Rules - Gravel Earth Series

TECHNICAL AND SPORTING REGULATIONS – GRAVEL EARTH SERIES 2026

Article 1. Purpose and scope:

These regulations define the participation criteria, the scoring system, and the requirements to be included in the official rankings of the Gravel Earth Series 2026. They apply to all events listed in the official calendar.

GES 2026 CALENDAR:

Santa Vall by The Traka – February 14–15, Spain
The Hills – March 28 – Italy
Gravel Desert by The Traka – April 11, Spain
The Traka – May 1–2 – Spain
Ranxo Gravel by The Traka – June 7, Spain
Lost and Found – June 13, United States
Migration Gravel Race – June 16–19, Kenya
Oregon Trail – July 8–12, United States
Megre Gravel – August 1, Lithuania
Core4 – August 15, United States
The River by The Traka – September 6, Belgium

Article 2. Participation categories:

Each participant must select one single race category during the registration process. Once a rider has participated in an event, the category cannot be changed for the remainder of the season.

The three race categories are:

PRO: For high-performance athletes competing for the overall classification and cash prizes.
AGE GROUP: For riders wishing to appear in a competitive classification segmented by age brackets.
OPEN: For riders who want to enjoy the experience without competing in segmented categories.

Article 3. Gender and Para-cyclist Classification:

Results will always be published according to the gender declared during registration.
The three recognized gender options are male, female, and non-binary.
Participants may also choose to identify as para-cyclists.
All results will only reflect this category (male, female, non-binary or Para cyclist) if at least 50 riders register in that segment during the season.

Article 4. Requirements to Appear in the Final PRO Ranking:

To be eligible for the final PRO category ranking and prize money:

Riders must finish at least 3 official scoring events from the calendar.
Riders must complete The River by The Traka, the final event of the season.
The final ranking will be based on the top 4 results of the season.
Attendance at the closing ceremony is mandatory to receive awards.

Prize Money

Prize money will be awarded to the Top 10 GES finishers in the PRO category, for both Men and Women, as follows:

First place: 2,500 €
Second place: 2,000 €
Third place: 1,600 €
Fourth place: 1,300 €
Fifth place: 1,100 €
Sixth place: 1,000 €
Seventh place: 900 €
Eighth place: 800 €
Ninth place: 700 €
Tenth place: 600 €

Prize money will only be awarded in categories (male, female, non-binary, or para-cyclist) that meet the minimum requirement of 50 registered riders during the season, in accordance with Article 3.

All prize money amounts are subject to applicable tax withholdings, in accordance with local fiscal regulations.
The organization will apply the corresponding tax deductions prior to payment.

Article 5. Official Age Brackets:

Riders registered under AGE GROUP will be ranked according to their age on December 31, 2026.

Official brackets:

Under 23
24–34 years
35–39 years
40–44 years
45–49 years
50–54 years
55–59 years
60–64 years
65–69 years
70–74 years

Article 6. Events Without AGE GROUP Rankings:

The following events will not include AGE GROUP rankings:

The Traka
Oregon Trail
Lost and Found
Migration Gravel Race

These events will only feature overall gender classifications (PRO & OPEN). Results from OPEN participants in these races will not count towards AGE GROUP rankings.

Article 7. Requirements to Appear in the Final AGE GROUP Ranking:

To be included in the final AGE GROUP ranking:

Riders must complete at least 2 events that include AGE GROUP classification.
Riders must complete The River by The Traka.
The top 3 scores from events with AGE GROUP classification (including the final) will be counted.
Events without AGE GROUP do not count toward this ranking.

AGE GROUP Starts

In events that offer AGE GROUP rankings, starting waves will be organized by age bracket, with separate starting areas.

Article 8. OPEN Guidelines:

There is no age segmentation in this category.
All riders will start together.
Results will be published by gender only and will not count toward AGE GROUP rankings.

Article 9. Scoring scales:

Only finishers are eligible for points based on official race results. Two scoring scales are used depending on the event.

9.1 Base Scale

Base scoring (applies to all events EXCEPT The Traka 360K and The River):

9.2 Enhanced Scale

Applies only to The Traka 360K and The River by The Traka.
Enhanced scoring (applies exclusively to The Traka 360K and The River by The Traka):

*Only official finishers will be eligible for scoring.

Article 10. General Rules:

Only finishers will be ranked.
Riders must remain in the same category throughout the season.
The name used in registration must be the full and consistent name, without diminutives or spelling variations, to ensure proper ranking.

Official Podiums:

PRO: Top 10 by gender*
AGE GROUP: Top 3 by gender and age group*
OPEN: Results by gender only (no podium ceremony)*

*Results will be shown by category (male, female, non-binary or Para cyclist) only if a minimum of 50 riders are registered in that segment.

Article 11. Participation & Competitive Standards:

PRO and AGE GROUP riders must follow all general and specific race regulations and compete with fairness and integrity. The organization reserves the right to validate or invite athletes to ensure competitive balance.

Article 12. Race Rules:

Drafting across genders is prohibited.
External assistance is only allowed in official support zones.
Communication devices (headphones, phones, radios) are banned during the race.
Sharing water, food, and basic tools is allowed, but bikes or essential parts may not be exchanged.
Personal support vehicles may only operate in designated areas and must not interfere with the race.
Any breach of rules or unsportsmanlike conduct may result in penalties or disqualification.

Article 13. Start Protocol:

Riders must be in the start zone at least 10 minutes before their scheduled start time.
PRO starts will be in separate gender waves.
In events with AGE GROUP classification, start waves will also be segmented by age group.

This regulation constitutes the general regulatory framework of the Gravel Earth Series 2026.

Each event in the official calendar will have its own technical race-specific rules, adapted to the characteristics of the course or region. However, all specific regulations must comply with the criteria established in this general rulebook.

The organization reserves the right to modify the calendar, cancel events, or add new ones as necessary.

By The Traka Events and Registration Priority

Events identified as By The Traka within the Gravel Earth Series grant their participants priority access to registration for The Traka 2027, under the following conditions:

Registration priority applies exclusively to an equivalent distance.
This priority applies only to participants who have successfully finished the long distance of a By The Traka event.
Participants who finish the long distance of a By The Traka event will have priority access to register for one of the following The Traka distances, at the participant’s choice:
- The Traka 200
- The Traka 360
Registration priority does not guarantee a starting place and remains subject to the timelines, availability, and conditions defined by The Traka organization.
The more By The Traka events a participant finishes during the season, the higher their level of registration priority, according to the system and order established by the organization.

This priority is personal, non-transferable, and valid only for the 2027 edition of The Traka.

The organization reserves the right to modify the calendar, cancel events, or add new ones as necessary.