penalty).

Article 14: Opening and closing time of the checkpoints

It is compulsory for each participant to pass through every checkpoint by respecting the closing schedules indicated on brevet cards. Opening hours will be also indicated but for information only. Only a serious material incident may be accepted as justification for late arrival, and the delay must be recovered at the latest within the next two checkpoints.

Article 15: Homologation, DNFs and failure to comply with the time limits

Whatever the realized time, a brevet will not be homologated in less than 43h32 (this corresponds to an average speed of 28 km/h).

All participants who have ridden in compliance with the rules earn a medal with their official time. In case they have been attributed a time penalty, it will be included in the finishing time. The medal has been designed specifically for the 20th PBP Randonneur.

Riders who abandon must show their brevet card to a controller or another member of the organization, who will sign it and annotate it with « Abandon ». The abandoning rider should remove the frame number and keep it, as well as the brevet card. 

Article 16: Medical test

A medical test may be requested by the French State Secretary of Sport, which will bear the costs. Refusal to undergo this control or a positive test outcome will result in disqualification and will lead to sanctions in accordance with the regulations.

Article 17: Support vehicles

Support vehicles are forbidden on the riders’ official route. Riders who wish to have a support vehicle (even for only one control) must specify it at registration. A special route has been provided for support vehicles. Riders can meet their support vehicle only at the checkpoints and within 5 km from the checkpoints. Places with no checkpoint (Quédillac, Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem and Gouarec) don’t welcome support vehicles.

Both the rider and the driver of the support vehicle must sign a solemn pledge whereby they assert having been informed about the authorized level of support that can be provided to the rider, that the support crew will comply with the present regulations and that noncompliance is subject to penalties.

Article 18: Penalties and appeals

SCALE OF PENALTIES 

Overtaking official vehicles at the start of the event

1 h
Violation of the French traffic law – Use of the cell phone while riding1 h
Drafting by someone not taking part in the event1 h
Taking down arrows signs before the end of the brevet1 h
Environmental pollution2 h
No lighting at night, or under conditions of poor visibility2 h
Absence of (or hidden) high visibility vest at night2 h
Refusal to obey controllers2 h
Registered vehicle present on the official route although the driver pledged to follow the special itinerary2 h
Incorrect behaviour of rider or support crew towards the controllers5 h
Support given on the route, or in the checkpoint towns, by a non-registered vehicle5 h
 
The Audax Club Parisien reserves the right to refuse entry to Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® and to disqualify riders in case of major transgressions. Official controllers will be clearly identified. Any violation of the regulations recorded by official controllers will be penalised according to the above scale.
 
As far as possible, riders will be informed of the attributed penalty either immediately or at the next checkpoint. Penalties will be noted in the brevet card. They apply to the overall time only.
 
Penalties will be cumulated in case of further offenses.
 
No rider can be stopped because of penalties during the event.
 
It is explicitly stated that riders take part in the event solely at their own responsibility. Any rider passing their brevet card to another rider will be disqualified. This action absolves the organizers of responsibility in case of any accident suffered or caused by this other rider during the event.
 
All complaints must be addressed within 10 days after the finish by registered mail to:
 
Audax Club Parisien – Commission PBP
40 rue Blanche
FR-75009 PARIS

Article 19: Environment

All riders must respect the environment in the checkpoint towns and all over the route of the Paris-Brest- Paris Randonneur®. Riders will be liable for any damage noted.

It is strictly forbidden to litter on the road. Your eco-friendly behaviour benefits all riders, and the  public image of randonneuring is at stake!

Article 20: Image rights and liberties

Riders expressly authorize the organizers of the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur®, or their proxies such as partners and media organizations to use static or moving images on which they may appear and which have been captured during their participation in Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® for publicity purposes, including promotional material and/or advertising, throughout the world and for the longest period provided by the law, regulations, and treaties in force, including any extensions that may be made to this period.

According to the French law on Informatics and Liberties of January 6, 1978, you have a right to  access and rectify any personal information.

Through us, you may receive offers from other companies or associations. If you object to it, please let us know with your name, address and possibly your frame badge number.

Article 21: Updating

The Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® commission reserves the right to modify these Regulations and if needed to decide about eventualities not foreseen in the present Regulations. The Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur® commission can also modify the conditions under which the event is run.

As far as possible, decisions or possible modifications will be brought to the attention of the participants:

• either by using the press, radio, and internet, at the latest three days before the date of the event if a possible cancellation is foreseen

• or during the event by loudspeakers and posters

Information:
www.audax-club-parisien.com
www.paris-brest-paris.org
contact@paris-brest-paris.org