Do I need specific cycle travel insurance?
Yellow Jersey’s Cycle Travel Insurance is designed specifically for cyclists, mountain bikers and triathletes.
Most travel insurance excludes anything other than leisure riding and will usually exclude all cycling if that is the primary reason for your trip.
We cover cycling regardless of your event, be it a family holiday, charity cycle ride, the Ironman World Championships or downhill mountain bike racing in Morzine.
The policy even covers heli-rescue in a medical emergency.
Cycling Activities - What we cover
Leisure Cycling is covered as standard on our cycle holiday insurance. When selecting one of the optional Activity Packs A-C, all other cycling disciplines can be covered. Please make sure you pick the right one.
Cycling activities are included when taking part on a non-professional basis. Unless expressly stated, activities are covered up to a maximum of 3,500m above sea level. Press the Information icon on each activity for more information.
Pack A
Leisure Cycling
Non-competitive, casual cycling undertaken for sightseeing, transport, or general recreation, where cycling is not the primary purpose of the trip. Leisure Cycling excludes all activities defined under Packs A–C, including, for example, road cycling holidays, mass participation events, racing, triathlon, touring, etc.
Track based cycling (speedway)
Cycling on short, oval-shaped dirt tracks, typically around 70-90m in length. Riders compete on specially designed bikes with no gears, brakes, or suspension. Apart from while training, it usually involves racing four laps around the track, with riders competing in heats (individual or team-based) to score points.
Cyclocross
Competitive cycling events that involve racing on a mixed terrain of grass, mud, dirt, and sometimes pavement, often on short, intense courses with obstacles that may mean participants have to dismount and carry their bikes. Cyclocross races usually take place on a closed course.
Road cycling (mass participation events)
Road cycling activities where a large number of cyclists take part on predetermined routes. While a time of completion is provided, there is no winner. Examples include audax, sportives, charity rides and gran fondos. Road Racing and Criterium racing are not included.
Road cycling (holiday and/or training camp)
Trips where the primary purpose is to undertake organised or self-directed recreational road cycling activities; this includes riding on public roads in scenic, challenging, or designated cycling environments, either individually, as part of a coached group or as a group of friends. These holidays do not involve participation in events or races. These trips can include tailored training, provided the activity is recreational and not undertaken for professional or semi-professional purposes.
Road cycling (time trials)
Competitive cycling events where participants race individually against the clock over a set distance on roads. Time trials have cyclists starting at intervals rather than in a mass start. These events vary in distance, often ranging from short sprints to longer courses, and take place on closed or open roads.
Touring/bike packing (3 countries or less)
Touring involves cycling on roads that covers distances up to (and including) 160km), with overnight stays in campsites, B&Bs, or hotels.
Bike packing involves a mixture of road and off-road cycling that covers distances up to (and including) 160km), with overnight stays at campsites or in the wild.
For both activities, your bicycle is your main mode of transport. You may visit no more than three countries in a single trip.
Gravel cycling
A type of cycling that takes place on unpaved roads, gravel paths, dirt trails, and other mixed surfaces that are less smooth than typical road cycling but not as technical as mountain biking. It combines elements of road biking and mountain biking, giving a versatile and adventurous riding experience.
Triathlon multisport (up to Olympic)
Competitive events where athletes take part in a minimum of two of the following discipline completing the approximate distances:
swimming up to 1.5km
cycling up to 40km
running up to 10km
Races can take place on roads or on off-road terrain.
Triathlon multisport (training holiday)
Specifically designed for triathletes to focus on training for any or all three of the triathlon disciplines — swimming, cycling, running. These holidays involve structured training sessions, coaching, and take place in locations with facilities such as open water swimming areas, cycling routes, and running trails. The goal is to improve endurance, technique and overall fitness in preparation for a triathlon race.
Mountain biking (cross country / XC)
Off-road cycling using a mountain bike riding on varied terrains, such as trails through forests, hills, or mountain regions. It emphasises endurance and varied terrain and can include mountain bike orienteering but does not include highly technical or extreme downhill sections.
It also includes the use of “fat bikes” with oversized tires on soft surfaces, such as snow or sand, that enable cyclists to navigate terrains that standard mountain bikes cannot.
Mountain biking (trail riding)
Riding on natural or man-made trails that can include both uphill and downhill sections, often with moderate technical features (but not downhill, enduro, freeride or dirt jumps).
Pack B
Leisure Cycling
Non-competitive, casual cycling undertaken for sightseeing, transport, or general recreation, where cycling is not the primary purpose of the trip. Leisure Cycling excludes all activities defined under Packs A–C, including, for example, road cycling holidays, mass participation events, racing, triathlon, touring, etc.
All activities in Pack A
All activities listed in Pack A
Track based cycling (BMX pump track)
BMX pump track refers to cycling on dirt tracks with jumps, banked corners, and obstacles using BMX bikes. We do not cover BMX Freestyle (including street, park, vert, dirt, and flatland) an activity which involves performing tricks and stunts, often in skateparks or on flatland.
