Detailed Race Information – FAQ

X – BIONIC® SPHERE a. s.
Dubová 33/A, 931 01 Šamorín, Slovak Republic
thechampionship@challenge-family.com

CHALLENGEFAMILY GmbH
P.J. Oudweg 41
1314 CJ Almere, The Netherlands
thechampionship@challenge-family.com

Athletes will only be eligible to participate if they have (not applicable for TRY-ATHLON):

1. a) a license of national triathlon federation or 
2. b) proof of payment of the one-time fee for the foreign participants (without Slovak nationality) according to the STU (Slovak Triathlon Union) Rules 

One-time fee is in the amount of EUR 20.00 and can be paid online while registering or during collecting the race documents. 

All participants have to sign during the online registration process a “Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnification Agreement“.

TM/TW 18 – age 18 to 24
TM/TW 25 – age 25 to 29
TM/TW 30 – age 30 to 34
TM/TW 35 – age 35 to 39
TM/TW 40 – age 40 to 44
TM/TW 45 – age 45 to 49
TM/TW 50 – age 50 to 54
TM/TW 55 – age 55 to 59
TM/TW 60 – age 60 to 64
TM/TW 65 – age 65 to 69
TM/TW 70 – age 70 to 74
TM/TW 75 – age 75 to 79
TM/TW 80 – age 80 to 84

TM = triathlete man / TW = triathlete woman. 

The number after the abbreviation indicates the age group.

• Professional 
• Individual 
• Relay (male, female, mixed)

In accordance with the World Triathlon (ITU) regulations, participants must reach the age of 18 of the year of the competition for competing in the Middle Distance (the age of the athlete on December 31).

Participants must reach the age of 18 of the year of the competition.

Each relay team consists of a swimmer, a cyclist and a runner.

All-female, all-male and mixed relay teams will be eligible to take part.

The entry fee includes the following services:

• Swimming cap
• Traffic control
• Security service
• Medical service (extra fees apply in case of transportation/treatment in the hospital)
• Technical Officials service
• Food and drink during the race
• Post-race food and drink
• Medal
• Finisher’s T-shirt
• Massage service
• Instant finisher’s certificate
• Online results
• Original backpack/hoodie (for The Championship / Open Middle Distance) athletes
• Pasta Party (not for TryAthlon)

• EUR 20,- for a day license for all participants without a license of the Slovak Triathlon Union.

Pasta Party

• For all participants of Sprint, Standard and Middle distance, participation in the carbo party (Pasta Party) on Saturday is included in the entry fee.
• For accompanying persons and TryAthlon athletes, tickets are available: 

1. at EUR 20.00 each at the online registration or at the entrance of the Pasta Party

Registration for The Championship serie can only be accomplished online via the qualification link sent via email to each qualified athlete. All other categories have an open to all registration.

Any bank fees and fees for online registration services are at the participant’s expense.

Registration closes on Friday 9 May 2025 at 17:00 p.m (local time) if free slots are still available.

Registration on-site is not possible.

Registration will only be accepted subject to receipt of payment within 14 days.

The organizer is entitled to reject a registration without giving any specific reasons (so-called freedom of contract).

If there is a legitimate reason (e. g. if participants are suspected to disturb the race), the organizer reserves the right to subsequently withdraw the registration and to exclude the participant from taking part.

In addition, in case of any violation of rules, the organizer always has the right to disqualify participants in consultation with the race jury. Other reasons for withdrawal of registration are set up in the Agreement.

Swapping start places/numbers is generally excluded for individual participants. In any case of contravention, a lifelong prohibition from participation in THECHAMPIONSHIP and all other CHALLENGEFAMILY Events will be imposed on both participants.

Athletes registering for the Middle Distance, either the Relay or individual category can opt to buy an additional cancellation option during the online registration process for €40.

Only in cases expressly specified below, the organizer provides the reimbursement of the entry fee.

• Athlete’s withdrawal:
  • cancellation/withdrawal until January 31, 2025: 100% refund from the entry fee
  • cancellation/withdrawal until March 31, 2025: 75% refund from the entry fee
  • cancellation/withdrawal until May 11, 2025: 50% refund from the entry fee
  • From May 12, 2025 entry fees will no longer be reimbursed

• No explanation or medical certification is necessary when the cancellation option is purchased.
• It is not possible to transfer your payment to another participant or race.
• It is not possible to transfer your registration to the following years under any circumstances.

