!!!! NO HELMET NO RIDE - NO RED REAR LIGHT, NO RIDE !!!! 1. Start / Finish Start: 15h00, Friday 18 December 2009 - from the car park of the Windhoek Golf Club. All entered riders (complete teams) will start this event and ride the first stage.
There will be a neutral zone until the Western Bypass / Kupferberg intersection from where the riders will proceed west. Finish: The finish will be in Swakopmund in the vicinity of the Strand Street Skateboard Ramp area.
All categories must complete the event by the 15h00, Saturday 19 December cut-off.
All entered riders (complete teams) will complete the final stage as a team.
Prize-giving will take place at 16h00 – Saturday 19 December, 2009. 2. Stage routes and rider participation Stage 1. - Windhoek to top of Kupferberg Pass - full team ride.
Stage 2. - Kupferberg to top of Kuiseb River Bridge - single team rider.
Stage 3. - Kuiseb River Bridge to Khomas Safari Lodge - single team rider.
Stage 4. - Khomas Safari Lodge to Bloedkopje/Hotsas crossing - single team rider.
Stage 5. - Bloedkopje/Hotsas crossing to Power Station. - single team rider.
Stage 6. - Power station to Swakopmund - full team ride. 3. Rider change over at stage locations Stage 1 Full team to ride this stage.
Once full team has completed stage 1 (top of Kupferberg Pass), only then may the nominated team rider depart for stage 2.
The full team must register arrival at the official desk. Thereafter the teams` nominated rider may depart.
Stage 2 – 5 Once the nominated rider arrives at stage end, he/she must register at the official desk. Only then may the next team rider may depart on the following stage.
Stage 6 The rider completing stage 5 will continue on Stage 6, JOINED by the balance of the team. The rider of stage 5 must register at the official desk. Then the complete team must ride the last and final stage. 4. Stage Locations Once the last team and rider (and sweep vehicle) has departed from the stage change-over location, the registers will be checked and the race officials will confirm the stage completion.
Any/all infrastructure will be removed and transported to the finish zone. 5. Additional water points and medical assessment Water points will be set up at half-way points between each stage location (stages 2 - 5).
(i) Water points will be manned and controlled by the committee of the Desert Dash.
(ii) Water + fruit will be available at these water points.
(iii) NO team back-up vehicles will be allowed to wait for their respective riders at these water points in order to provide assistance to their riders.
(iv) Back-up vehicles must proceed to the following change over location.
(v) Rider change-overs may not take place at the water points. 6. Team back-up vehicles In the essence of safety, strict rules apply to this aspect of the event.
(i) all registered back-up vehicles will depart from the start 20 minutes prior to the 15h00 start. They will proceed to the dedicated stage change-over location at the end of that stage, ie: top of the Kupferberg Pass.
(ii) No vehicles will be permitted to travel back against the direction of the route (unless in a case of emergency).
(iii) Once the full team complement has reached the end of stage 1, the nominated rider will depart as quickly as possible. (refer item 3.).
(iv) Once the team rider has departed, the back-up vehicle will leave the stage change over location and travel to the following change-over location..
(v) Back-up vehicles will not be permitted to stop along the route, nor to render assistance to any riders (unless deemed an emergency situation).
(vi) No assistance is permitted from the team back-up while the nominated rider is riding that specific stage (unless deemed an emergency situation).
(vii) No vehicles will be permitted to drive behind their team rider/s in an effort to offer assistance of any form (eg: additional lighting).
(viii) All team litter and refuse is to be removed by the back-up vehicle responsible for that team.
(ix) Speeds of back-up vehicles are to be kept to a maximum of 40km/hr when passing cyclists and 60km/hr when traveling on ‘clear’ roads. 7. Medical and safety The registration process requires that personal medical information be submitted. This information section must be completed in full in order to validate your registration. All medical information will be treated confidentially for use by the nominated Desert Dash medical personnel.
All riders must be in possession of a valid medical insurance. Consult with your medical aid provider and ascertain whether your specific policy offers financial cover for an emergency in this type of event.
This is a compulsory requirement.
All teams should be in possession of an emergency (travel) medical kit in order to take care of Minor injuries.
8. Time limitations / cut-off times The event finishes at 15h00 noon on Saturday 19 Dec 2009.
Any team rider reaching the stage location No 4 outside of a the cut-off time (as a result of physical performance, cycle mechanical failure or the like, will result in their total team being transported to stage location No 5 by their back-up vehicle. The full team will them continue riding from stage location No 5 to the finish zone in Swakopmund.
The full team will be disqualified from the team entries.
Those team members who have completed their designated stages, plus the compulsory complete team stages, will be deemed official finishers. 9. Officials Event officials will be present at start, change over locations and finish points.
Officials will handle:
(i) the stage completion register (Note: it is the responsibility of the riders to ensure that they register with the location officials.).
(ii) reporting of any grievances or issues relating to the rules of the event.
(iii) Reporting of any instances whereby riders may have shown need of assistance. (the officials will then liase with the emergency services to ensure that necessary assistance was / has been carried out). 9. Legal Issues All riders and back-up drivers, must complete:
(i) registration form and payment. (including acceptance and understanding of ‘Event Rules’).
(ii) Medical Questionaire.
(iii) Indemnity Form. 10. Entrance Fee The team entrance fee will be utilized to cover those costs not financed by sponsorships. 11. Administration All financial and administrative issues will be carried out under the auspices of a registered financial institution. 12. Age Restriction a. 4 and 2 person teams entries : no under 16.
b. solo entries. : no under 18. 13. Road Safety The route utilizes national and public roads of Namibia. Rules of the road are to be heeded at all times. No exceptions, privileges or leniency to the rules of the road apply. All cyclists and drivers are to adhere to the rules of the road at all times.
Keeping to the left side of the road is to be adhered to strictly. All drivers of team back-up vehicles are to drive at a considerate speed (40km/hr) with regards to the minimizing of dust, flying stones etc. All cyclists should have a red rear light fixed to either the bike or cyclist, that is visible from a vehicle behind, which should be switched on at dusk and off at dawn. No part of the cyclist or bike should obscure the visibility of this light. 14. Social riders The Desert Dash is an extreme event offering a challenge to all participants.
Safety for all riders and crew under these extreme conditions is paramount.
Note: Non-entered riders cycling along the route will not be allowed. 15. Disqualification All teams / drivers must be 100% familiar with the event rules.
Any rider / driver contravening the rules will result in their team being disqualified from the event. 16. Registration / Changes / Cancellations Online entries open from 1st September untill 30 September 2009.
No entries will be accepted after the closing date. Any changes to team entries requested after 30 September 2009 will incur a change fee of N$500. Any cancellations after 30 September 2009 are non-refundable. 17. Categories Solo - Men U23, Men U40 , Men Master, Women. Plus overall Solo Winner.
Tandem - mixed, men, women. Plus overall tandem winner.
2 person - Men U23, Men U40, Men Master, Women, Mixed. Plus overall 2 person team winner.
4 person - Men U23, Men U40, Men Master, Women, Mixed. Plus overall 4 person team winner. Each category is qualified by no less than 4 team entries.
1 x team entry = event finisher.
2 x team entries = 1st place only.
3 x team entries = 1st / 2nd place only.
4 x team entries = 1st/2nd/3rd places. 
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