Windhoek Lager Namib Quest

Race Rules

 

Download Race Rules (238)

The following are the general rules that will be applicable to the mountain bike event. Any race specific rules, if applicable, will be communicated to all participants before the event.

1. Competitors

a.   Must be 18 years or older on race day
b.   Must be of good health and satisfactory level of fitness for an event of this nature
c.   Must undergo a medical examination and submit a medical report to the organizers
d.   Must be competent at riding off road and have basic bike repair skills to be self sufficient along the route

2. Bicycles

a. All mountain bikes will be subject to an inspection prior to the race and must be in good working order
b. Competitors may not change bikes during the event without prior consent from the Race Director
c. General components, such as brakes, shocks, tyres, etc, damaged during the event may be replaced
d. Bicycle maintenance during the event is the responsibility of each competitor personally
e. There will be limited support in terms of bike maintenance and spares at certain designated spots. The cost of such support and spares is for the competitors account.
f. No outside assistance is allowed along the route other than at these designated spots

3. Helmets and Cycling Kit

a. The wearing of helmets is compulsory at all times
b. Helmets are to comply with the recognized standards
c. Cycling tops are to be worn at all times
d. No open shoes such as sandals are permitted, even if they have cleats
e. The organizers reserve the right to ask a competitor to change any part of his/her kit should there be branding thereon that is either offensive or in direct competition to an event sponsor

4. Medical Issues

a. Competitors will only be allowed to start a stage if they are in an acceptable physical and mental state
b. The official race doctor has the final say on the state of any competitor and has the authority to prevent a competitor from starting a stage or withdrawing a competitor on the course should he/she deem them to be in medical danger should they continue
c. Emergency evacuation for injuries will be determined by the race doctor and in such cases where it is deemed necessary, the competitor will be evacuated to the nearest competent medical facility
d. All other medical expenses will be for the sole account of the competitor and the race organizers strongly suggest that each competitor has sufficient medical cover

5. Teams

a. The race format will be 2 person teams.
b. Team members are allowed to assist each other anywhere along the route c. Team members may never be more than 2 minutes apart during a stage
d. Should one team member not be able to continue for any reason, the other member will be allowed to continue unofficially and will not qualify forrankings or category prizes, but will receive the official finishers medal / t-shirt
e.  Should one team member not be able to continue at any stage during the event their partner can continue only after consultation and approval from the race director after a safety assessment.

6. Categories

a. The following team categories will be applicable and are subject to a minimum of 3 entries per category or otherwise the team will automatically move to the next above them on the list:
i. Men (Open)
ii. Women (Open)
iii. Veterans Men (35 – 49 years)
iv. Veterans Women (35 – 49 years)
v. Masters Men (50+ years)
vi. Masters Women (50+ years)
v. Mixed (Open)
b. The younger team member will be used to determine the category into which the team falls i.e a team with a 34 year old and 37 year old, will be classified as “Open Men”
c.The riders’ age on the race start date (i.e 1 May 2011) will be taken as the official age for the purposes of categorizing them.

7. Prize Giving and Award Ceremonies

a. There will be an award ceremony at the end of each stage
b. The final award ceremony will be held at the end of the race
c. All award winners are to be present at these ceremonies, failing which they will be relegated and the award will be presented to the next team

8. Race Numbers

a. Each rider will be allocated an official race number which needs to be displayed at all times during each stage as follows:
i. A number board fixed to the handlebars, which will identify the rider from the front
ii. A sticker to be fixed to the frame of the bicycle as indicated at the race briefing
b. Each rider in the team will be allocated the same number and will be defined as rider 1 or rider 2 eg 100-1 and 100-2

9. Environmental Impact

a. Due to the fact that riders will be passing through national parks and extremely sensitive ecological areas, any infringements of the following will result in immediate disqualification:
i. No littering will be tolerated
ii. Under no circumstances may riders deviate from the “official” race route / path
b. All the rules and regulations pertaining to the specific race villages will be communicated to each rider and are to be adhered to

10.Seconding and Support

a. Competitors may not receive any outside help, other than from their teammate or fellow competitors during any stage of the race
b. Riders may get technical support at the designated technical support zones

11.Rider / Team Withdrawals

a. Any rider/team that is unable to continue must inform the Race Officials immediately, or where this is not possible, as soon thereafter as is practical
b. Riders must be aware that due to the extreme nature of the event as well as the terrain through which they will be passing, the organizers will be extremely vigilant in terms of tracking riders throughout each stage. Should a rider / team therefore withdraw between checkpoints and not communicate this to a race official, there is a very real chance that a search and rescue initiative will be put into operation. Should this occur due to a rider / team not following the official withdrawal protocol, then all associated costs incurred in such a search and rescue initiative will be for the account of the rider / team.
c. Should only one rider of a team withdraw and the remaining rider wishes to continue, it is that riders sole responsibility to communicate this to the Race Director no later than 30min before the start of the next day where the withdrawal occurs after completion of the days leg. If a rider withdraws during a stage and the remaining rider wishes to continue, then that rider needs to communicate this to the Race Official at first possible checkpoint after such withdrawal has taken place.
d. In the event of new “teams” being formed due to rider withdrawals, such teams will not be eligible for an official category placing and / or official team awards. Only teams completing all stages during the entire event with both riders of the original 2-person team, will be eligible for official places and awards.
e. All riders finishing each stage for the full event will be recognized as official finishers and will be eligible to receive the “official” finisher awards.

12.Complaints / Protests

a. Any team/rider wishing to protest must communicate their intention within 15min of crossing the finishing line. All protests are to be handed into the race office in writing no longer than 30min after the rider/team protesting has informed the Race Official of their intention to do so.
b. All protests are to be accompanied by a deposit of N$500.00, which deposit shall be refunded in full if the protest is upheld. If however the protest is unsuccessful, the deposit in question will be donated to the AEP Trust for development of previously disadvantaged athletes.
c. Any protest / complaint falling out of the above time frame, will not be entertained in any way.

13.General Rules and Basic Consideration

a. Due to the nature of the event and in certain instances the extremely fragile terrain through which competitors will pass, it is imperative that all race rules as well as “daily pre-stage updates” be adhered to at all times.
b. No rider will be allowed to leave the designated track for any reason other than an immediate emergency.
c. No littering of any kind will be tolerated and riders are expected to carry ALL disposable items to the end of each stage where the necessary refuse points will be allocated.
d. The event will take place predominantly on private roads, tracks, paths, etc as well as through national parks and in some limited instances on public roads. Although the organizers will do everything in their power to ensure rider safety on the few public sections, it remains each rider’s responsibility to behave in the manner that would normally be expected when travelling on such public roads.