Balutia is governed by the rules and culture of other pioneering bikepacking and ultradistance adventures. This requires adherence to a set of rules that rely on your collaboration to make the experience extraordinary.
For the Balutia organization, the ultimate goal is for you to enjoy the route, the experience, and everything these unknown lands have to offer. Believe us, it’s a lot.
· Do not leave any waste behind. If you bring it with you, take it with you.
· Do not stray from the marked path to avoid erosion and disturbing wildlife.
· Respect the silence of the countryside.
· Ride with caution and responsibility. Balutia takes place on public roads and paths open to motor traffic. It is essential that you know and follow traffic regulations.
· The use of a helmet and front and rear mandatory lights is required. Likewise, at night, it is mandatory to ride with reflective clothing.
· We also remind you that the use of headphones while cycling is prohibited, according to current regulations.”
· Any type of on-route assistance from friends or family is prohibited.
· It is also not allowed to have accommodations reserved before the event starts, nor for someone else to reserve them for you during the event.
· Food, drinks, and any necessary gear must be carried by yourself.
· Drafting off another cyclist is not allowed, except for the two participants in a “pairs” category.
· Always monitor your physical condition and rest needs. Do not push yourself beyond your limits. If you feel unwell, rest, recover, and continue when you are better. If you need medical assistance, do not hesitate to ask for help by phone or from anyone you meet on the road, and inform us of your situation as soon as possible.
· We recommend that you carry warm clothing, water, and food for at least one day, an emergency thermal blanket, sunscreen, and any prescribed medication you may need.
· Complete the official route. If you encounter an unforeseen obstacle, find a way to overcome it and return to the track as soon as possible.
· You are allowed to leave the route to find water, food, rest, sleep, or purchase medicine. You may do this as long as you return to the route at the point where you left it.
· The organization will send the route map and the rider’s manual weeks before the event. You must read and study them carefully to plan your adventure.
· The organization will provide all participants with a GPS tracking device (tracker) to determine their position.
· Each rider is responsible for taking care of the tracker, keeping it turned on, and ensuring it has battery life.
· In the pairs category, a single tracker will be provided, and both riders must remain together.
· Each rider must provide a deposit/bond during accreditation, which will be returned at the end of the event.
· All participants must attend accreditation, the briefing, and the start.
· To be considered a finisher, you must complete the route within the established time.
· If you run out of time, you can continue your adventure, but remember that you must return the tracker at the finish line within the time frame stated in the rider’s manual. If the tracker is not returned, it will be considered lost, and the deposit will not be refunded.
· To participate in Balutia, it is mandatory to have accident and liability insurance that covers medical assistance, rescue costs, death, and repatriation in case of an accident.
We’ve decided to include the insurance to make registration easier. However, remember that Balutia is a personal adventure on open roads, and you must follow all traffic regulations as well as the event rules.
· You must be over 18 years old at the time of the start.
· Balutia is an adventure that greatly depends on everyone respecting the rules. While some may be surprising, each one is designed to preserve the spirit of bikepacking and self-sufficiency, protect the environment, and avoid disturbing the locals.
· You will interact with many people: other participants, members of the organization, institutions, sponsors… Please be patient and kind with all of them. It’s the best way to get the most out of the experience.
· We cannot control whether each participant follows the rules. It is simply impossible. But we believe in the good faith and honor of each rider. After all, this is not a race. There are no prizes. The best prize is enjoying the adventure. And we trust that everyone will do so.
· In any case, the organization reserves the right to impose penalties or even exclusions for behaviors that go against the rules.
Balutia offers both individual and pairs registration. In the second category, each pair will ride as a single unit, with the option to help each other, share equipment, water, and food, or take turns riding between the two cyclists. If for any reason one of the pair members has to drop out, the decision to continue or not will be up to the remaining member, who may switch to the individual category at that point.
· There are different paces and philosophies on the bike. We believe that enjoyment should be the priority in all of them. Some will find it in the challenge, others in the landscapes…
· Sometimes things don’t go as we expect. If for any reason you are unable to complete the route, or if time runs out, we encourage you to take it easy. Running out of time is not a reason to stop enjoying the adventure. And if for any reason you decide to quit, please let us know and try to do so after enjoying every last pedal stroke. You’ll be left with a great feeling, and Balutia will be waiting for you to try again next year.
Balutia is an ultracycling gravel event that follows a predetermined track that will be sent to participants two weeks before the start. The start and finish will be in Pozoblanco. The route is a large circular loop.
It is mandatory to follow the track. If for any reason you need to leave it, you must return to the point where you left it to continue.
Balutia is a single-stage route of 870 km. This means you must complete the entire route, from start to finish, within the established time limit (133 hours).
You choose how, when, and where you sleep throughout the entire adventure, but booking accommodation for the route before the start of the event is prohibited.
The route is 870 km long and has 11,000 meters of elevation gain.
The route is 50% gravel and 50% tarmac. You will find some sections rougher than usual; don’t underestimate the route.
There are no major mountain passes to climb. However, the undulating terrain and some medium mountain passes along with steep gradients will present a significant challenge.
In some remote sections, the distance between towns exceeds 50 kilometers. It is important to study the route carefully to plan water and food resupply. The rider’s manual we’ll send to all participants before the event will help you with this information.
Although Balutia is a self-sufficiency adventure, it has rules to ensure that participants are safe and supported at all times. You can check the Balutia rules here.
You will encounter a dry Mediterranean climate. Since it’s spring, you won’t experience extreme temperatures. However, it is highly recommended to bring clothing for all types of conditions. Make sure to check the weather forecast before the event and get ready accordingly.
The start of Balutia will take place on May 1, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. The time limit is 133 hours. The finish line will therefore close on Wednesday, May 6, at 8:00 p.m. Attendance at the pre-race check-in is mandatory on Thursday, April 30, in the afternoon.
No. Balutia does not offer any type of prize for any winner. There is no podium ceremony. Balutia is an adventure, a challenge against yourself. There will be those who want to complete it as quickly as possible or have the honor of arriving first. But there is no trophy that certifies any victory. However, if you complete the route within the established time, you will receive your finisher medal.
Following the tradition of the great bikepacking events, Balutia is a journey — a personal, self-supported adventure — which means you’ll have to make your own way back if you choose to abandon.
That said, we’ve mapped out 3 shortcuts along the route that allow you to return directly to the start/finish line, making it easier to get back if needed.
Your family and friends are welcome to see you off at the start or welcome you at the finish line. However, they will not be able to visit you during the route, respecting the tradition of self-sufficient events.
No. Balutia is an adventure that requires experience in bikepacking or ultracycling. However, even if you haven’t participated in similar events, if you have done bike trips averaging 150 km a day, you will be able to complete this adventure if you prepare for it.
You will have to repair it yourself. If you are unable to do so, you still have the option to visit a workshop for the repair. If you leave the track to go to the workshop, you will have to rejoin the track at the same point where you left it.
