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Race Rules

To ensure a safe, fair, and enjoyable experience for all participants, compliance with all event rules is mandatory.

This is a Cycling South Africa-sanctioned event, and all CSA requirements must be followed. Our race rules are primarily based on the UCI Mountain Bike Regulations. In addition to complying with CSA and UCI regulations, all participants must also adhere to the following

event-specific rules:
To help you prepare, we’ve summarized the 10 most important rules below.

Top Ten Rules

  • Know the route – it is not marked
  • Riders are required to stay within 2 minutes of their team partner
  • Teams cannot split up during the race
  • You have to check-in at all checkpoints (some are unmanned)
  • Make sure you carry your mandatory gear
  • By dusk you must be riding with your lights on
  • No outside assistance or support on the route.
  • Your support crew is not allowed to travel through the baviaanskloof or be on the
    same route as you.
  • Notify a race official / checkpoint captain if you want to withdraw from the race
  • If you are eligible for a prize, you have to be at prize giving to collect

ENTRY CONDITIONS

The organisers reserve the right to deny entry or prevent any rider from starting the event at their discretion. Additionally, the organisers may change a team name if it conflicts with another team’s name or is deemed inappropriate or offensive.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Rider age is determined based on your age as of 31 December of the event year. The minimum age to participate is 19 years old.

RACE CATEGORIES

Participants must ensure they are registered in the correct category, as no category changes will be allowed after the race has started. Each team may only enter one category.
Please note: A minimum of 10 entries is required for a category to be officially recognised.

MIXED TEAM CATEGORY

A mixed team must consist of at least one female and one male rider, each on their own bicycle. Tandem teams do not qualify for the mixed category.

Masters Team

To qualify for the Masters category, all team members must be 50 years of age or older.

Tandem Teams

Solo tandem entries are not permitted. A Tandem team must consist of either:
• One tandem bike and one or two standard bicycles, or
• Two tandem bikes.

E-Bike Teams

If any member of your team rides an E-Bike, your team will be classified as an E-Bike team.

START PROCEDURE

All team members must be present at the Start Check-in and enter the start chute together.
Once your team has checked in and entered the start chute, you must remain there until the
race begins.

SEEDED / ELITE RIDERS

Only seeded riders are permitted to start at the front of the start chute.

RACE TAG

You must carry your race tag with you at all times and present it at each checkpoint. All
checkpoints must be recorded on your tag and verified when you reach the finish.

DISPLAYING RACE NUMBERS

Race numbers must be clearly visible at all times throughout the race. Swapping numbers with another rider is strictly prohibited. If you withdraw from the race, your race number will be marked accordingly.

MAP

The race route will not be marked. Participants are responsible for thoroughly familiarizing themselves with the course and carrying a map during the event. Any loss of position due to navigational errors will be at the participant’s own risk.

DROP BOXES

  • Personalizing or modifying drop boxes is not permitted.
  • Drop boxes assigned to specific checkpoints must not be sent to any other
    checkpoint.
  • Only one drop box per team may be sent to each checkpoint.
  • All items sent to checkpoints must fit entirely within the drop box.
  • It is the participant’s responsibility to securely seal their drop boxes before handing
    them over at registration or any checkpoint.

The contents of drop boxes are not checked or monitored by the race organisers. As such, the
organisers cannot be held responsible for any lost, damaged, or missing items. Participants
are strongly advised not to place any valuable items in their drop boxes.

MANDATORY GEAR

Each rider must carry all mandatory gear with them for the entire duration of the race,
regardless of whether it is being used.

