The Stellantis Adventure Series

Stellantis South Africa has announced a substantial multi-year investment into the country’s fast-growing gravel cycling and trail-running scene, reinforcing its commitment to mobility, community engagement and active lifestyles.

The Stellantis Adventure Series will award points to the top 10 Elite Men and Elite Women at each race, culminating in a massive R350,000 series prize purse, with R100,000 each going to the overall winners. The combined prize pool across all events will exceed R500,000, a significant financial commitment to gravel racing in South Africa.

These Rules and Regulations are intended to ensure fair competition, rider safety, environmental responsibility, and the professional delivery of each event in the 2026 series.

The Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Stellantis Adventure Series Gravel Races may change slightly in the weeks leading up to each race. The final version will be communicated at the race briefing at the start.
Gravel racing is by nature self-reliant and often held in remote areas. All competitors must participate with an understanding and acceptance of this ethos.

2026 Stellantis Adventure Series Events

The Grind

Round 1
Saturday 7 February 2026

The Luxliner Route 66

Round 2
Saturday 28 February – Sunday 1 March 2026

Magalies Rocks The Cradle

Round 3
Saturday 5 September 2026

The Cradle Mountain Trophy

Round 4
Saturday 3 October – Sunday 4 October 2026

The Magalies Adventure

Round 5
Sunday 29 November 2026

Points Allocation

Points will allocated to the top 10 overall finishers per race as follows:

Position	Points
1st	25
2nd	20
3rd	18
4th	15
5th	12
6th	10
7th	8
8th	6
9th	4
10th	2

Note that double points will be allocated at Cradle Mountain Trophy for the top 10 finishers

Only the maximum distance or stage at each event offers points.
In the case of a stage race, series points and prizemoney will be allocated for overall performance – after the final stage.
Points are awarded per gender (Male & Female leaderboards).
No age category limits – any age, 19 or older is eligible to score points.
Points rankings will be updated and published after each race.
eBikes welcome, but not eligible for points or prizes.

Any ties at the end of the series will be decided by:

Number of event wins, then
Number of podium finishes, then
Highest finish in the final event.

Prize Money

The Stellantis Adventure Series events will offer cash prizes to the top 5 overall male finishers and the top 3 overall female finishers at each event. There will also be overall series prize money for the top 5 males and the top 3 females.

Position	Male	Female
1st	R100,000	R100,000
2nd	R30,000	R30,000
3rd	R20,000	R20,000
4th	R15,000
5th	R10,000

Media Coverage

The Stellantis Adventure Series will include an event summary to be flighted on SuperSport after each round. Top performers as well as other entrants may be interviewed by the film crew and should comply with reasonable interview requests.

Cycling South Africa Compliance

Each of the five events in the Stellantis Adventure Series Gravel Races are sanctioned by Cycling South Africa (CSA) and will be held under the rules of CSA. Please visit Cycling SA for the complete rule book.
All riders must comply with CSA ages and distances unless permission is granted by the Chief Commissaire prior to the event.
All riders contesting podium places in the Gravel Series long distance events must have a current valid CSA Racing Licence. Temporary Licence holders will not be eligible for points or prizemoney.

Medical

All riders must be healthy, and in a very fit state of training.
During the race the Senior Medical Officer reserves the right to withdraw any participant whom he may deem physically or psychologically incapable of continuing with the race.
Professional paramedics will be in attendance at each event.

Race Briefings

A full race briefing will take place at the start chute 10 minutes before the start of each stage.
Riders who do not attend the race briefings and are not aware of changes made will not be accommodated if they miss their start time, or any similar issue related to their not attending the race briefing.

Routes

Riders are expected to use GPS navigation for each race route or stage. GPX files will only be made available in the week leading up to the event for uploading.
The Leverage Corporate will also mark the routes, but riders must be aware that route markers can be moved or damaged by weather or even stolen.

Prize Giving Ceremonies

Top finishers must attend the prizegiving ceremony. It’s important for rider sponsors as well as event and series sponsors that all prize-winners are present.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you are travelling from out of town, please ensure that your flight is booked later in the afternoon. We cannot accommodate a change to the pre-arranged schedule.

Bicycles

Only gravel bikes and mountain bikes in good, safe working order, at the discretion of the Chief Commissaire, will be allowed to start.
Unprotected, sharp bar ends, in-operative brakes, etc will not be permitted.
Maintenance of the bicycles used in the race is the responsibility of each participant and the Chief Commissaire reserves the right to insist that a participant repair or attend to a bicycle should the Commissaire be of the opinion that it is unsafe or dangerous.
The participants must start and finish the event with the same bike.
Riders may not change their bike or frame of their bicycle during the race without the permission of the Chief Commissaire. In the stage race, change of a frame will only be allowed in the case of a warranty breakage.
Rims, spokes, tubes, tyres, wheels, gears, hangers, sprockets, cables, brakes, forks and shocks may be replaced.
Limited bike maintenance and spares will be provided by various local bike shops on Number Collection day and before each event.
No outside assistance for bicycle repairs will be allowed during the stages. Participants may only accept assistance from another competitor in the same race.
Riders are expected to complete the full distance of each race the time allowed. Repairs to bicycles during the stage must be carried out within this time limit.

eBikes

eBikes are welcome, and there is an eBike start category at each event.
eBikes may not interfere with the other racing categories. Any interference will result in the disqualification of the eBike rider and the other category rider, with a possible.
eBike riders must manage their batteries according to the race duration. Race officials cannot be expected to rescue eBike riders due to battery range miscalculations.
The eBike category does not fall under CSA rules and is ‘unregulated’. The eBike category is a social category and no prizemoney or prizes will be awarded.

