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CYCLISTS' GUIDE
FREEDOM CHALLENGE - RACE ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA - UP TO 26 DAYS
DATE 15 June 2020
TIME 06h00
ORGANISERS Freedom Challenge
DISTANCE 2300;
PROVINCE KwaZulu-Natal
START VENUE Pietermaritzburg City Hall,Chief Alber Luthuli St,, Pietermaritzburg
PRIMARY CONTACT
NAME David Waddilove
NUMBER 076-5715990
EMAIL david@freedomchallenge.org.za
FAX
HOME NUMBER
WORK NUMBER
SECONDARY CONTACT
NAME Meryl Glaser
NUMBER 083-6588440
EMAIL meryl@freedomchallenge.org.za
FAX
HOME NUMBER
WORK NUMBER 078-6068625
ENTRY DETAILS



Pre-entries: www.freedomchallenge.org.za. 




DIRECTIONS

Race Start Coordinates: -29.601813843521214, 30.379373268588097 

Race Finish Coordinates: -33.667078823107516, 19.00088033906286 

THE RUN


The ride starts in Pietermaritzburg and follows South Africa’s Freedom Trail ending in Wellington. The race covers six terrestrial biomes ranging from coastal to mountainous and semi-desert. The cumulative ascent is 37,000 metres and the highest point is 2,700 metres above sea level. The route follows the Freedom Trail along a wide variety of off-road terrain; dirt roads, farm roads and tracks, footpaths and animal tracks. Many of the trails retrace old historic wagon routes which are no longer in regular use. With the kind permission of David Waddilove the following is an outline of this epic journey.




Sisonke - Pietermaritzburg via Byrne, Hella Hella, Centocow, Ntsikeni and Swartberg to Little Umzimvubu.


Maluti - Little Umzimvubu via Matatiele, Ongeluksnek, Tinana, Vuvu and Naude's Nek to Rhodes. Cut off after 8 days.


Stormberg - Rhodes via Bottlenek, Vaalhoek, Dordrecht, Pronskraal and Brosterlea to Hofmeyr. Cut off after 12 days.


Karoo - Hofmeyr via Elandsberg, Fish River, Swaershoek, Pearston, Karoopoort, Darlington Dam and Kleinpoort to Groot Rivier.


Baviaanskloof - Groot Rivier via Cambria, Studtis and Willowmore. Cut off after 18 days.


Swartberg - Willowmore via Prince Albert and Vleiland to Anysberg.


Breede River - From Anysberg via Montagu, McGregor, Hammanshof and Rawsonville to Paarl.
MEDIA RELEASE
Race Name Release Date Media Release
ORGANISER
NAME Freedom Challenge
PROVINCE Eastern Province
EMAIL david@freedomchallenge.org.za
WEBSITE
ADDRESS

CONTACT PERSON
NAME
PROVINCE
EMAIL
NUMBER
ADDRESS

RACES BY THIS CLUB
TYPE PROVINCE RACE DATE VENUE CONTACT NUMBER
EDITORS NOTES



EDITORS NOTES

Imagine a race so vast that it takes up all of your annual leave. Imagine an epic on a scale so large that it promises only one thing; to change your life - forever. Imagine a ride where the helpers, mainly farmers take their leave just to help you along the way. Imagine a race the size of South Africa. This, then, is the Freedom Challenge, a 2,300 kilometre mountain bike event, non-stop, unassisted and uncompromising. Apart from the riding, there are numerous portage sections where riders will have to hike, push and even carry their bikes. The race is unsupported and no individual seconding is permitted. Meals and accommodation are provided at approximately 25 support stations spaced at intervals of about 100 kilometres.

The nature and scope of this race is vast, to find out more visit the organisers website. There are guidelines and details on event support, cycling conditions and logistics. Since the route is not marked, riders need to navigate by means of maps, compass and narrative directions. The use of GPS devices for navigation during the race is not allowed and will lead to disqualification. Interim Cut-offs: these apply at various points along the route and riders need to pass through these points before the relevant cut-off times . This is to ensure that riders do not fall behind the final 26 day cut-off for the finish in Wellington. Missing one of these interim cut-offs will mean disqualification and leaving the trail with a DNF result. The following cut-offs apply:  Rhodes: 8 days  Hofmeyr: 12 days    Willowmore: 18 days.



Time Limit: 636:00

Finishers: 60

ACCOMODATION

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