Eroica Valkenburg Regulation 2026

Eroica Valkenburg is a non-competitive leisure cycling event (herein referred to as event or incorrectly as race). This is a commemorative historical race that passes along various white roads, i.e. non-asphalt roads.

Participation in Eroica Valkenburg is dedicated to cyclists wearing vintage or historically inspired cycling gear, on historical or vintage-style bikes, as described in Art. 6 of these rules and in the INSPIRATION section of the www.eroicagaiole.it and www.eroica.cc websites. 

ART. 1 – DATE AND PLACE

The event will take place on SATURDAY 6 JUNE in Valkenburg, Limburg, The Netherlands.

ART. 2 – ROUTES AND START

Eroica offers four different routes: 75 km and 125 km.

Each participant has the opportunity to choose the route that best suits his or her fitness level. The choice of route must be indicated during the registration process. Participants may, however, change their original choice of route, without incurring any penalty, up until the start of the event. This right is subject to the decision of the organizers and can be curtailed for technical or safety reasons. 

Participants aged between 15 and 18 years will only be allowed to participate in the 75 km.

Routes will be signposted with arrows; nevertheless, participants should familiarize themselves with the “Road Book” and “Eroica Map”. Maps and GPS routes can be downloaded from the website www.eroica.cc

- For the 125 km route, the start can be at any time between 8.00 am and 09.00 am.

- For the 75 km route, the start can be at any time between 9.00 am and 10.00 am

Each participant may choose the route that is most suited to him/her and the choice must be indicated when registering. However, it is possible to modify your choice up until the start of the race, without any penalty.

Routes will be signposted but each rider is expected to use the "Road Book" and "Eroica map".

ART. 3 – PARTICIPATION AND SPORT’S CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Eroica Valkenburg is open to anybody of either sex who is over 16 years of age.

ART. 4 – CRITERIA REGARDING BICYCLES AND CLOTHING

Eroica Valkenburg is an event for road-racing bicycles and is dedicated to cyclists wearing vintage or historically inspired clothing, riding “HISTORICAL BIKES”/VINTAGE or VINTAGE-STYLE MODERN BIKES. Lycra clothing may not be worn.

4.1 – Bicycles

At Eroica Valkenburg, only the following kinds of bikes are admitted:

-vintage road-racing bikes, or so-called HEROIC BIKES, as described in paragraph 4.1.a;

-historically inspired or VINTAGE-STYLE BIKES, including recently built bikes, as described in the below paragraph 6.1.b.;

Only those bikes described in paragraphs 6.1.a / 6.1.b will be admitted.

4.1.a –Heroic bikes or vintage bikes

HEROIC BIKES are all road-racing bikes built up to and including 1987, both with and without gears, such as those built in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. These bicycles most likely have a steel frame or an Alan type aluminium frame.

Regarding components, bicycles should adhere to the following general guidelines:

1. More recent bikes with gears and derailleurs must have shift levers on the down tube of the frame; exceptions include pre-1980 non indexed bar-end gear shifters;

2. Pedals must have toe clips and straps or original pedals for older bikes; quick release, clip-less pedals are not allowed;

3. Brake cables must pass outside and over the handlebars (cables can pass inside the frame);

4. Wheels must have at least 32 spokes laced to a low-profile rim (20 mm depth or less); rims must be of either steel, aluminium or wood;

5. Both tubular tyres and clinchers with inner tubes are allowed;

6. We invite participants to fit saddles from the same period as the bicycles, so a model of 1987 or earlier; alternatively, we suggest fitting a vintage model of modern production;

7. Change of the gear ratios is allowed due to the difficulty of the ride.

Early 20th century bicycles without gears do not need to comply with the above criteria as long as they have their original components.

4.1.b – Vintage-style or modern built bikes

Vintage-style, steel framed bikes of new or recent construction with vintage look and characteristics may be used only if they are road-racing bikes assembled using vintage components or replicated parts similar to the originals, as described above.

4.1.c - Waivers and exemptions

On request, exceptions regarding the type of bicycle may be granted to participants with disabilities.