Track based cycling (velodrome)
Track cycling refers to either competitive cycling events or cycle training held on specially designed indoor or outdoor tracks (velodromes), featuring banked curves and a smooth, enclosed surface. Track cycling races include various formats, such as sprints, pursuit races, points races, and madison races, where cyclists compete against each other in a controlled environment. Track cycling usually requires specialised bicycles with a fixed gear (the rear wheel is directly connected to the pedals) and a single gear ratio.
Touring/bike packing (more than 3 countries)
Touring involves cycling on roads that covers distances up to (and including) 160km), with overnight stays in campsites, B&Bs, or hotels.
Bike packing involves a mixture of road and off-road cycling that covers distances up to (and including) 160km, with overnight stays at campsites or in the wild.
For both activities, your bicycle is your main mode of transport. You can visit more than three countries in a single trip.
Road cycling (road racing)
Road racing refers to competitive cycling events that take place on roads, where cyclists race against each other over a predetermined distance from one point to another. This includes single day events and stage races over multiple days. Road racing varies in distance and terrain, from flat courses to those with significant climbs and descents.
Road cycling (criterium racing)
Criterium racing (often referred to as “crit racing”) is a form of competitive cycling that involves racing on a short, closed-loop course, usually in urban areas, purpose made cycle tracks, airfields and motor racing circuits. Criterium races are characterised by a series of laps over a relatively short distance, often ranging from 1 to 3km, and feature fast-paced riding with tight turns and frequent changes in speed. Races can involve large groups of cyclists competing at the same time.
Triathlon/multisport (Ironman +)
Triathlon refers to competitive events where athletes take part in a minimum of two of the following disciplines: swimming, cycling, running. Races can take place on roads or on off-road terrain. ‘Ironman +’ refers to the approximate distance completed in each race: 3.6km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run or longer.
Triathlon/multisport (up to Half Iron)
Triathlon multisport refers to competitive events where athletes participate in a minimum of two of the following disciplines: swimming, cycling, running. Races can take place on roads or on off-road terrain. ‘Up to Half iron’ refers to the approximate distance completed in each race: 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run.
Pack C
Leisure Cycling
Non-competitive, casual cycling undertaken for sightseeing, transport, or general recreation, where cycling is not the primary purpose of the trip. Leisure Cycling excludes all activities defined under Packs A–C, including, for example, road cycling holidays, mass participation events, racing, triathlon, touring, etc.
All activities in Pack A
All activities listed in Pack A
All activities in Pack B
All activities listed in Pack B
Mountain biking (downhill including racing)
Downhill mountain biking refers to descending on categorised routes only. Categories are based on the terrain, obstacles, steepness, and overall technicality of the routes with cyclists travelling at speed, possibly encountering drops and jumps. It usually requires finding another way to the top of the route, whether hiking, shuttling, or using a chairlift. 4X (Four-Cross) racing, is a type of downhill mountain biking.
Mountain biking (trials)
Mountain bike trials riding is a specialised discipline of mountain biking where riders navigate through challenging obstacles including drops and gaps (both natural and man-made) without putting their feet on the ground. It focuses on balance, precision, and bike control, rather than speed.
Mountain biking (Enduro / All-mountain)
Enduro (all-mountain) refers to a style of mountain biking that combines elements of downhill and cross-country riding. Enduro is also commonly associated with competitive events, typically consisting of multiple timed stages, often with uphill transfers between stages, where riders must complete downhill segments against the clock.
Mountain biking (freeride)
Freeriding involves performing tricks and stunts on natural or man-made features, such as jumps, drops, and obstacles. It often takes place in bike parks or specially designed trails.
Mountain biking (dirt jumping)
Dirt jumping focuses on jumping over dirt ramps or mounds, with an emphasis on performing tricks in the air. It often takes place in dedicated dirt jump parks.
Touring/bike packing (ultra-endurance racing)
Ultra-endurance racing refers to non-stop cycling events that cover long distances over a period of several hours to several days. These races often require participants to ride continuously with minimal rest. Ultra-endurance cycling races can take place on roads, gravel, or off-road terrain, and can either be supported (with crew assistance) or unsupported (self-sufficient).
Touring/bike packing (ultra-endurance)
Ultra-endurance refers to cycling that covers distances over 160km. This often requires participants to ride continuously with minimal rest. Ultra-endurance can take place on roads, gravel, or off-road terrain, and can either be supported (with crew assistance) or unsupported (self-sufficient).
Mountain biking (Guided tours 3500m to 5500m)
Mountain bike guided tours refer to organised cycling excursions led by professional guides through mountainous terrain at elevations above 3,500m but no higher than 5,500m.
Ask yourself two questions about your travel insurance -
Have I checked it covers holidays where the primary purpose is cycling?
e.g. training campHave I checked it covers me if I'm taking part in a race or timed event?
e.g. Enduro, sportive or triathlon?