APPLICATION QUESTIONS

I'm not a racer so is VIA for me?
Racing yourself, the distance, or just getting to the party is race enough for most people. To ride VIA, you don't have to aim for a top 10 place, but pushing your limits creates an adventure with many unexpected stories! Growth only comes from a challenge in this adventure of a lifetime.
**NEW! For VIA Chapter III (2026)** **Introducing: VIA Adventure!** Shorter than VIA **Race**, VIA **Adventure** will be a fixed route of approximately 2,300km. VIA **Adventure** will follow a similar route to the VIA **Race**, with the same start and finish, as well as some of the Gates. Maybe you lack time due to work or family. Maybe you lack confidence in your physical strength, your mental strength, or your free-routing ability. Maybe you're just curious about what you've seen and heard about the special family that is the VIA community. **It’s not a race**, but an opportunity to share the experience and join the VIA community at the start, on the road, and at the finish. VIA Adventure will have fewer rules including drafting being allowed, mutual rider support, while retaining the unsupported spirit of ultracycling.

What is VIA Adventure?

**NEW! For VIA Chapter III (2026)** **Introducing: VIA Adventure!** Shorter than VIA **Race**, VIA **Adventure** will be a fixed route of approximately 2,300km. VIA **Adventure** will follow a similar route to the VIA **Race**, with the same start and finish, as well as some of the Gates. Maybe you lack time due to work or family. Maybe you lack confidence in your physical strength, your mental strength, or your free-routing ability. Maybe you're just curious about what you've seen and heard about the special family that is the VIA community. **It’s not a race**, but an opportunity to share the experience and join the VIA community at the start, on the road, and at the finish. VIA Adventure will have fewer rules including drafting being allowed, mutual rider support, while retaining the unsupported spirit of ultracycling.

How long is the registration process open for?
Registration will open at 2100hrs (UK) on 3rd October and close at midnight on 31st October 2025.

The big change to the registrations/applications process
For Chapter III registrations, we have removed the application process to ensure that even Rookies get to join the community and can challenge themselves. After registering, you will be sent a short questionnaire so that we can learn about you, for example your experience, coaching needs, etc. This is to ensure that all riders who come to VIA are properly prepared, safe, and have the greatest chance for success, whatever that means to them.

Which category can I enter?
We have two main categories: solo and pairs. Solo sub-categories include: Women, Men, Open, Funky bikes, and Paracyclist, where gender is completely the individual’s choice. Pairs sub-categories include tandems and “solo” bikes, where we do not differentiate between gender, whether mixed, women or men. A tandem team may comprise of any combination of paracyclists and "able-bodied" riders

Who will I get the chance to meet? What nationalities are represented?
We believe that meeting people and sharing stories with new friends is an important part of our sport. There will be participants from around the world, and we have initiatives to encourage ultracyclists from different backgrounds to participate.

How many riders can participate?
We pride ourselves on knowing all our riders and our special, family-like, intimate community vibes, so we have a discretionary limit on registrations. Riders from Chapters I and II have priority as they are familiar with the safety requirements, the other riders, the VIA team, the rules, etc. The registration window will close at midnight on 31.10.2025.
There will be a limited number of discretionary places for extenuating circumstances, people from under-represented groups including financial hardship.

The "Compendium" - When will the Race Manual be published? What will be in it?
The first version of the Compendium will be published on 16.1.2026. The Compendium will contain all you need to plan for VIA.The first version will contain information and coordinates for key locations (Gates, Refuge, etc).

Rules: What are the rules, process, penalties, and why would I get disqualified?
We have 8 rules which we believe encapsulate the spirit of unsupported ultracycling. We worked with some of the most recognised and experienced leaders of the ultracycling community, from diverse backgrounds. The rules, the process, and "time adjustments" are outlined in the Compendium and are based on consultation, debate and feedback from the community. The rules are continually evolved and kept up to date as the sport and community evolves. We believe that disqualification is an absolute last resort, to be reserved only for those that deliberately cheat. We also believe that “penalties” should not exist but there should instead be time adjustments for accidental mistakes to create fairness in the results. Our process is set up to encourage people and for riders to be able to talk with the VIA team to discuss and agree any time adjustments necessary to be fair to all riders.

