Return To The Trails

We look forward to welcoming you to the immaculate trails of Western Cape. In order to deliver you the safest race experience possible in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be implementing best practice guideline measures at the FNB Wines2Whales.

5 Guiding Principles:

1. Hygiene awareness

• Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations will be readily available around the race villages and venues.
• Cleaning of common venue areas will be increased.
• Staff and crew wear face masks at all times while in rider-facing, public spaces or working areas.
• All persons to wear a face mask while in the race villages, venues and on the race route and to maintain a minimum distance of not less than 1.5m between each other at all times.
• Implement a sanitizing regime in areas used by riders and crew i.e, dining marquee’s, showers, mixing zones.

2. Screening and education

• Appropriate personal health, personal hygiene and safe support education and training will be provided for staff and crew in necessary functional areas.
• Riders and Crew must present proof of vaccination or a valid (negative) PCR test result, not older than 72 hours or a valid (negative) Antigen test result not older than 48 hours, prior to the start of the event in order to participate.. For Riders the start of the event will mean Race Registration and for Crew, the start is defined as their first day of work.

3. Density reduction

• Instituting measures to increase space for persons throughout the race villages and venues.
• Enable appropriate physical distancing (>1.5 m) whenever possible.

4. Touchpoint minimisation

• Reducing or removing touchpoints and points of interaction between riders, staff, and crew without compromising event safety, security, and the practical operational delivery of the event.

5. Rider personal responsibility

• All persons are empowered to determine their individual level of personal responsibility to further minimize interaction and touchpoints with crew and fellow riders.
• All persons will be required review and accept the Event Covid-19 policy protocols alongside the Rider and Crew Commitment.

Rider and Crew Commitment

We believe that every person should play a role in keeping other riders, staff, and crew safe at the races. There are four pillars that should guide personal behavior and we ask all riders and crew to pledge their agreement to the below:

1. Be responsible

• Notify the Event Management immediately if you have been in contact with any person who has tested positive for Covid-19 three days prior to the start of the event or during the event.
• Be Alert! Read all event communication and signage, as it could contain important information on any new procedures and policies.
• Follow safety instructions from Event Management, race announcers and race officials.
• Follow Covid-19 protocols for traveling in a vehicle with others. (<70% Capacity, wearing a mask and open windows.)
• Utilize proper health and hygiene methods for hand washing, hand sanitizing, sneezing, and coughing.
• Wear a face mask at all times within race villages, venues, at support locations on the race route or any occasion when in close contact (<1.5 m) from other people.
• Download the Epic Series App.

2. Observe Rider and Crew Etiquette

• Consider the safety of others. Adhere to best practices and Event Covid-19 protocols to protect others
• Celebrations are to take place with no physical contact and in accordance with the event Covid-19 protocols for prize giving’s and celebrations.
• Arrive according to your assigned time for activities such as registration and start chute check-in.
• No littering! Properly dispose all rubbish

3. Respect others

• Refrain from spitting or expelling any other bodily fluids while near other riders and crew
• Give yourself and others space! Keep a distance of >1.5 m from others.
• Utilize water points in accordance with the Event Covid-19 protocols and follow the instruction of the water point crew at all times. Minimize time spent and touchpoints at each water point and ensure proper social distancing when having to interact with water point crew or riders.
• Let others know when passing to ensure distancing as is practical at the time.

4. Adhere to the Event Covid-19 policies and protocols along with any local/national government regulations relating to the management of Covid-19.