REGLEMENT ULTRA
RULES — LA WYSAM ULTRA 555
Le Challenge Nord Vaudois · 2026 Edition
- Organiser: Vélo-Club Orbe (VCO)
- Start date: Friday 21 August 2026 at 15:00
- Start location: Cycles Wanner, Rue des Remparts 32, 1350 Orbe, Vaud, Switzerland
- Finish location: Grande Salle d’Arnex, Rue de la Gare 8, 1321 Arnex-sur-Orbe, Vaud, Switzerland
- Distance: 555 km
Article 1 — Event overview
La Wysam Ultra 555 — Le Challenge Nord Vaudois is a 555 km ultracycling challenge organised by Vélo-Club Orbe (VCO), a non-profit sports association. The route crosses Switzerland from end to end, on public roads open to traffic.
The event takes place in full self-sufficiency, in a spirit of adventure, self-surpassing and respect for the territory crossed. It is not a race sanctioned by a federation, but a challenge whose organisation falls entirely under the VCO.
The start is given on Friday 21 August 2026 at 15:00 in Orbe, as a mass start.
Article 2 — Registration
Registrations are made exclusively via the Softtiming.ch platform, until the registration deadline set by the organiser.
Participation requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old on the day of the start.
- No cycling licence or medical certificate is required. By registering, the participant declares on their honour to be in good physical condition to undertake a 555 km effort.
Bib number transfer: A bib number transfer to another participant is permitted until 9 August 2026 at midnight, by written request sent by e-mail to the organiser. After this deadline, no transfer will be accepted.
Refunds: Registration is final and non-refundable under any circumstances. Subject to a minimum number of participants required for the event to take place: if this threshold is not reached, the registration fee will be fully refunded.
By registering, the participant declares having read and accepted these rules without reservation.
Article 3 — Bib number collection
The bib number and mandatory equipment provided by the organisation must be collected on:
Friday 21 August 2026, from 10:00 to 14:30 Cycles Wanner, Rue des Remparts 32, 1350 Orbe, Vaud, Switzerland
A valid identity document (national ID card or passport) is required for collection, along with a mandatory equipment check (art. 5).
No bib number will be sent by post. Any collection outside the stated hours must be agreed in advance with the organiser.
Article 4 — Permitted bicycles
Only bicycles powered exclusively by human effort, compliant with the Swiss Highway Code (LCR) and fit for use on public roads, are permitted.
Electrically assisted bicycles (e-bikes) are strictly prohibited. Any participant found on an e-bike will be immediately disqualified.
Article 5 — Mandatory equipment
The following equipment is mandatory at the start and throughout the entire event. It will be checked at bib number collection. Any missing item results in disqualification.
| Equipment | Details |
|---|---|
| Helmet | Mandatory at all times during the event |
| Front light | Functional, compliant with the Highway Code |
| Rear light | Functional, compliant with the Highway Code |
| Numbered bib | Clearly visible on the bicycle, in good condition throughout the event |
| Smartphone (Android or iOS) | With the WHIP app installed and activated |
WHIP app — GPS tracking
The WHIP app (available on Android and iOS) is the official race tracking system. It must be active and transmitting from start to finish (or until the organiser confirms the withdrawal).
It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure their smartphone has sufficient battery life for the entire duration of the event. The use of a power bank, dynamo charger or any other on-board charging system is strongly recommended. The organiser accepts no liability for battery failure.
Article 6 — Route and navigation
The official route of La Wysam Ultra 555 is a 555 km fully asphalted course crossing Switzerland. The official GPX file is made available to all participants before the start.
Obligation to follow the route
Participants must follow the official route. Minor deviations are tolerated provided they confer no advantage in terms of distance or time (e.g. deviation towards a shop, restaurant, accommodation, or to avoid a temporary obstacle), on condition of returning to the official route as quickly as possible.
Any deliberate shortcut or significant bypassing of the route results in immediate disqualification, determined on the basis of GPS data.
Checkpoints
The route includes mandatory checkpoints, the list and exact coordinates of which are integrated directly into the WHIP app. These checkpoints are validated automatically via the app’s GPS data — no volunteers are physically present there.
Failure to pass through or bypassing a checkpoint results in disqualification.
Geolocation and live tracking
By participating in La Wysam Ultra 555, each participant consents to being geolocated and tracked in real time via the WHIP app for the entire duration of the event. This position data is accessible to the organiser and may be made publicly available for race tracking purposes.
Navigation
Each participant is responsible for their own navigation. The organiser does not guarantee any event-specific signage along the route.
Article 7 — Self-sufficiency and external assistance
La Wysam Ultra 555 is run in full self-sufficiency. Participants must be entirely self-sufficient between the start and the finish.
All external assistance is strictly prohibited, including:
- Support vehicle or accompanying follower
- Organised resupply or mechanical assistance by a third party
- Handover of equipment by a relative at the roadside
Participants are permitted to use any commercial services open to the public (grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies, hotels, bike shops, etc.), under the same conditions as any bicycle traveller.