For the 65 km route other types of vintage bicycles will be admitted, such as postman’s bikes, general working bicycles, leisure bicycles, etc.

Mountain bikes are excluded from all routes.

Any registered cyclist who arrives at the starting line or is found on the route with a bicycle that does not conform to the rules and regulations of the event will be disqualified.

4.2 – CLOTHING

Participants are strongly encouraged to wear vintage or vintage-style cycling gear, such as wool jerseys and shorts and to avoid wearing modern technical gear in a visible way. The management reserves the right to disqualify any participant whose behavior is considered inappropriate. Should photographic or video evidence of irregular behavior come available after the event, the Organization reserves the right to exclude those responsible from the event.

4.3 – Accessories

With regard to the vintage spirit of the event, participants are invited to carefully select all their accessories, from shoes to caps and water bottles etc. The only modern cycling accessory allowed is a safety-cycling helmet, which we encourage everybody to use.

ART. 5 – RESPECT THE RULES OF THE ROAD

Eroica Valkenburg is a LEISURE RIDE on asphalt and white roads; the whole route will be open to traffic for the entire duration of the event, and it is therefore obligatory that all participants respect the Rules of the Road. It is also mandatory to have a repair kit for punctures and breakdowns.

ART. 6 – VALIDITY OF REGISTRATION

Registration can be considered valid only when the electronic registration procedure has been completed and the corresponding fee has been credited to the Organization.

The Eroica Valkenburg Organization may, incontestably, at any time, decide whether or not to accept a registration, without obligation to provide further explanation.

ART. 7 – SUBSTITUTIONS OR CANCELLATIONS 

It is possible to request the substitution of a participant within 21 days of the event, if registration is finalized with forms compiled and the registration fee paid in full. An administration fee of €20.00 will be charged for this service.  

If a registered cyclist is unable to participate in the event and does not request a substitution by the aforementioned deadline, the registration fee will not be reimbursed and the race pack will not be sent. 

Within 21 days of the event, the registered cyclist will have the right to cancel his/her participation only in cases related to injury as documented by a medical report, which must be sent to info@eroicavalkenburg.com Medical files will be treated in accordance with the valid privacy laws. Once the reasons for cancellation, and related documents, have been verified, the Organization will consider the registration valid for the same event the following year, as long as the €20,00 administration fee is paid, at least one week before registration for the following year’s event opens.

The registration will only be considered valid for the following year, is strictly personal and cannot be transferred to a third party. Should the cyclist fail to participate again, the registration fee will be forfeited. Under no circumstances will the registration fee be refunded nor will the race pack be sent.

ART. 8 – PRIZES

Participants who complete Eroica Valkenburg will receive a souvenir at the finish.

In order to collect the prize, the participant must come in person to the area around the finish line with his/her bicycle and stamped road book.

ART. 9 – COMPLAINTS

Any complaints must be sent to the organization by email – info@eroicavalkenburg.com

 - within 10 days of the publication of the list of finishers.

ART. 10 – INFORMATION

The event is organised by Eroica Valkenburg

E-mail: info@eroicavalkenburg.com

Website: https://eroica.cc/en/limburg

ART. 11 - CANCELLATION OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE EVENT

If, for reasons of force majeure, the event does not take place, the amount paid will not be reimbursed but the registration fee will be considered valid for the following edition.  The Organization will charge an administration fee of €15.00 to postpone registration to the following year. The request to postpone registration to the following year must reach the organizers, together with payment of the administration fee, by the date indicated upon cancellation of the event.

Furthermore, should the organization of the event or participation of over half of those registered be put at risk due to force majeure or other serious causes, the Organization reserves the right to move the place and/or date of the event within the same calendar year. In this case, the registration fee will be considered valid for the event on the new date, with no additional costs. It will, however, not be possible to move your registration to the following year.

ART. 12 – VARIATIONS

In the face of new environmental and/or health and/or legal circumstances, the organization reserves the right to make consequent, reasonable changes to the regulations at any time. The official website of the event, where these rules & regulations are published, is the only source of information regarding the event. Therefore, it will not be possible to invoke different contents pertaining to previous communications via newsletter, in the press or on social media.