THECHAMPIONSHIP confirms the rules and regulations of World Triathlon (ITU).

https://www.triathlon.org/about/downloads/category/competition_rules 

Exception:

• The drafting zone at THECHAMPIONSHIP and MIDDLE OPEN  is 20m long (front wheel of the leading participant to the front wheel of the overtaking participant) and 3m wide.
• If the participant enters the draft zone the overtaking manoeuvre must be progressed within 40 seconds.
• The families of the participants are allowed to cross the finish line with the participant.

Time limit / Cut Off times The Championship and Open Middle Distance

Swimming: 1 hour 00 minutes
Swimming + cycling: 5 hours 00 minutes
Swimming + cycling + running: 8 hours 00 minutes

The following minimum amounts of prize money are guaranteed for the first ten professional female and male athletes:

In total: EUR 100,000.00 

Prize Money

The prize money shall be paid as the (negative) results of the drug testing are published. Prize money is subject to withholding tax, so all amounts will be decreased from the amount represented by respective withholding tax.

Prize money will only be paid to the top ten finishers, who can provide a pro license when they collect their start documents. A “move-up procedure” is not in charge.

• Permanent residents of the Slovak Republic are subject to a withholding tax of 19% if the amount won is greater than € 350.
• 19% – competitors permanently residing in the following countries (Austria, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait Lithuania, Latvia, Libya, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam)
• 35% – competitors permanently residing in all other countries 

Prize money will be paid directly in favour of the bank accounts. It is necessary for pro athletes to complete an entry form and Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnification Agreement (General Terms and Conditions for Participants) with contact and bank information, which will be available at the registration office.

Each participant is responsible for the technical safety of their equipment and is to make sure that the equipment is in line with the rules.

The triathlons will be held on the scheduled date, regardless of the prevailing weather conditions.

The triathlon organizer reserves the right to change rules, regulations, locations and the timing of the triathlon. 

In order for the triathlons to run smoothly, competitors will be receiving news of interest regularly from the organizer.

Organizers reserve the right to implement an emergency plan in the interest of the competitors’ safety. At the same time, it assumes no responsibility for any possible consequences or impact resulting from the implementation of the plan. If the emergency plan remains in effect, the organizer has the right to cancel the event without refunding registration fees to the participants.

Any dispute will be considered and resolved by the Referees Committee.

The triathlon organizer will provide an interpretation of the rules in the case of contentious issues and all competitors are governed and bound during the entire triathlon by instructions from the organizer.  

It is important for all competitors to recognize the principle of FAIR PLAY during the triathlons and not to have their behavior threaten themselves or anyone else participating in them. 

The organizing committee, including volunteers, will be monitoring the behavior of competitors during the race and violations will result in disqualification.

Any protests must be submitted to the Referees Committee either within two hours of having been disqualified from the race or at latest two hours after the event ends. A fee of € 50 is required to be paid in order to submit a protest, which will be returned if the protest is acknowledged, but will be retained by the race organizer in the event of an unsuccessful challenge.

When using public roads during the race, participants will follow the organizer’s instructions and those given by the police. Any disregard of these rules will result in the competitor’s immediate disqualification. The race director and route referees have the right to disqualify any competitor with immediate effect.

Please comply with traffic rules during the entire triathlon as some of sections of the route will also be open to the public. Even when the route is closed to traffic, please remember to give first aid, police and the organizer’s vehicles access. 

Competitors that fall from their bicycles are required to move to the shoulder of the road so as not to endanger other riders.

The rescue service and the organizer’s healthcare staff have the competence to evaluate the condition of any competitor and decide on their ability to continue in the race. Their decision is final. Unless the health service allows a participant to continue, they will be eliminated from the race.

The use of any painkillers, performance enhancing drugs or doping methods is prohibited. The triathlon organizer has the right anytime to test competitors for the presence of prohibited substances. A positive test means immediate disqualification.

These triathlons are governed by the rules of the International Triathlon Union and are in accordance with the approved description of them.

Any decision by a competitor to withdraw from a triathlon should be communicated to a route marshal as soon as possible.

