Race Rules for Cyclists

The Rules and Regulations pertaining to The Cradle Mountain Trophy may change slightly in the weeks leading up to the race. The final version will be communicated at the race briefing at the start of each stage.

Mountain Bike racing is by nature self-reliant and often held in remote areas. All competitors must participate with an understanding and acceptance of this ethos.

Riders

  • All riders must comply with CSA ages and distances unless permission is granted by the Chief Commissaire prior to the event.
  • All riders must be healthy, and in a very fit state of training
  • All riders must have good technical bike skills for off-road conditions.

Categories

Medical Condition

  • Participants may only start any stage of this race if they are in good physical and medical condition.
  • During the race the Senior Medical Officer reserves the right to withdraw any participant whom he may deem physically or psychologically incapable of continuing with the race.

Number Collection

  • Number Collection will take place on Wednesday the 1st of March, from 12h30 till 17h00 at Riverstone Lodge, Muldersdrift.

Race Briefings

  • A full stage briefing will take place at the start chute 10 minutes before the start of each stage.
  • Riders who do not attend the race briefings and are not aware of changes made will not be accommodated if they miss their start time, or any similar issue related to their not attending the race briefing.

Prize Giving & Award Ceremonies

  • The Final Award Ceremony will take place at 12h30 on Sunday. All riders receiving an award are required to attend. Absence may result in a time penalty.
  • SPECIAL NOTE: If you are travelling from out of town, please ensure that your flight is booked later in the afternoon. We cannot accommodate a change to the pre-arranged schedule.

Bicycles

  • Only mountain bikes in good, safe working order, at the discretion of the Chief Commissaire, will be allowed to start the stage each day. Unprotected sharp bar ends, in-operative brakes, etc will not be permitted.
  • Maintenance of the bicycles used in the race is the responsibility of each participant and the Chief Commissaire reserves the right to insist that a participant repair or attend to a bicycle should the Commissaire be of the opinion that it is unsafe or dangerous.
  • The participants must start and finish the event with the same bike.
  • Riders may not change their bike or frame of their bicycle during the race without the permission of the Chief Commissaire. Change of a frame will only be allowed in the case of a warranty breakage.
  • Rims, spokes, tubes, tyres, wheels, gears, hangers, sprockets, cables, brakes, forks and shocks may be replaced.
  • Limited bike maintenance and spares will be provided by various local bike shops on Number Collection day and before and after each of the stages.
  • No outside assistance for bicycle repairs will be allowed during the stages. Participants may only accept assistance from their partner or another competitor in the same race.
  • Riders are expected to complete the full distance of each stage within the time allowed. Repairs to bicycles during the stage must be carried out within this time limit.

E-Bikes

  • Bikes are welcome, however there is no E-bike racing category

Helmets & Riding Attire

  • Only recognised hard shell cycling helmets complying with recognised standards will be acceptable. The Chief Commissaire will rule on the permitted use of any questionable helmets.
  • Any riders not wearing their helmets, with the retention strap properly fastened, at any time during the race will be disqualified.
  • Generally accepted cycling clothing, including a shirt, must be worn at all times during the race.
  • Proper, fully enclosed cycling shoes, or at least running shoes must be worn.
  • It is strongly recommended that protective eyewear be worn.

Sound Equipment , Phones & Cameras

  • No cameras or Go-Pro’s are allowed to be worn on your helmet.
  • No headphones / earphones of any nature may be worn during the race.
  • No rider may participate in the race and talk on his or her phone while riding. Riders are to stop and move off the trail to conduct any form of telephonic conversation.

Compulsory Equipment

Although paramedic and medical services will be provided during the race and for a period after the completion of each stage, the self-reliant and remote nature of a mountain bike race requires that each rider carries the following items to be prepared to deal with emergencies they may experience:
  • A multi-tool to effect repairs to bikes.
  • At least one spare tube per rider.
  • At least one good pump and a puncture repair kit.
  • At least one cell phone. It is recommended that sim cards for two cellular service providers are carried, as reception is not covered fully in the mountains around Magalies.

Optional Recommended Equipment

  • Windbreaker or preferably a lightweight rain jacket.
  • Sterile First Aid dressings.
  • Adhesive plasters.
  • Sun block with a minimum factor of 30.
  • Foil survival blanket.
  • Lip Balm.
  • Whistle.

The Race & Stages

  • The Route 66 race will consist of 4 stages. Please consult the website for all details pertaining to distances, ascent etc.

