Event Day Info

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You have been allocated a wave based on the estimated finishing time that you provided during registration. You will have a letter on your rider bib and bike board; this is your allocated start pen. Please follow signage to this pen 30 minutes before the estimated start time for your pen. The estimated start times for the waves are:

PLEASE NOTE: Your start pen will be clearly signed and there will be marshals on hand to help with directions. Participants that have registered for the 85 mile route but decide to shorten their ride on the day will not be able to access the 55 mile or 40 mile route from Pen A-C until the lead 55 mile or 40 mile rider arrives at the route split. If you do decide to shorten your ride you will be held at the route split.

Your Rider Pack

Your rider pack contains all the essential items for your ride. Please take the time to go through it all carefully. If you have not purchased rider pack delivery, you will be sent a unique QR code prior to the event which you will need to use to pick up your pack. All packs need to be collected from the Event Village, located at the Atholl Road car park. More information can be found below.

RIDER PACK - POSTAGE

Your pack can arrive any time up until Friday 9 May, so please keep an eye out! Your pack will contain: a bib, bike number (this has the timing chip at the back, please do not bend!) and 2 cable ties. If you are missing any items in your pack, or you need safety pins for your bib, just come and say hello at the Help Desk!

RIDER PACK COLLECTION

SATURDAY 10 MAY 10:00 - 19:00: Please be sure to bring your QR code with you to pick up your event pack – without this we cannot assign you a pack. Each rider must pick up their own pack. Please note, you will not be able to collect your event pack on Sunday morning.

In your pack you will receive:

RIDER BIB NUMBER

Please attach this to the back of your jersey. (85 Mile bib is gold, 55 Mile bib will be dark blue, 40 Mile bib will be red)

NUMBER & 2 X CABLE TIES

Please attach this to the front handlebars. Please note, your bike number contains your timing chip so ensure this is attached as per the instructions. *Safety pins will not be sent out in posted packs, if you have safety pins at home please bring these with you. We will have safety pins available at the Helpdesk in the Event Village.

If any items are missing from your pack, please come to the information tent on Saturday (located in the event village).

BIB NUMBER & BIKE NUMBER

  • Please ensure your bike number is securely fastened to the front of your bike. This number also includes your timing chip so we will only be able to record your time if it is on your bike.

  • Your bib number also has space for emergency contact details. Please ensure you complete this as it will be the primary source of emergency contact details should they be needed.

  • Please place the bib number you receive in the middle of your back over the pockets (make sure not to pin them shut) and not higher up your back, as it will be harder to see when you are riding.

On The Route

Riding Etiquette

  • Cancer Research UK Etape Caledonia is held on fully-closed roads. This is a unique experience and makes the challenge of completing the course or going for a personal best all the more pleasurable and exciting. Riders should however always exercise a level of caution while on the route, as there could be incidents that have taken place further along the route that require you to slow down or stop. There could be a rider with a puncture or an official motorbike dealing with an incident around any blind corner, so please ride accordingly with this in mind.

  • When riding in a group, please work with your fellow riders to highlight any obstacles on the route. This could include pointing out potholes or a dropped water bottle to those riders behind you.

  • Route signage will be positioned around the circuit. We would ask though that if you are in a group it is always advisable to communicate to those around you that the course is going left or right, just in case someone has missed the sign. It is a simple and effective way of avoiding minor bumps when riding in a group.

  • Please be aware of those around you as you approach the finish line, and once you have crossed the finish line make your way along the route. Avoid stopping and waiting for friends as this can cause congestion and can be a hazard for those finishing behind you.

  • There will be mechanical support at the four feed stations around the route.

Kit & Clothing

  • Please ensure your bike is in full working order. Cancer Research UK Etape Caledonia staff will be doing spot checks at the start and at feed stations. We reserve the right to disqualify riders if it is deemed that the condition of their bike could pose a risk to themselves or others.

  • There are a limited number of cycling shops within the local area so please be aware that a shop may not be able to fit you in due to high demand around the event weekend. We have Cycle Hire Scotland who will be based in the event village and at all feed stations completing bike checks and selling some items if you need.

  • If you have the space we would strongly recommend you come prepared with clothes for all weather. There is still the potential for snow in the Highlands in May! The more options you pack and bring the more prepared you will be.

! We would strongly suggest you always carry spare of the following: tube, pump, tyre levers, multi tool !

  • Please ensure your helmet is in good condition (no bashes, scrapes or dents) and that it is correctly fitted. Your helmet should not move around on your head if you were to shake your head about. If it does, you need to get the straps adjusted. It could save your life so it is important to fit it correctly.

  • There will be energy products and fresh food available at the feed stations.

  • There will be water points at feed stations and in the village, so please bring water bottles with you to fill up. There will be no plastic cups at the feed stations.

  • Maurten energy gels and solids will be available for collection in the event village on Saturday.

  • If you are unable to collect your energy product on Saturday, there will be further gels and drink mix available Feed Stations 1 & 2.

There will be plenty of bike racking located in the village for riders to use post event. Please note bikes are left at owners own risk. All bikes must be removed from the racking by village closing time at 16:00.

Bike Racking

It is essential that we are able to reopen the roads on time in order to minimise inconvenience to local residents. For this reason, we will be running a sweep bus which will follow the route at a speed of 13mph. Any riders who are not able to maintain this average speed across the course will be requested to board the sweep vehicle and return to the village, as the roads will be reopening directly behind the sweep chain.

Any riders who decide to continue to ride beyond this point will no longer be a part of the event, and will be riding on open roads at their own risk.

Sweep Vehicle

There will be feed stations at multiple points along both routes where you will be able to refuel and refill your water bottles.

A mechanic will also be stationed at each feed station on the route. If you develop problems with your bike whilst on the ride, they will do their best to help you with fixing your bike and to keep you going. If this support requires replacement parts or spares, the mechanic will provide you with a price for the work

Feed Stations

Route Challenges

The Cancer Research UK Etape Caledonia route is not to be undertaken light-heartedly.

Challenges include:

  • Sharp downhill hairpin bend at mile 4.2 on all routes.

  • The descent at Trinafour after mile 26.2 is fast and twisting.

  • The descent after feed station 3 is fast and ALL riders should be aware of the route split at the bottom of the descent. You will see signs saying “get in lane” and all riders are asked to respect this.

    • At mile 79.35 there is a left hand turn onto an extremely steep climb. Please get in the right gear before the climb!

85-mile cut off times:

  • Riders must pass the 40-mile split by 08:17. After this time all riders will be diverted onto the 40-mile route.

    • Riders must leave Feed station 1 by 09:00 or they will be diverted onto the 55-mile route.

    • Riders must leave Feed station 3 by 11:46 to be on time for the Fortingal loop closing at 11:56. After this time all riders will be diverted straight onto the 40 & 55 mile route.

Signage:

All general signage directing you to the start and rider pack collection will be navy and gold.

All road traffic signage directing you around the road closures and to the parking is yellow and black.

For the 40 mile route, all event signage is PINK, for the 55 mile route, all event signage is LIGHT BLUE and for the 85 mile route all event signage is YELLOW.

55 miles will be included in either pink or yellow where there is a route split or route merge.