PLANNING
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Return To The Trails
We look forward to welcoming you to the immaculate trails of Western Cape. In order to deliver you the safest race experience possible in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be implementing best practice guideline measures at the FNB Wines2Whales.
5 Guiding Principles:
1. Hygiene awareness
- Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations will be readily available around the race villages and venues.
- Cleaning of common venue areas will be increased.
- Staff and crew wear face masks at all times while in rider-facing, public spaces or working areas.
- All persons to wear a face mask while in the race villages, venues and on the race route and to maintain a minimum distance of not less than 1.5m between each other at all times.
- Implement a sanitizing regime in areas used by riders and crew i.e, dining marquee’s, showers, mixing zones.
2. Screening and education
- Appropriate personal health, personal hygiene and safe support education and training will be provided for staff and crew in necessary functional areas.
- Riders and Crew must present a valid (negative) PCR test result, not older than 72 hours or a valid (negative) Antigen test result not older than 48 hours, prior to the start of the event in order to participate regardless of their vaccination status. For Riders the start of the event will mean Race Registration and for Crew, the start is defined as their first day of work.
- Daily symptom screening and temperature testing
3. Density reduction
- Instituting measures to increase space for persons throughout the race villages and venues.
- Enable appropriate physical distancing (>1.5 m) whenever possible.
4. Touchpoint minimisation
- Reducing or removing touchpoints and points of interaction between riders, staff, and crew without compromising event safety, security, and the practical operational delivery of the event.
5. Rider personal responsibility
- All persons are empowered to determine their individual level of personal responsibility to further minimize interaction and touchpoints with crew and fellow riders.
- All persons will be required review and accept the Event Covid-19 policy protocols alongside the Rider and Crew Commitment.
Rider and Crew Commitment
We believe that every person should play a role in keeping other riders, staff, and crew safe at the races. There are four pillars that should guide personal behavior and we ask all riders and crew to pledge their agreement to the below:
- Be responsible
- Notify the Event Management immediately if you have been in contact with any person who has tested positive for Covid-19 three days prior to the start of the event or during the event.
- Be Alert! Read all event communication and signage, as it could contain important information on any new procedures and policies.
- Follow safety instructions from Event Management, race announcers and race officials.
- Follow Covid-19 protocols for traveling in a vehicle with others. (<70% Capacity, wearing a mask and open windows.)
- Utilize proper health and hygiene methods for hand washing, hand sanitizing, sneezing, and coughing.
- Wear a face mask at all times within race villages, venues, at support locations on the race route or any occasion when in close contact (<1.5 m) from other people.
- Download the Epic Series App.
- Observe Rider and Crew Etiquette
- Consider the safety of others. Adhere to best practices and Event Covid-19 protocols to protect others
- Celebrations are to take place with no physical contact and in accordance with the event Covid-19 protocols for prize giving’s and celebrations.
- Arrive according to your assigned time for activities such as registration and start chute check-in.
- No littering! Properly dispose all rubbish
- Respect others
- Refrain from spitting or expelling any other bodily fluids while near other riders and crew
- Give yourself and others space! Keep a distance of >1.5 m from others.
- Utilize water points in accordance with the Event Covid-19 protocols and follow the instruction of the water point crew at all times. Minimize time spent and touchpoints at each water point and ensure proper social distancing when having to interact with water point crew or riders.
- Let others know when passing to ensure distancing as is practical at the time.
- Adhere to the Event Covid-19 policies and protocols along with any local/national government regulations relating to the management of Covid-19.
Race Pack Collection
Lourensford Wine Estate
Chardonnay
Thurs, 4 Nov 2021 | 14h00 – 19h00
Pinotage
Sun, 7 Nov | 09h00 – 15h00
Shiraz
Thurs, 11 Nov 2021 | 14h00 – 19h00
Please note that there will also be the option of late registration on the morning of Stage 1 at Curro Hermanus from 05h30 until the final start group has left.
Collecting your race pack
- Make sure you have your rider number with you. You will receive this in November before registration. Remember to bring along your ID/Drivers license/Passport.
- If you are wanting to make a last minute substitution, the substitutions desk will assist and process this for you. Make sure you do this before collecting your race pack. Substitutions will cost R500 per rider change after 15 October 2021.
- Make your way across to the race pack collection station with your rider number and sign the indemnity alongside your name to receive your race pack and goodie bag.
Event Schedule
*Subject to change
Stage 1
Start: Hermanus
Finish: Oak Valley
05:00 – 08:30
Breakfast
05:00 – 08:00
Drop off Rider Bag at the DHL trucks at Curro Hermanus
06:30
Start chutes open
07:00 – 08:40
Race starts in seeded groups A-L (starting in 10 min intervals)
11:00 – 15:00
Lunch
18:00 – 20:30
Dinner
18:00
Race briefing, prize giving and entertainment
Stage 2
Start: Oak Valley
Finish: Oak Valley
05:00 – 08:30
Breakfast
06:30
Start chutes open
07:00 – 8:40
Race starts in seeded groups A-L (starting in 10 min intervals)
11:00 – 15:00
Lunch
18:00 – 20:30
Dinner
18:00
Race briefing, prize giving and entertainment
Stage 3
Start: Oak Valley
Finish: Lourensford
05:00 – 09:30
Breakfast
06:30
Start chutes open
07:00 – 08:40
Race starts in seeded groups A-L (starting in 10 min intervals)
13:00
Prize Giving
Rider Checklists
Travelling
Whether you’re local to the Western Cape , travelling in from the rest of South Africa or flying in from abroad, we want to ensure that you have covered all your bases in preparation for the event. Make sure you have ticked all your boxes by checking out the additional event services we have available and be sure to make use of the special discounts and rates available exclusively for FNB Wines2Whales riders.
Packing
We recommend that you bring no (or as few as possible) valuables to the race. We cannot take responsibility for valuables lost during the course of the event.
MySOS is the recommended emergency app, and we recommend all riders download the app for the event.
What to Bring:
- GEES
- Face Mask
- Sleeping bag & Pillow
- Toiletries
- Towel
- Headlight
- Earplugs
- Beanie and scarf & gloves for evenings
- Warm long pants
- Casual clothes
- Slops
- Wellington Boots
- Sun block
- Washing powder
- A lock for your tent
Your Bicycle
Your bike should be in perfect working order at the start of the FNB W2W MTB. It will be subjected to severe riding conditions and we recommend that you replace any old parts that may not survive the distance. Select tyres that are suitable for harsh conditions. The use of tubeless tyres is highly recommended. Check your slime levels and top up slime. Various bike shops will provide repairs and servicing in the race villages. We anticipate a high demand for their services, so draw on them only when absolutely necessary. Replacement parts will be sold at normal retail prices.
Equipment Checklist:
- Helmet, gloves, cycling shoes
- 3 sets of cycling shorts, tops, socks
- Wind breaker and / or rain jacket
- Sun glasses
- Hydration pack with space for spares – a capacity of 3 litres.
- GPS /Heart rate monitor, bike computer (optional) + Chargers
- Slime/Stan’s, bomb and adaptor, plugs etc,
- Gators, pump, brake pads, drop out, chain, links, pins,
- Cable ties, duct tape
- Chain lube (Squirt)
- Spare brake pads
Know the Rules
Please make sure you read and understand the Race Rules before the start of the event.
Involve
Race Office
registration@wines2whales.com
+27 21 422 0331
