SAFARI RACE SERIES  RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Participation & Eligibility
1.1 All participants must register and pay the registration fee to participate in Safari Gravel Race events. Registration implies agreement to abide by series rules.
1.2 Participants under 18 must have parental consent upon registration for events.
1.3 Participants must enter their accurate date of birth upon registration for proper age group categorization. Providing inaccurate information is grounds for disqualification and ban from future events.
2.  Conduct & Sportsmanship
2.1 All participants must demonstrate good sportsmanship and respectful conduct towards fellow participants, staff, volunteers and spectators at all times.
2.2 Discrimination, including based on gender, race, sexual orientation or religion, is strictly prohibited.
2.3 Participants shall refrain from the use of profane or abusive language.
2.4 Any type of cheating or fraud including falsifying personal information will lead to lifetime ban from all future events.
3. Safety & Fair Play
3.1 Helmets approved for cycling are mandatory during all races.
3.2 Participants must obey all traffic laws on public roads and avoid any dangerous or reckless behaviors.
3.3 Shortcuts, course cutting or any other attempts to gain unfair advantage will result in disqualification.
3.4 Participants shall refrain from accepting unauthorized assistance, such as drafting behind support vehicles.
4.   Rule Violations & Penalties
4.1 The Race Director has final authority on rule violations and disqualifications at each event.
4.2 First offense of dangerous riding or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in time penalties , as per the discretion of the Race Director. Second offense will result in disqualification.
4.3 Discrimination offenses will result in immediate disqualification and one year suspension from future events.
4.4 Providing inaccurate age information will result in disqualification from current event and all prior race results nullified.
4.5 Teams collectively accruing 3 or more penalties over the course of the 5-race series will be disqualified from team rankings.
5. Anti-Doping
5.1 Use of performance enhancing substances and methods is strictly prohibited. Top finishers will be subject to random drug testing per WADA Code. First offense leads to a 2-year ban from the sport.
6. Appeals & Disputes
6.1 Documented procedures for lodging appeals and dispute. The resolution process must be followed. Teams to appoint designated representative for formally submitting appeals.
7. Code of Conduct 
7.1 All participants must read and sign code of conduct emphasizing ethical behaviour and good sportsmanship.

Team Competition Rules & Regulations.

Teams Composition:

1. Teams are to be composed of riders of mixed gender. The gender ratio of teams is upon themselves to settle on based on racing strategy. 

2. Teams are to have an Director Sportif, who may or may not be part of the racing team for each racing season. Director Sportifs are responsible for the representation of the team in the case of any dispute during events. 

3. All riders belonging to a team must identify their teams during registration. 

Team Points Allocation:

• Points will be allocated to the five best finishers in each team with a minimum gender ratio of 3:2. e.g. if three females from the team finish higher than the males then the points will be allocated to the three female finishers and two male finishers and vice versa.

• In addition to the individual points allocated to team members (see table below), all team members will receive a 1-point bonus for crossing the finish line. 
  If teams have more male than female riders crossing the finish line, the points awarded will only go to a maximum of 3 male riders with the rest of the team being allocated finisher points (1 point) and vice versa.

• Both women and men will earn the same points. The team with the highest number of overall points at the end of the LOOP Safari Race Series will be crowned champions of the series, given that the team attended all four series' events.