[Event] Maluti Double90

[Pedal Power Association]

Event Name: Maluti Double90
When: 7 May 2016
Where: President Square, Clarens, Freestate
Category: Road

Date

Saturday 7 May 2016

Distance

180 km

Venue

Clarens, Eastern Free State

Event format

Team time-trial

How many teams?

120

How many riders per team?

12

Minimum 6 riders per team – the time of the 6th rider across the finish line will count as the team’s official finish time

Minimum age

18

Riders who are 17 on the day of the event, but who will turn 18 during 2016, can send a motivation to the organisers to be included in a team

Individual entries?

No, teams only

Team categories

Open

Female (all-female)

Mixed (minimum 3 females in the team in the final six)

No tandem category in Year 1, although tandems will be allowed in Open teams. See the "Rules and regulations" on the event website for more information

Prizes

Yes, there will be cash prizes for the winning team in the Open, Female and Mixed team categories. More info to follow.

Start time

07h00 - first team

Cut-off

17h00 at the finish line in Clarens

Route cut-off

12h00 at the Supporter Zone in Kestell (107 km). See the event website for information about other route cut-offs

Route description Read more on the event website.

It’s not an easy route. The altitude may play a role if you are not used to riding in thin air. You need to be fit, and able to average 20 km/h over the entire distance to make the cut-off at the finish line. With most (and the highest) hills being concentrated in the last 40 km, this could be a team ‘suffer-fest’ indeed!

See below for a quick route overview.

Is the event aimed at only PPA members?

Not at all - any cyclist can put together a team, although this is not a ride for beginners

Entry fee

R6 500 per team

When will entries open?

13h00 on 9 March 2016. Online entries only

When will entries close?

As soon as the 120 team slots have been filled or 20 April, whichever comes first

Where can I enter and get more info?

www.malutidouble90.co.za

 

A tough endurance event, the Maluti Double90 is about team spirit and camaraderie, the aim being for the team to finish as a whole. It is not an easy ride and teams are encouraged to put in the training, taking into consideration the altitude of roughly 1900m.

In line with all events organised and overseen by the PPA, the PPA Maluti Double90 will fully comply with all relevant local and national legislation.

http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ride-recce-7-300x242.jpg

A few riders on a route recce during January 2016

 

 

A bit of history

On 30 November 1993, the Pedal Power Association (PPA) organised the Double Century (DC) for the first time. That year, 229 finishers were listed in total. Over the years, the route has changed within the Western Cape with the start/finish moving to towns like Ceres, Franschhoek and Montagu, before moving to Swellendam in 2007.

In 2008, the Pedal Power Association sub-contracted the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust (CTCTT) to organise the event on their behalf.

In 2015, team entries for the Coronation Double Century (CDC) in Swellendam sold out within 13 minutes, with 256 teams listed on the results page.

In these 23 years, this event has remained the top team challenge in the country and has only ever been held in the Western Cape. With the PPA opening an office in the Free State in July 2015, the opportunity has now come to take the event concept into a new territory.

 

 

http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ride-recce1-300x225.jpg

The Golden Gate. The last 40 km takes in some spectacular scenery, as well as most of the hills

 

 

Team info

Team categories will be determined by the first 6 riders from each team that crosses the finish line, and not according to the way the team members have been entered. The time of the 6th rider across the finish line will count as the team’s official finish time.

Categories for the 2016 Maluti Double90 will be Open, Mixed, and Ladies. The categories are determined as follows:

• Ladies – all Ladies Teams must have only ladies starting in their team. This team may have any number between 6 and 12 riders.
  
• Mixed – a minimum of 3 ladies need to finish within the first 6 riders of this team. Failing to do so will result in this team being classified as an Open Team. There will only be a first place prize awarded in this category, provided there are at least 5 mixed teams competing.
  
• Open Team – An Open Team may consist of male riders only, or teams with less than 3 female riders. Tandems may be entered into Open teams, but teams with tandems will in 2016 not be eligible for prize money.
  

http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ride-recce-lg-300x225.jpg

Participants in our 'ride recce' in front of the Golden Gate

 

 

Registration

The team captain or a team representative must collect the team’s race numbers and rider information as follows:

• Friday 6 May 2016 (14h00-19h30) Protea Hotel Clarens
  

Team captains are responsible for the collection and distribution of their team members’ race packs. No registrations will be done on the morning of the event.

 

 

 

http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ride-recce-14-300x169.jpg

Clarens 30 km to go... We think you'll start cheering when you see this sign!

 

 

Feeding points, water points and Team Support Zone

Team Support Zones: Riders may only receive food and assistance from their team vehicle at the Team Support Zone in Kestell. Support vehicles may not meet or support riders on any part of the route other than at this point.

Refreshment stations (water and Coke):

• 70 km
  
• 125 km
  

Feeding Stations (water, Coke and some food):

• 40 km
  
• 158 km (incl toilets)
  

Team Support Zone

• 107 km (Kestell) (incl toilets)
  

http://www.pedalpower.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Route-profile-1-300x160.jpg

The route profile. Need we say more?

 

 

Route overview

The Maluti Double90 is not for the unfit, or the faint-hearted. The route starts off deceptively gently, incorporating some mild undulating hills between Clarens and Bethlehem.

Please take care at the left turn onto the N5, as the N5 often carries heavy traffic, including trucks. Teams are specifically requested to ride in SINGLE FILE until Bethlehem.

There’s a water point just after exiting Bethlehem on the R26, where you can also restock the energy levels with some banana loaf, potatoes and sandwiches as well as liquids.

From there the route follows the undulating R716 towards Warden and Kestell. This section of the route has a decent road shoulder and teams should be able to post some good speeds here.

There’s a water point at roughly 70 km, just before turning right at the four-way stop onto the R57 towards Kestell.

The R57 again offers a good road shoulder and with undulating hills, teams should be able to maintain some good speeds.

Teams will meet up with their support vehicles in Kestell at the official Supporter Zone. Please note that support vehicles are not allowed to follow teams along the route and teams will be disqualified in this regard.

The Supporter Zone is in front of the local Kestell Hotel, where light meals and cold beer will be for sale to supporters and spectators in the morning. Please note that there is a cut-off of 12h00 at the Supporter Zone and teams that do not leave Kestell by noon, will not be able to continue as the event cut-off (17h00 in Clarens) will not be reached before dark. There is no 'time-out' zone for the Maluti Double90 a

About Clarens

Clarens is situated in the Eastern Free State Highlands, on the northern-most point of Lesotho. It is known for the spectacular sandstone mountains and wonderful climate and is regarded as one of the most picturesque areas in the country.

• 20 km from the Golden Gate National Park – a tough, yet very scenic part of the route;
  
• 35 km from Bethlehem;
  
• 3 hours normal travelling time from Johannesburg (302.9 km) via R26 and N3;
  
• 2h54 normal travelling time from Bloemfontein (285.5 km) via N5 and N1;
  
• 4h16 normal travelling time from Durban (410 km) via the N3;
  
• Enough restaurants: Tripadvisor lists some 26 restaurants, coffee shops and farms stalls within a 20 km radius; and
  
• Enough beds: Roughly 1000 beds in Clarens and 4000 in the immediate district.
  

Accommodation

Our accommodation sponsor for the Maluti Double90, the Protea Hotel Clarens, is offering the following special offerto event participants:

• Single room: R1 400 B&B
  
• Double room: R1 675 B&B
  

Please book directly with the Protea Hotel.

ACCOMMODATION BOOKINGS:

Let Clarens Destinations help you book your accommodation in Clarens: Contact them on (058) 256-1542.

For more information, please click here.

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