During the triathlon’s competitors will not be permitted to use hand-free mobile phones, MP3 players or any other types of these devices.

Competitors are not allowed to compete with a bare midriff or no shirt.

Race numbers must remain visible during the entire triathlon.

Every competitor agrees to follow the predetermined route and in their own interest to remain on the marked route.

All competitors are required to attend or watch instructional meetings, read athlete guides and register at set intervals. Race briefing is mandatory for PRO athletes. 

Participants are required to mount their bicycles at the stands assigned to them by a specified time limit. 

The organizer reserves the right to check compliance with all rules.

In case of force majeure, or other circumstances which for objective reasons do not allow the organization of the event or circumstances that may affect the health and safety of athletes, and in case the athlete refuses the possibility to postpone his/her registration for a later date (within 1 year latest), the athlete is entitled to 70% refund of the registration fee only.

No cancellation policy is applicable to postponed registration. No reimbursement is applicable to postponed registration.

Waiver & Rules

TM/TW 18 age 18 to 24
TM/TW 25 age 25 to 29
TM/TW 30 age 30 to 34
TM/TW 35 age 35 to 39
TM/TW 40 age 40 to 44
TM/TW 45 age 45 to 49
TM/TW 50 age 50 to 54
TM/TW 55 age 55 to 59
TM/TW 60 age 60 to 64
TM/TW 65 age 65 to 69
TM/TW 70 age 70 to 74
TM/TW 75 age 75 to 79
TM/TW 80 age 80 to 84

TM = triathlete man / TW = triathlete woman.

The number after the abbreviation indicates the age group.

Time limit / Cut Off times

Swimming: 1 hour 00 minutes
Swimming + cycling: 5 hours 00 minutes
Swimming + cycling + running: 8 hours 00 minutes

Athletes registering for the Middle Distance, either the Relay or individual category can opt to buy an additional cancellation option during the online registration process for €40.

Only in cases expressly specified below, the organizer provides the reimbursement of the entry fee.

• Athlete’s withdrawal:
  • until 31/01/2024: 100% refund from the entry fee
  • until 31/03/2024: 75% refund from the entry fee
  • until 12/05/2024: 50% refund from the entry fee
  • from 12/05/2024 entry fees will no longer be reimbursed

• No explanation or medical certification is necessary for withdrawal.
• After cancellation, it is not possible to transfer your payment to another participant or race.
• Transfer of registration from one participant to another one is only possible until 28/02/2024 and only for the Open Middle Distance, as The Championship is a qualification-only event. To transfer your registration you are obliged to do so at thechampionship@challenge-family.com and give a reason for the transfer. Allowing the transfer is subject to evaluation from the side of the Organizer.
• It is not possible to transfer your registration to the following years under any circumstances.

TM/TW 18 – 29 age 18 to 29
TM/TW 30 – 39 age 30 to 39
TM/TW 40 – 49 age 40 to 49
TM/TW 50+ age 50 +

TM = triathlete male / TW = triathlete female

The number after the abbreviation indicates the age group.

Time limit / Cut Off times

Swimming:  50 minutes
Swimming + cycling: 2 hours 20 minutes
Swimming + cycling + running: 3 hours 30 minutes

 This race is non-drafting. Timetrial bikes and road bikes with aerobars are allowed.

TM/TW 18 – 29 age 18 to 29
TM/TW 30 – 39 age 30 to 39
TM/TW 40 – 49 age 40 to 49
TM/TW 50+ age 50 +

TM = triathlete man / TW = triathlete woman

The number after the abbreviation indicates the age group.

Time limit / Cut Off times

Swimming:  30 minutes
Swimming + cycling: 1 hour 30 minutes
Swimming + cycling + running: 2 hours 15 minutes

 This race is non-drafting. Timetrial bikes and road bikes with aerobars are allowed.

In accordance with the ITU regulations, participants must reach the

age of 13 of the year of the competition. Participants under the age of 18 will have to provide a Waiver signed by a parent at registration, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the competition!

Time limit / Cut Off times

Swimming:  15 minutes
Swimming + cycling: 55 minutes
Swimming + cycling + running: 1 hour 30 minutes

 This race is draft-legal. Time trial bikes and aero handlebars are prohibited.