Helmets & Riding Attire

Only recognised hard shell cycling helmets complying with recognised standards will be acceptable. The Chief Commissaire will rule on the permitted use of any questionable helmets.
Any riders not wearing their helmets, with the retention strap properly fastened, at any time during the race will be disqualified.
Generally accepted cycling clothing, including a shirt, must be worn at all times during the race.
Proper, fully enclosed cycling shoes, or at least running shoes must be worn.
It is strongly recommended that protective eyewear be worn.

Sound Equipment, Phones & Cameras

No cameras or POV cameras (eg GoPros) are allowed to be worn on your helmet.
No headphones / earphones of any nature may be worn during the race.
No rider may participate in the race and talk on his or her phone while riding. Riders are to stop and move off the trail to conduct any form of telephonic conversation.

The Start

The start chute will open 15 minutes before the race starts.
The start zone closes 5 minutes before the start.
Any riders not in their start zones 10 minutes before the start will be required to start at the back. It is also the riders’ responsibility to ensure that they are at the start on time even if the start is delayed for whatever reason.
The start will remain open for 15 minutes after the start for any late starters. Late starters must advise the Chief Commissaire of the late start so that official sweep and other vehicles can be advised accordingly.
The race will start with the sound of the whistle.

Individual Results

The results will be determined by the position of the riders crossing the finish line at the end of the race/stage.

Cut-off Times

Cut off times will be announced prior to the event. Riders that fail to complete the course within the cut-off time will not qualify for a finisher medal or category podium position.

Race Nutrition

It is the responsibility of each rider to carry sufficient water and nutrition with him/her to complete the full distance of the event.
The Leverage Corporation will provide water and selected snacks at water points along the route for participants should they need.

Rider Identification & Timing

This will be a timed race.
All riders must display their Stellantis Adventure Series race number at all times during each stage. Riders not displaying official race numbers will be regarded as non-participants and shall be prevented from continuing on the route by marshals.
Race numbers must be properly attached to the handlebars of the bike with cable ties provided and must be placed in front of cables etc so as not to be obscured in any way. Riders will be required to remove and reaffix numbers if they are found to be obscured.
Riders must not cut, modify or mutilate their race numbers in any way. No stickers may be added or removed.
It is each rider’s responsibility to keep their race numbers relatively clean and legible at all times and no rider may start a race or stage with a dirty number. Loss of a race number will cost R100 to replace. Remember to remove your number from the handlebars when travelling so it does not get blown off.

Seconding & Support

Competitive riders may not receive outside assistance or help, other than from fellow competitors, at any point along route.
No outside seconding, assistance or feeding other than that provided by The Stellantis Adventure Series staff at an official refreshment station is permitted. This applies to competitive riders only.
Bike repairs may be carried out on the route without outside assistance, but care must be taken not to obstruct other riders.
No towing between riders is allowed, in line with international rules.
Riders are not permitted to draft behind cycles not participating in Stellantis Adventure Series events, but may however draft behind other participating riders.
No drafting is permitted behind any other vehicles on the route, including private motorcycles and race support vehicles.
Supporters are not permitted to follow or drive ahead of riders or be on any section of the course, while the race in is progress, on any of the stages, but may access a number of vantage points and public road crossings to vocally support the riders.
Cyclists who are not entered in the event are not permitted to ride on the course or any sections of the course. If such riders are found to be on the course and they can be linked to a participating rider, that rider will be penalised at the discretion of the Chief Commissaire.

Race Withdrawals

Any rider not able to continue the race, for whatever reason, must inform the Race Office immediately. This can be done at the finish, at a feed zone, or by contacting the emergency number displayed on the Number Board.
In the event of a search and rescue operation being launched for a rider who has withdrawn, but has not informed the Race Office, the cost of such an operation will be for the rider concerned.

Race Protest

Any protests must be submitted in writing, on official protest forms available from the Chief Commissaire, by the rider concerned within the allocated time period after crossing the finish line.
A deposit of R150 must accompany the protest, before the protest will be considered.
If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be refunded.
Race protests must be submitted within 15 minutes of the rider crossing the line or within 30 minutes of the results being posted respectively. Interim race results will be posted on an ongoing basis.

Ethical & Environmental Considerations

Littering on the route, damage to property, lighting of fires or damage to the environment will not be tolerated. Any littering will lead to immediate disqualification.
Physical and/or abuse of Stellantis Adventure Series Crew and Officials, or fellow competitors will not be permitted.
Infringements of the above rules will result in disciplinary action and disqualification.

Traffic Regulations

The Stellantis Adventure Series events will NOT have exclusive use of any public or private roads during the races. Owing to the fact that we are guests of the landowners and the various resorts, we are to respect their wishes to allow them to continue operating their businesses with minimum interruption. For safety reasons, all riders are expected to stop or give way to machines and/ or transport vehicles, until the road is clear and an official or marshal waves the riders on.
Riders must ride with due regard for other road users, and all traffic signs and regulations must be adhered to unless a traffic officer instructs him/her to do otherwise.

Penalties

Offence	First Offence	Second Offence
Not attending award ceremony	Warning	30 minute time penalty
Bicycles	Disqualified
Helmets	Disqualified
Start cut-off	Did not start
Time cut-off	Did not finish
Rider identification	Warning	30 minute time penalty
Seconding & support	1 hour time penalty	Disqualified
Traffic regulations	1 hour time penalty	Disqualified
Basic rules	1 hour time penalty	Disqualified
Doping	Disqualified

Note: Where any additional rule interpretation is required, or where specific provision for any incident has not been made in these rules, the decision of the Chief Commissaire will be final.