It is in the spirit of self-contained, self-reliant backcountry cycling that Mountain Bike competition events are conducted. The rules have been kept simple to preserve the basic essence of mountain biking and avoiding unnecessary requirements.

1. Riders must complete the entire distance of the race and the responsibility for following the official route lies with the rider.
   
   
2. A rider is not permitted to take any shortcuts or to omit a circuit or take other advantage of a similar nature against opponents.
   
   
3. If a rider exits the route of the course for any reason, he/she must return to the course at the exact same point from which he/she exited.
   
   
4. Any walking, running or riding by a rider which is carried out without the intention of directly re-joining the course, or other activity in breach of the regulations, which takes place outside of the marked course area, will result in disqualification. (Refers to Short Course lap racing)
   
   
5. A rider cannot receive any technical assistance along the course from anybody including competitors. (Refers to short course/lap racing)
   
   
6. A rider may only change his/her bike or receive any technical assistance between races or stages.
   
   
7. A rider must act in a polite manner at all times and permit any faster rider to overtake without obstructing.
   
   
8. Riders must respect the countryside and ride only on the official route. The rider must avoid polluting the area and not leave any waste or litter.
   
   
9. No glass containers of any kind are permitted on or near the course.
   
   
10. A rider must not use offensive or abusive language during the race, act in an anti-sporting manner, be disrespectful to the officials or ignore the race regulations.