ON ROUTE

  • Teams must complete the entire designated route and check in at all official checkpoints.
  • All participants are required to adhere to Provincial and National road regulations at all times.
  • Follow the directions of traffic officials, race officials, and medical personnel whenever instructed.
  • Do not leave the designated route without first notifying a race official or the command centre at +27 76 234 8869.
  • If you choose to deviate from the route, you do so at your own risk, and the event organisers accept no responsibility for your safety or any consequences.
  • Littering is strictly prohibited—please respect the environment.
  • Any gates encountered on the route must be securely closed after passing through.
  • Normal Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Regulations apply on the Baviaanskloof Reserve

SEPARATION LIMIT OF 2 MINUTES

Compliance with the 2-minute separation limit between team members may be monitored and enforced at the start, finish, checkpoints, and at any point during the race. Penalties may be applied for each instance where this limit is exceeded. Penalties will not apply if one rider on the team continues ahead, or doubles back, solely for the purpose of requesting or obtaining assistance (medical or technical), however during such time the other rider cannot continue the route until the assistance-seeking rider returns to the waiting rider’s position.

SUPPORTERS / OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

No support or assistance of any kind is permitted on the route between checkpoints Support is only allowed at Checkpoint 5, within the designated area reserved for this purpose, and strictly at the discretion of the Checkpoint Captain / crew. Supporters who violate these rules may cause penalties or disqualification of their rider(s). No supporters are permitted to travel through the Baviaanskloof during the event.

CHECKPOINTS

Teams must check in both upon arrival and departure at every checkpoint along the route. All team members must be present to complete the check-in or check-out process. Camping, resting, sleeping, and meal breaks are only permitted at designated checkpoints where proper support is available. Teams are not allowed to camp or stop alongside the road.

CUT-OFFS

The half-way cut-ff time at Checkpoint 4 is Sunday at 02:00. All riders must depart Checkpoint 4 before this cut-off time, regardless of their arrival time. Riders who fail to meet the cut-off will not be permitted to continue the race. Their race number will be crossed out, and they will be transported to Checkpoint 5 or the finish.

FINISH CUT-OFF

The race cut-off time at the finish is Sunday at 10:00. After this time, all event support will be withdrawn, and team supporters must arrange to collect their team members. If some team members complete the course within the 24-hour time limit while others finish outside the limit (but still following race rules) – then only those finishing within the limit will receive medals. However, the team will be disqualified.

WITHDRAWALS

Except in cases of injury, any rider wishing to withdraw from the race must do so only at an official checkpoint. The withdrawing rider must be accompanied by their team until the next checkpoint is reached. All withdrawals must be reported to a race official / checkpoint captain.

Once a rider has officially withdrawn, they are not permitted to rejoin or continue the race. The remaining team members may continue and will still qualify for individual times and medals.

In the case of a 2-person team withdrawal, the remaining rider must join another team or individual to continue. It is not the responsibility of the event organisers or checkpoint marshals to arrange new team pairings. The new team must acknowledge and accept the addition of the new member, and all race rules will continue to apply, including separation limits.

RESENCE AT PRIZE GIVING

All podium finishers are required to attend the prize giving ceremony as scheduled in the event programme. Failure to be present will result in forfeiture of any prizes.

RACE TIMES

A team’s official time is recorded when the last team member crosses the finish line. The Race Tag will be checked by a Race official at the finish.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Unsportsmanlike conduct or abuse directed at officials will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification.

LOST AND FOUND

Any personal items left behind after the race, including those in drop boxes, will be donated to charity or given to local riders in need.

IMAGE RIGHTS

By participating in the event, each competitor expressly waives any rights to their image captured during the event and agrees not to make any claims against the organisers or their partners regarding its use.

Only the event organisers have the authority to grant image rights to media outlets through official accreditation or licensing.

Any communication or use of images related to the event must respect the event name, registered trademarks, and must receive prior approval from the organisers.

BANNED SUBSTANCES

The use of banned performance-enhancing substances is strictly prohibited during the event. The organisers reserve the right to conduct testing for banned substances. Participants who refuse to provide a sample when requested will be disqualified from the event.

COMPLAINTS / PROTESTS

Any participant wishing to lodge a protest regarding race outcomes, penalties, or disqualifications must notify a race organiser within 60 minutes of finishing the race. Protests will be handled according to Cycling South Africa (CSA) regulations and reviewed by a three- person committee consisting of the race director, race commissaire, and event organisers. The committee’s decisions are final.