Can I transfer my place to someone else?
Places are non-transferable and not deferable.

Do you have quotas?
We have no quotas, although we actively encourage people from under-represented groups to participate.

FINANCIAL QUESTIONS

What is the total Registration cost?
The total cost is £400 GBP (£370ea for pairs).
This registration fee includes: -Tracker hire -Access to basic Refuge supplies and amenities -Community meals before the start -Community meal at the Triumphal Celebration party at the finish for all -Photos of you which are media team are able to capture (before/during/after). These are free for personal use (non-commercial) -and a "Broomwagon" service. This is both the highest service offering and the lowest price amongst equivalent long races and is priced to make the entry fee accessible to all but to meet our costs and secure the next chapter of VIA. We are motivated by bringing the best experience to ultracyclists, not by profit. To make riders' lives as easy as possible before and after the race, as well as to reduce our environmental impact, we have also historically provided optional, additional services (eg: transport, accommodation, bike transportation, bike box drop, bag drop) for those who needed them. The cost of these will be commensurate with demand and logistical difficulty.

Do I need to pay the full amount now?
Yes. There is a 30-day refund window after you have paid your registration fee. Places are non-transferable and not deferable.

Can I bring my own tracker?
Due to logistical and technical difficulties caused by riders bringing their own trackers, we have taken onboard that advice and decided that riders cannot bring their own tracker.

What are the media licence rules?
We strive to capture media of every rider. Media created by the VIA team may be used by riders for their own personal, non-commercial purposes, only if the photographer/videographer and VIA are credited. Media cars are not allowed due perceived unfairness. Brands wishing to use our media for commercial purposes will need to contribute to our media costs. If you as a rider have a sponsor, you should connect them to the VIA team to discuss media as early as possible.

Can I get a refund for my registration fee?
After the 30-day refund window, your registration payment will be non-refundable as these we will need to baseline our plans, make payments to secure locations, pay for services, and other logistics, all of which are dependent on the number of riders and their composition, e.g: gender, ability.

What insurance do I need?
All riders must hold insurance cover for:
-Third party liability private use cycling -Travel and medical, for example for: medical repatriation; treatment in a private medical facility; mountain rescue

What other documents do I need?
VIA Chapter III will start in the Netherlands and pass through European countries, all of which are signatories of the Schengen agreement. Therefore, EU/EEA citizens can freely move within these countries with a valid national identity card and state-provided healthcare will be guaranteed when carrying a valid European Health Insurance Card (“EHIC”).
Non-EU/EEA citizens otherwise need to hold the following valid documents: -Passport, e.g: with sufficient validity -Visa, where required -UK citizens: Global Health Insurance card (“GHIC”) or equivalent

THE ROUTE

Is it a fixed route or is it free routing?
VIA Race is free routing. The key locations of the start, finish, mandatory Gates, and Refuges, will be provided by the VIA team. Each rider will be responsible for creating their own route between each key location. The VIA team will communicate any banned roads or tunnels. The use of ferry routes must be applied for to the VIA team, who will publicly communicate whether this is allowed or forbidden.

How difficult is the route?
We have calculated a route of approximately 4,000km with more than 40,000hm of elevation, which crosses multiple mountain ranges. Crossing through the Western European countries of the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

What kind of surfaces will I be riding on?
VIA race is predominantly a road bike race. MTB/Gravel bikes are not needed. The Gates and Refuges are chosen so riders can plan an all-tarmac route. It's a free-route event and riders are also free to plan gravel or hike-a-bike sections, if they wish.

Will there be any gravel sections?
This is a road event, and all mandatory sections can be ridden with a road bike.

What mandatory routing is there?

EQUIPMENT

Will there be any mandatory kit to carry during the race?
The mandatory kit will be outlined in the Compendium and is focused on ensuring rider safety and compliance with local road user regulations. We check that riders are in posession of the mandatory kit during the sign-on before the race starts.

MISCELLANEOUS

I signed up to VIA newsletter however not received any communication.
Please contact us via [email protected] so we can add your e-mail manually.

I’d like to volunteer / offer my services - can I join the team?
We welcome all passionate people who want to help. Please contact us at [email protected] with more details of how you’d like to help.

TIMELINE

NB: All dates will be listed here when confirmed