The Start

  • The start chute will open each day 15 minutes before the race starts on each day.
  • The start zone closes 5 minutes before the start.
  • Any riders not in their start zones 10 minutes before the start will be required to start at the back. It is also the riders' responsibility to ensure that they are at the start on time even if the start is delayed for whatever reason.
  • The start will remain open for 15 minutes after the start for any late starters. Late starters must advise the Chief Commissaire of the late start so that official sweep and other vehicles can be advised accordingly.

Individual Results

  • The results will be determined by the position of the riders at the end of each stage.
  • The race will start with the sound of the whistle.
The cut off for the stages are as follows:
  • Stage 1 – 8 hours.
  • Stage 2 – 7 hours.
  • Stage 3 – 6 hours.

Cut off times will be announced prior to the event. Any rider not able to make the start deadline must report to the Chief Commissaire 45 minutes before the start for permission to make a late start.

Rider Identification & Timing

  • This will be a chip-timed race.
  • All riders must display their Route 66 MTB Experience race number at all times during a stage. Riders not displaying official race numbers will be regarded as non-participants and shall be prevented from continuing on the route by marshals.
  • Race numbers must be properly attached to the handlebars of the bike with cable ties provided and must be placed in front of cables etc so as not to be obscured in any way. Riders will be required to remove and reaffix numbers if they are found to be obscured.
  • Riders must not cut, modify or mutilate their race numbers in any way. No stickers may be added or removed.
  • It is each rider's responsibility to keep their race numbers relatively clean and legible at all times and no rider may start a stage with a dirty number. Loss of a race number will cost R100 to replace. Remember to remove your number from the handlebars when travelling so it does not get blown off.

Nutrition & Hydration

  • Please note that conditions can be hot, windy or rainy, and the temperatures may reach over 35°C. Ensure that you have appropriate clothing. Please check the weather forecast.
  • Riders must ensure that they keep themselves properly hydrated and carry sufficient nutrition for at least 35km of riding.
  • The Route 66 MTB Experience will provide water, limited volumes of energy drinks at neutral feeding stations at accessible and appropriate locations on the route.

Seconding & Support

  • Competitive riders may not receive outside assistance or help, other than from fellow competitors, at any point along route.
  • No outside seconding, assistance or feeding other than that provided by The Route 66 MTB Experience at an official refreshment station is permitted. This applies to competitive riders only.
  • Bike repairs may be carried out on the route without outside assistance, but care must be taken not to obstruct other riders.
  • No towing between riders is allowed, in line with international rules.
  • Riders are not permitted to draft behind cycles not participating in The Route 66 MTB Experience, but may however draft behind other participating riders on Stages 1 to 3.
  • No drafting is permitted behind any other vehicles on the route, including private motorcycles and race support vehicles.
  • Supporters are not permitted to follow or drive ahead of riders or be on any section of the course, while the race in is progress, on any of the stages, but may access a number of vantage points and public road crossings to vocally support the riders.
  • Cyclists who are not entered in the event are not permitted to ride on the course or any sections of the course. If such riders are found to be on the course and they can be linked to a participating rider, that rider will be penalised at the discretion of the Chief Commissaire.

Withdrawals

  • Any rider not able to continue the race, for whatever reason, must inform the Race Office immediately. This can be done at the finish, at a feed zone, or by contacting the emergency number displayed on the Number Board.
  • In the event of a search and rescue operation being launched for a rider who has withdrawn, but has not informed the Race Office, the cost of such an operation will be for the rider concerned.

Protests

  • Any protests must be submitted in writing, on official protest forms available from the Chief Commissaire, by the rider concerned within the allocated time period after crossing the finish line.
  • A deposit of R150 must accompany the protest, before the protest will be considered.
  • If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be refunded.
  • Race protests must be submitted within 15 minutes of the rider crossing the line or within 30 minutes of the results being posted respectively. Interim race results will be posted on an ongoing basis on each day.

Ethical & Environmental Considerations

  • Littering on the route, damage to property, lighting of fires or damage to the environment will not be tolerated. Any littering will lead to immediate disqualification.
  • Physical and/or abuse of Route 66 MTB Experience Crew and Officials, or fellow competitors will not be permitted.
  • Infringements of the above rules will result in disciplinary action and disqualification.

Traffic Regulations

  • The Route 66 MTB Experience will NOT have exclusive use of any public or private roads during the race. Owing to the fact that we are guests of the landowners and the various resorts, we are to respect their wishes to allow them to continue operating their businesses with minimum interruption. For safety reasons, all riders are expected to stop or give way to machines and/ ortransport vehicles, until the road is clear and an official or marshal waves the riders on.
  • Riders must ride with due regard for other road users, and all traffic signs and regulations must be adhered to unless a traffic officer instructs him/her to do otherwise.