New race format for Solo riders.

In an effort to increase the safety of participants in the event, the Solo format will change for the 2012 edition. The changes will apply to Stages 1, 2 and 3. This change will reduce the number of cars passing riders therefore lessening the amount of dust on stages 2 and 3.

Changes

Solo Riders
Solo riders will depart together with the other entered categories from the Start Zone at 15h00 towards Checkpoint #1 (Kupferberg). Solo riders will NOT have access to their support vehicles at Checkpoints 1 and 2. At Checkpoints 1 and 2 dedicated water points with water, fruit, juice, warm drinks and energy snacks will be available exclusively for solo riders. The waterpoints midway between stages will also still cater for Solo riders. The first access to their respective support vehicles will be at Checkpoint #3. The distance solo riders need to ride un-assisted by their support vehicles is approximately 175km.
After Checkpoint #3 the Solo riders will meet their support vehicles at all the remaining Checkpoints like the rest of the categories.

Solo Rider Support Vehicles
Support vehicles will depart from the Start Zone at latest 14h45 and proceed directly towards Checkpoint #3. These vehicles will not be allowed to stop at Checkpoints 1 and 2 or anywhere along the route. Once they arrive at Checkpoint #3 the support vehicle team will wait for their rider.

Any Solo rider support vehicles which contravene this ruling, ie: stop along the route, assist their respective riders (excluding an emergency), will result in their rider being disqualified from the event.
In case of an emergency, the situation is to be reported to the event doctor or director. Riders and teams that called an emergency are to proceed only on instruction from the event doctor or director.

Race Dates

For 2013 the event will run from 13 to 14 December.

Route

Details about the Start and Finish Zones and all the stages are available here.

Meanwhile, please read up on 'How to Enter' and also see the 'Personal Info Needed' page