ART. 13 – DISQUALIFICATION

Disqualification lasting 2 years will apply in the following cases:

• Unauthorized deviations from the route;

• Abusive or offensive behavior towards members of the organization;

• Lack of respect for the environment, such as littering in non-designated areas, outside food stops and checkpoints.

In serious cases, such as participating with another rider’s RACE NUMBER and unauthorized transfer of one’s registration, disqualification may be for life, subject to the incontestable judgement of the organization.

We appeal to the civic duty of all participants to keep the routes and locality clean and litter-free.

ART. 14 – APPROVAL, CONSENT, AUTHORISATION, ETC.

When requesting to participate in L’Eroica Gaiole in Chianti by any of the methods provided for by the current regulations, each participant, from the moment of registration:

• declares that he/she has read and accepted the current Regulations in every part;

• guarantees his/her own behavior during and after the event;• declares that he/she is in good physical health and that he/she has provided the organization with a valid medical certificate, having undergone a medical examination for the practice of competitive or leisure cycling, thus giving the organization the utmost leverage in the event of any damages resulting from his/her participation in the event;

• expresses consent to the use of his/her personal information, including for commercial use, as provided under European Union Regulation 2017/679 (GDPR/18);

• gives the organization the most ample consent to use, according to the law, including for profit, any video or photographic images taken during the days of the event, giving the organization the right to transfer such images to third parties.

Said authorization, regarding the use of one’s own image, is to be considered permanent and without any territorial limits anywhere in the world. Images may be used in various publications and filmed material, including but not limited to promotional and/or advertising material produced on any medium. The organization may, furthermore, transfer to third parties and to its own institutional and commercial partners, the usage rights covered by this agreement.

The organization declines any responsibility, either direct or on the part of its collaborators, for any accident or damage to people or property, that may arise before, during and after the event or as a result of the same.

ART. 15 – PROCESSING AND REGISTRATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

The processing and registration of personal information will be carried out by the following company:

The PEPr Company BV

Withuisveld 8

6226NV Maastricht

info@eroicavalkenburg.com

The personal information of all participants will be processed and registered according to the terms of European Union Regulation 2017/679 (GDPR/18).

These romantic concepts gave rise to the idea of L'Eroica, an event that initially saw the participation of 92 ‘hunters of feelings and emotions’, as its creator Giancarlo Brocci defines them.

Valkenburg has excellent transport links by car, train or bicycle(!). It's Limburg's number-one tourist hotspot, so parking and accommodation are not a problem

Valkenburg has excellent transport links by car, train or bicycle(!). It's Limburg's number-one tourist hotspot, so parking and accommodation are not a problem

You will find plenty of choice for places to stay on the South Limburg Tourist Office website, Visit Zuid Limburg. Both South Limburg and the Voer region of Flanders have a wide range of campsites where you can pitch a tent or park your camper van.

Preffered suppliers:Parkhotel Valkenburg
Landal Kasteeldomein de Cauberg
Camping 't Geuldal

The shortest route of this year’s Eroica Valkenburg will start in Valkenburg and bring you to the northern part of the South-Limburg region, home of the World Championships Gravel 2025. Ofcourse did we add the famous Cauberg climb, what did you think?! After this opening climb, the route flattens a bit while you pass castles and other historical places on your way to the Cortenbach estate for a well-deserved food stop. After 75 kilometer the finish lays in the historical city centre of Valkenburg.

The new long ride of Eroica Valkenburg starts and finishes in the historical city centre of Valkenburg. The iconic Cauberg climb is your first challenge on your way to the gravel roads of the World Championships Gravel 2025. The route ahead is hilly, with almost no flat kilometer. After the food stop at the Cortenbach estate the hardcore hillside of Limburg awaits you with all its might. You will enjoy beautiful scenery, wide gravel roads and many historical places such as castles, monuments and farms. This 125 km route is the best we can offer you here in the cycle crazy region of Limburg.

The registrations are open!