Start

Start: 15h00, Friday 13 December 2013 - 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 14 December, 2013 cut-off.
All entered riders (complete teams) will complete the final stage as a team.
Prize-giving will take place at 16h00 – Saturday 14 December, 2013.

Helmets and Protective wear

Riders should wear a helmet that's properly fastened whenever he/she is riding.
Helmets must comply to international safety standards as specified by 'ANSI' or 'SNELL'.
Riders found riding without a helmet at any time during the event will be disqualified immediately.

Bikes

Be sure your bike is in good mechanical order.
Riders must start and finish the event on the same bike.
No more than one bike per rider is allowed.

Race Number

All bikes should have the rider's race number board attached to the front of the bike.
The race number board must be visible from the front and free from obstructions like cables or other items.
Riders on bikes without a race number at the front will not be allowed into the Start Zone to start.
The race number must be fitted securely and stay there for the duration of the event.
The race number must not be modified in any way, including cutting or adding/removing existing stickers.
It is each rider's responsibility to check that he/she has the correct number attached to the bike as the back of the race number displays personal info specific to the rider.

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 exciting new location - single team rider.
Stage 4. - Exciting new location to 'midnight crossing' - single team rider.
Stage 5. - 'Midnight crossing' crossing to a rocky crossing. - single team rider.
Stage 6. - Rocky crossing to Swakopmund - full team ride.

Rider change over at Checkpoints

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.

Stages 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 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.

Checkpoint Closedown

Once the sweep vehicle has departed from the Checkpoint location, the race registers will be checked and the race officials will confirm that no rider is still out on the preceeding stage. All infrastructure will be removed and transported to the Finish Zone.

Water points and medical assessment

Water points will be set up at around the half-way marks between each stage location for stages 2 - 5.
Water points will be manned by the crew and controlled by the organisers of the FNB Desert Dash.
Water and fruit will be available at these water points.
NO team support vehicles will be allowed to stop and wait for their respective riders at these water points.
Support vehicles must proceed to the next Checkpoint location.
Rider change-overs may not take place at the water points.

Support vehicles

To ensure the safety of all participants, strict rules apply to this aspect of the event.
Only ONE support vehicle per team will be allowed.
Towing of trailers by support vehicles are allowed.
All registered support vehicles will depart from the Start Zone at the latest 15 minutes prior to the 15h00 start of the race.
They will proceed to the 1st Checkpoint location at the top of the Kupferberg Pass.

No vehicles will be permitted to travel back against the direction of the route (unless in a case of emergency).
Once the full team complement has reached the end of stage and signed in at Checkpoint #1, the team's nominated stage rider will depart as quickly as possible.
Once the team rider has departed, the support vehicle will leave the Checkpoint location and travel to the following Checkpoint location.
Support vehicles will not be permitted to stop along the route, nor to render any assistance to any riders (unless deemed an emergency situation).
No assistance is permitted from the team support while the nominated rider is riding that specific stage (unless deemed an emergency situation).
No vehicles will be permitted to drive behind their team rider/s in an effort to offer assistance of any form (eg: additional lighting).
All team litter and refuse is to be removed by the support vehicle responsible for that team.
Speeds of support vehicles are to be kept to a maximum of 40km/hr when passing riders and 60km/hr when traveling on 'clear' roads.

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 FNB 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.

Time limitations / cut-off times

The event finishes at 15h00 noon on Saturday 14 Dec 2013.

• Start to Checkpoint 1 (35kms): complete team to arrive no later than 18h30.
• Checkpoint 4 : rider to arrive no later than 9h30.

Teams or riders not arriving within the above time restrictions will be transported to the next Checkpoint by their support vehicle.
Any team rider reaching Check Point #4 outside of the cut-off time either as a result of physical performance, bicycle mechanical failure or the like, will result in their total team being transported to Check Point #5 by their support vehicle. The full team will then continue riding from Check Point #5 to the Finish Zone in Swakopmund.
The team will be disqualified from the team entries and only those team members who have completed their designated stages plus the compulsory complete team stages will be deemed official finishers.

Protests

Any rider protests must be submitted in writing together with a payment of N$300, to an official at the Finish Zone timing point within 30 minutes of the rider crossing the finish line. Should your protest be found to be valid by the race committee, your N$300 will be refunded.

Officials

Event officials will be present at the Start Zone, Checkpoint locations and Finish Zone.
Officials will handle:
the stage completion register (Note: it is the responsibility of the riders to ensure that they register with the location officials.).
reporting of any grievances or issues relating to the rules of the event.
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).

Legal Issues

All riders and support vehicle drivers must complete:
registration form and payment. (including Medical Questionaire, acceptance and understanding of 'Event Rules').
Indemnity Form - signed at the race briefing.

Entrance Fee

The team entrance fee will be utilized to cover those costs not financed by sponsorships.

Administration

All financial and administrative issues will be carried out under the auspices of a registered financial institution.

Age Restrictions

4, 2 person and tandem team entries: no under 16.
Solo entries: no under 18.

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 riders 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 support 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 to a vehicle travelling behind the rider, which should be switched on at dusk and and stay on at least till sunrise.
No part of the rider or bike should obscure the visibility of this light.

Social riders

The FNB Desert Dash is an extreme event offering a challenge to all participants.
Safety for all riders and crew under these extreme conditions is paramount.
Therefore non-entered riders cycling along the route will not be allowed.

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.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received as of date of opening of category registration until the 10th Oct 2013 - 50% refund.
Cancellations received between 11th Oct – 30th Nov 2013 - 25% refund.
Cancellations received from 1st Dec 2013 - No refund. No exceptions.