Magoeba Trek, presented by Insect Science, is a three-day mountain bike race that will take place on 25, 26, and 27 August 2023. The event is hosted and managed by Copper Moon Trading 55 (PTY) Ltd, which trades as Copper Moon Events. The Magoeba Trek is a Cycling South Africa (CSA) sanctioned event and as such CSA rules apply. All riders must carry a valid CSA license. Please read the below sections thoroughly and remember that the rules are subject to change.

1. Riders
   • The minimum age of participation in the Magoeba Trek Race is 19 years on the date on which the race takes place.
   • The minimum participation age in the Magoeba Trek Trail is 15 years on the date the race takes place.
   • The team age category is based on the age of the youngest rider.
   • If a team member rides and E-bike, then the team class will be E-bike.

2. Entries
   • Your entry is only guaranteed once full payment is received.
   • Entries close one month before the event start date or when the allocated spots are sold out.
   • In the case of promotional pricing, please note that if your entry is not be paid by the promotion deadline date, your entry will be removed from the system. Electronic transfers take up to three days to be allocated – should you register one or two days before the promotional deadline, please pay via credit card to ensure that your entry is marked as paid immediately.
   • Please note that only fully paid entries before or on 4 July 2023 will receive apparel.

3. Substitutions
   • Rider substitution will be allowed until 10 August 2023. However, the new rider will receive the apparel order from the previous rider if the substitution was done after 24 July 2023.
   • Any rider changes will carry an admin fee of R50-00.

4. Cancellations
   • A cancellation refund of 100% of the fully paid entry, less R50 admin fee, will be given until 24th June 2023.
   • No cancellation refund will be allowed after this date.
   • No transfers to 2024 are allowed.
   • NO EXCEPTIONS (INCLUDING MEDICAL).

5. Force Majeure
   • Copper Moon Events reserves the right to suspend or terminate the performance of its obligation to host the event if circumstances beyond our control arise, making performance inadvisable, impracticable, illegal, dangerous, or impossible. This includes forces of nature (extreme weather conditions) and national and global medical emergencies (pandemic outbreaks).
   • In the event of the above, Copper Moon Events and its partners will do everything in their power to postpone an event to a suitable date within a reasonable time. If the postponement is not an option or impossible to execute, then cancellation will apply. Please note there will be no refunds for a Force Majeure, including entry fees, optional extras, or costs (e.g., flights and accommodation, etc.) incurred outside of the event.

6. Registration and Briefing
   • Race registration venue(s) and time(s) will be indicated on the website and communicated via email and SMS.
   • Email and SMS notifications will be sent via the entry portal, and riders must ensure they have their correct details on the system.
   • All riders must report to registration, whether participating as a solo rider or a team and bring any form of ID with a photograph and a valid CSA license.
   • Riders need to register by the deadline indicated.
   • Compulsory pre-race briefing venue and time will be indicated on the website and communicated via email and SMS.

7. Bicycle
   • Please ensure that your mountain bike is in safe working condition at the start of the race/start of each stage; otherwise, you will not be allowed to start.
   • Each rider is responsible for maintaining their bike for the duration of the race.
   • In all cases of maintenance and repairs, riders are required to complete the total distance of the stage. The time spent on maintenance and repairs will not affect the cut-off times of the race.

8. Identification
   • Riders must display their race numbers at all times.
   • Bike numbers must remain firmly fixed on the front of the bike and may not be obstructed by cables or any other item.
   • Race numbers may not be modified or mutilated in any way, including cutting, adding stickers, removing existing stickers, or trimming.
   • No official sponsor logos may be removed from race numbers and be obstructed in any way.

9. Helmets and Clothing
   • Each rider must wear a helmet while riding during the race.
   • All helmets must comply with international ‘SNELL’ and “ANSI’ standards.
   • Appropriate riding attire, including a shirt, must be worn at all times.
   • No rider may display or reproduce the official event logo or any derivative thereof on any riding attire and team clothing without the written approval of the race organisers, which should be obtained before any such riding attire or team clothing is manufactured.

