THE CEDER Gravel Race

• All bicycles welcome except E-bikes. NO E-bikes allowed unfortunately
• Distance: 245km
• 3700m elevation gain
• Race it or ride it!
• Self-Supported (One dropbox / water-point at 130km)
• Race format: Solo / no teams
• Limited race entries available
• Group Start: 04:00am Saturday 27 August 2022
• Any emergency race support or assistance will be withdrawn at midnight Saturday 27 August 2022
• Strava segment: The Ceder
• The Ceder route GPX file will be sent via email leading up to race day
• To feature on The Ceder Strava leaderboard, please follow route (no detours such as Op-die-Berg) according to GPX file & ‘The Ceder’ Strava segment
• There will be a top 3 podium for a men’s category & a women’s category (Equal prizes for both podiums)

We encourage all participants to treat The Ceder as a self-supported race / ride. There will be no route markings. However, the safety & well-being of our riders are a priority. There will be a medical support vehicle on route & ambulance in case of emergencies. One dropbox and waterpoint provided at 130km. Please be sure to save necessary emergency contact numbers provided via email & at registration.

ENTRY FEE

• R975 Early Bird Entry (27 March)
• R1375 Full Entry (2 May)
• R1500 Last Round Entry (6 June)
• Entries only available online via Quicket
• Substitutions will be charged an additional R100, no substitutions after 31 July
• No refunds
• Event cancelation due to COVID related or any unforeseen issues, all entries will automatically carry over to following year

RACE ENTRY INCLUDES

• Goodie Bag - Follow The Ceder for goodie announcements
• The Ceder Musette
• Race Number 
• On route Medical support vehicle & ambulance
• Equal prizes for men’s & women’s podiums - Follow The Ceder for prize announcements 

Attending The Ceder Event & participating in The Ceder Race, all participants do so at their own risk. The Ceder, organizer/s, volunteers, staff, sponsors & Cederberg Oasis take no responsibility for any loss, damage, injuries or deaths. 

The Ceder recommends that you arrange your own personal accident insurance, ambulance cover and income protection insurance before participating in the Event to cover any unforeseen personal costs you may incur due to ambulance trips, medical expenses or time off work due to injuries sustained whilst participating in the Event. As a The Ceder participant, you are responsible for yourself and should know the rules and regulations of the race. You need to be able to clearly evaluate your mental and physical abilities. You need to be sufficiently trained and keep with you all the necessary & compulsory equipment, gear & kit. 

REGISTRATION

• TBC

COMPULSORY KIT & GEAR

• Fully charged front & rear bicycle lights (with additional spare batteries or power pack) Lights to be capable of minimum 6 hours
• Helmet
• Waterproof jacket (TBC leading up to race day)
• Windbreaker
• Thermal layers (Baselayer, arm warmers or long sleeve jersey, leg warmers)
• Buff
• Gloves
• Emergency Survival blanket (Space blanket)
• Fully charged phone with saved emergency contacts (To conserve battery, leave phone in ‘Flight mode’)
• Food, Nutrition & Hydration
• Hydration - Minimum 1.5L capacity (Bottles or bladder or both)
• Race Number 
• GPS device for route navigation & time tracking for race leaderboard
• Cape Nature Day Permit issued by the reserve

DNF (DID NOT FINISH) / RETIRING FROM THE RACE

Should you need to drop out of the race, you have to notify a race official immediately. If you leave the course and fail to notify race officials, you will be banned from participating in the future (unless assisted from the course by the race medic) Please report to race organizer or race officials when finished. Contacts provided on entry & at registration on Friday evening.

ENVIRONMENT

• Leave no trace & take no souvenirs
• Race participants are responsible for anything they discard, goes into a bin
• Please respect & be aware of other road users, especially on descents and blind corners

ACCOMMODATION

• ALL participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation directly with Cederberg Oasis. It is recommended to book accommodation ASAP to avoid disappointment

OTHER INFO

• Cederberg Oasis offer braai facilities (wood for sale on premises)
• Oasis restaurant: Please visit website for menu, kitchen closes 8pm
• Honesty bar: Please respect Oasis’ filing system & honesty bar
• Closest shop & fuel station: Op-die-berg 65km (Petrol Station closed on Sundays)
• No pets allowed unfortunately
• No 4x4 needed to reach Cederberg Oasis, although it is recommended due to condition of gravel roads

Please note that The Ceder is not sanctioning this race with any cycling association or governing body, we are following the practice of all gravel bike events worldwide. The Ceder complies to the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events act, 2010. If you are a pro cyclist and/or a member of a cycling association that may have rules & regulations regarding entering non-sanctioned events, please understand them before entering The Ceder.

 The 245km circular route takes you in a clockwise direction from Cederberg Oasis over Grootrivierhoogte, across Grootrivier, through Blinkberg Pass until you reach a T-junction at the R303. You will turn right (Turning left to Op-die-berg is a detour and NOT part of the race route segment) on to the R303 heading through a section of the Koue Bokkeveld & Hexberg Nature Reserve. This is all tar road & only turns to gravel closer to Middelberg Pass.

 You will climb over Middelberg Pass before descending into the Olifantsriver valley, making your way into the town of Citrusdal. At the 130km mark, you will find a dropbox / waterpoint at Pomario School on your left. Please assure you cross the timing mat. In Citrusdal the route turns right onto Voortrekker Street. Continue straight on Voortrekker Street, heading through & out of town on the tar road.

The route follows the Olifantsriver on your left, crossing the Algeria turnoff. This road will pass the Clanwilliam dam on your left and reach a T-junction where you will turn right heading back in the direction of Oasis. At 197km, you pass Jamaka Resort and continue until reaching the paved road of Algeria. Turn left at this T-junction, where the paved road leads over Uitkyk Pass.

From Uitkyk Pass, the route passes Sandrift & Cederberg Wines. Keep left at the Kromriver turnoff (Race route does NOT go through Kromriver) to drop down to cross Matjiesrivier. Keep right at the T-junction and head up the final climb before descending to the finish line at Oasis.

• The Ceder route GPX file will be sent via email leading up to race day
• Strava segment: The Ceder
• To feature on The Ceder leaderboard, please follow route (no detours such as Op-die-Berg) according to GPX file & ‘The Ceder’ Strava segment
• The Ceder Race route & official segment does NOT follow the Cape Cycle Cederberg Circuit or Cederberg FKT route through Kromrivier (Do not turn right down to Kromriver)

POINTS ON ROUTE

• 0km Oasis Start
• 7km Grootrivierhoogte
• 25km Blinkberg Pass
• 65km Op-die-berg Turn-off (Going to Op-die-berg is a detour - Route does not go through the town)
• 115km Middelberg Pass
• 130km Dropbox / Waterpoint
• 135km Citrusdal
• 160km Olifantsriver bridge
• 197km Jamaka Resort
• 210km Uitkyk Pass
• 244km Finish at Oasis

 ENTER THE CEDER