Any proven external assistance results in immediate disqualification.
Article 8 — Highway Code and safety
Participants are subject to the Swiss Highway Code (LCR/OCR) at all times. Participating in La Wysam Ultra 555 confers no exemption from it.
The following fundamental rules apply:
- Front and rear lights must be on in conditions of reduced visibility (night, fog, tunnel, bad weather).
- Wearing a helmet is mandatory at all times during the event.
- Each participant is solely responsible for their own riding and safety on the road.
In the event of a road accident, the participant must:
- Call police on 117 or emergency services on 144 if necessary.
- Not alter the scene before the arrival of the police, unless the protection of the injured or traffic safety requires it.
- Photograph the initial state of the scene where possible.
- Notify the organiser if circumstances permit.
The organiser cannot be held responsible for accidents or incidents occurring on the road.
Article 9 — Rankings and finishers
Official rankings
Two real-time rankings (elapsed time since the mass start) are established:
- Men’s scratch ranking
- Women’s scratch ranking
The ranking is determined by the finish time recorded via the WHIP app at the official finish line.
Finishers
Any participant who has completed the entire official route and crossed the finish line before the following deadline is recognised as a finisher:
Saturday 22 August 2026 at midnight (33 hours after the start)
The complete list of finishers will be published on the VCO website after the event.
There is no prize ceremony and no prize money.
Article 10 — Rewards
- Each participant at the start receives a commemorative souvenir given out at bib number collection.
- Each finisher receives a personalised finisher certificate, sent by e-mail after the event.
- A pasta party is guaranteed at the finish for all participants arriving before Saturday 22 August at 18:00 (27 hours after the start).
- The organiser’s team welcomes finishers until Saturday 22 August at 21:00 (30 hours after the start). Arrivals between 21:00 and midnight are recorded but without a guarantee of official on-site reception.
Article 11 — Conduct and respect for the environment
Participants commit to behaving respectfully towards:
- Other road users
- Residents of the villages and regions crossed
- Volunteers and the organising team
- The natural environment
Littering (disposing of waste outside designated areas) is strictly prohibited and results in immediate disqualification.
Any disrespectful, aggressive or dangerous behaviour towards another person (participants, volunteers, local residents, law enforcement) also results in immediate disqualification.
Article 12 — Penalties
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First non-serious offence | Formal warning from race management |
| Second offence or serious offence | Immediate disqualification |
The following are subject to immediate disqualification (non-exhaustive list):
- Proven external assistance
- Use of an electrically assisted bicycle (e-bike)
- Deliberate shortcut or bypassing a checkpoint
- Littering
- Dangerous or disrespectful behaviour
- Failure to comply with race management instructions
Race management decisions are final and cannot be appealed during the event.
Article 13 — Withdrawal
Any participant wishing to withdraw must notify the organiser as soon as possible, using the contact details provided in the participant handbook.
The organiser does not arrange the return of participants who have withdrawn. Each participant is responsible for their own return journey.
The WHIP app must remain active until the organiser has confirmed that the withdrawal has been registered.
Article 14 — Liability and insurance
The VCO holds public liability insurance covering its role as organiser.
By participating in La Wysam Ultra 555, the participant acknowledges and accepts the inherent risks of practising ultracycling on public roads open to traffic (fatigue, weather conditions, traffic, terrain, night riding).
The VCO accepts no liability for accidents, injuries, illness, loss or material damage occurring before, during or after the event, except in the case of gross negligence on its part.
Each participant undertakes to be covered by public liability insurance valid for the duration of the event, and to take out at their own expense any additional personal insurance they deem necessary (accident, assistance, repatriation).
By registering, the participant declares being in good physical condition to undertake a 555 km ultracycling effort.
Article 15 — Image rights
By registering for La Wysam Ultra 555, the participant authorises the VCO to use their name, image and recordings featuring them (photos and videos taken during the event) for non-commercial communication and promotional purposes relating to the event and VCO activities (website, social media, press, information materials).
Any commercial use of these images by the VCO requires separate written consent from the participant.
Article 16 — Personal data
Personal data collected during registration is used exclusively for event management purposes. It is processed in accordance with the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP / revFADP) in force in Switzerland.
Any participant may request access to, rectification of, or deletion of their personal data by contacting the VCO by e-mail.
Article 17 — Force majeure and amendments to the rules
The VCO reserves the right to modify the date, route or format of the event for reasons of safety, exceptional weather conditions or force majeure. Participants will be informed as soon as possible.
The VCO cannot be held responsible for costs incurred by participants in the event of cancellation or modification due to force majeure.
The VCO also reserves the right to amend these rules. The version published on the VCO’s official website shall be considered the authoritative version at all times.
Article 18 — Acceptance of the rules
Registration for La Wysam Ultra 555 constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these rules and of all decisions made by race management in the context of the event.
Document established by Vélo-Club Orbe (VCO) · Version 1.0 · February 2026