10. Equipment
    • Always carry a mobile phone, fully charged and programmed with all the emergency numbers supplied at race registration. Please ensure that both riders have a phone.
    • We recommend that each rider carry a first aid kit consisting of the following:

• 1 x stretch bandage
• 2 x dressings
• Adhesive plasters
• Foil survival blanket
• Sun block with a minimum SPF factor of 20
  • Each rider is responsible for his medication as prescribed by his physician. Please consult the race medical team if there is doubt about the legality thereof.
  • We cover areas populated by honeybees; if you are allergic to bee stings, it is paramount that you always carry your prescribed medication. Please consult our race medical team at registration if you are unsure about your allergy status.
  • Bike repair tools:
• Spare tubes
• Multi-tool
• Replacement derailleur hanger
• Inflation device (pump etc.)

11. Route and Stages
    • Only riders who complete each stage before the race cut-off time(s) will qualify as official race finishers.
    • All distances/route information may vary from that advertised and applicable information will be provided at the race briefing.
    • Riders who exit the route must return at the same point from which they left.
    • Sections of the route are on district roads and the Magoeba Trek does not have exclusive use of these roads. Please look out for of other traffic. Normal traffic regulations apply.
    • Compulsory portage sections will be signed as such. Riders must get off their bikes and walk/run from the point indicated and must not get back on until the signage or marshal instructs them to do so.

12. Race Timing
    • The race start time will be announced on the website and communicated via SMS and email. If any start time has to be changed, the notice thereof will be conveyed at the compulsory race briefing or via SMS.
    • The team time is determined as the time at which the second team member passes the stage finish line.
    • No rider may carry more than one timing transponder at any time, and no rider may pass their transponder on to another rider at any time.
    • It is the rider’s responsibility to return the number board and timing transponder; failing to do so will lead to a non-completion status, and a penalty fee will apply.
    • The finish line will be closed at 4pm on Friday and Saturday and 1pm on Sunday. Any riders still on the course will be collected by the Sweeper vehicle and considered as not finishing the stage.
    • Cut off times may apply at certain points on the route and differ per stage. These will be communicated in the daily briefing. Any riders still on the course at the cut off time and point will be collected by the Sweeper vehicle and considered as not finishing the stage.

13. Medical
    • All riders need to be in good health and well-trained.
    • Medical assistance will be supplied on-route in the form of medics and at the finish venue(s).
    • If the race organisers receive advice from the official race medic/doctor regarding any rider, the decision to prevent the rider from continuing/participating lies with the race organiser and will be final.

14. Nutrition and Hydration
    • Riders retain the ultimate responsibility to carry enough water and nutrition with them. A minimum of 1 litre of fluid is to be carried by each rider.
    • The race organisers will provide water, energy drinks, and supplements at official water points on the route.
    • The race organisers will not be liable for tampering with riders’ water bottles. The waterpoint nutrition tables are self-service stations, and it is the riders’ responsibility to collect his/her bottle.

15. Support
    • Spectator and technical zones will be indicated on route maps/website before the start of the race.
    • Any non-official support vehicles will not be allowed on the route, and only official vehicles will be permitted at the designated points.
    • If any non-official support vehicle can be linked to a specific rider, it will result in a time penalty, with a second offense resulting in immediate disqualification.
    • Supporters may drive their vehicles along public roads to reach vantage points to support riders vocally.

16. Withdrawals
    • Teams or riders that cannot continue the race for whatever reason must immediately inform the race office. This can be done at the race start, the finish, or water points or by calling the Copper Moon Events emergency number.
    • Should any rider or team fail to inform the race office of his/her/its withdrawal and should a search and rescue operation be initiated for such rider or team, the cost of the search and rescue will be for the account of that rider or team.
    • Should any team member be incapable of finishing the race, their team partner will be entitled to continue riding in the race. They may qualify as finishers but will not be eligible for rankings.
    • A rider that withdraws during the race must please convey their intentions to the nearest marshal.
    • A sweep vehicle will transport all withdrawals and their bicycles to the stage finish venue.

17. Environmental and Ethical

Riders are urged to respect the environment at all times during the race by following these rules, in particular:

• Do not throw away water bottles, packaging, or bike spares;
• Do not deviate from the route; and
• Do not smoke on the route; this is not permitted.

18. Code of Conduct

We urge all riders to display good sportsmanship throughout the duration of the race by keeping to the following guidelines:

• No use of offensive or abusive language during the race;
• Act in an unsporting manner;
• Be disrespectful to the officials and organisers;
• Or ignore the race regulations

19. Discretion of the Commissaire and Race Organisers

Where any additional rule interpretation is required in these rules, the decision of the commissaires and race organisers will be final.