We have made a number of changes this year that are designed to alleviate the pressure on competitors at the start area and to accommodate the further increase in numbers.
• On arrival at the start area (whether by bike, coach, car, etc) ALL riders need to follow the way marked route to the start. This heads towards the lighthouse, then bears right to the shore-line car park area. From there the arrows follow a pathway to the right close to the shore-line.
• Please keep to the marked route and avoid trampling/riding across vegetation – this is a protected area.
• After approximately 200m you will emerge into a large open area that is about the size of a football field. There is ample room for everyone here and you should be able to move about freely.
• There will be a toilet trailer in the centre of the area, which should be easy to access for everybody.
• This should be much easier for everybody – and preferable to the previous arrangement where everybody had to assemble in a narrow lane bordered by gorse!
• On the landward side of this enclosure, there is an exit gate marked by flags. Riders with race numbers 1-100 should gather close to the gate.
• Adjacent to the exit gate will be a PA system and there will be announcements / rider briefings given out over this. Please do listen and make sure that you comply with any instructions, which will include practical details about the event procedures.
• If you do have a problem, please pass a message to the person who is operating the PA and we will try to find someone to help.
• Riders who expect to complete the course in sub-4 hours should gather close to the flag marked “4-Hours”, which will be close to the exit gate. Similarly, there will be flags for 5-Hour, etc hopefuls.
• At approximately 9:40, top-100 riders will be called forward and will be allowed through the exit gate.
• It is a short ride (approximately 300m) along a track to the actual start. The timing mats will be positioned here. Just beyond the mats will be an inflatable arch.
• Top-100 riders should cross the mats to record their presence – and gather in the area before the start arch.
• At approximately 9:50, sub-4-hour riders will be called forwards and should ride along the track, stopping just before the timing mats.
• At10:00 precisely, the start claxon will be sounded and the top-100 riders will start through the arch.
• As soon as they are clear, the main field will start to filter across the timing mats.
• Please be patient as you cross the start line. Everybody will get an individual start time but we may need to constrict the flow to keep the speed down to an acceptable level. If you go too fast, you may not record an individual start time.
• Try to remember as you ride across the mats to keep whichever foot you have mounted your timing chip on closest to the mats.
Part of the plan is to reduce the volume of the mass start so that there is less congestion in the early part of the course.
Please bear in mind that some sections of the course, as used on the event day itself, are actually private land. We are very lucky to have the co-operation of the Manx Farming community in letting us use these to add quality to the riding for the event. However, it is becoming an increasing problem in the run up to the event that both local and visiting riders are blatantly riding these sections. We are receiving valid complaints from the affected farmers, who will withdraw permission if this persists.
If you are riding the course, please keep to the “all-year-round” route. This involves:
1. Keeping to the byway on the descent of the Dowse and emerging at Ballig Bridge above St John’s and NOT riding through the Ballacraine farm fields.
2. The section through Glen Rushen – You should follow the traditional route up the edge of the Creg ny Crock plantation to Eary Cushlin. This varies from the current event route which goes up the Pipeline track and then across private fields to Glen Rushen planation.
3. The final descent from the Sloc to Surby. You should keep to the byway and lane down to Surby and NOT turn off at Ballarock across the private fields.
Thank you for your co-operation. If you are NOT sure about route of the public course, you should find out before setting off. We are becoming very concerned about this problem as it threatens the future of the event.
Note that anyone caught on the private sections will be regarded as trespassing. They will also be excluded from the event. Apologies if this sounds heavy-handed, but thoughtless actions could ruin the event for everybody…