adidas Terrex Coast to Coast (C2C)
How the Race Works?
Rob Howard / 25.08.2011
The important bits are that solos can’t tag onto teams or race together, no food or kit drops are allowed, and their support can only assist them once they are timed into transition, and before they time out.
Only one bike/boat per competitor can be used. So teams can’t opt for one kayak on the opening sea paddle, and another inland, and everyone has to stick with one bike, rather than swap between road and mountain bikes for different stages.
They have to obey all the rules of the road and rights of way of course, stay together, and carry their trackers – and it’s in the rules that if they push the tracker to the bottom of their packs to become invisible (it happens) they’ll be penalised too!
That’s about it really – they then just have to follow the route book they are given, along with a set of Ordnance Survey course maps (10 A3 pages). This is clearly written and lets them know where there is open route choice (on the linking stages on their bikes) and any restrictions – such as to stay off main roads. The support crews will get their own instructions on how to access the transitions and where to take particular care, as there are a lot of vehicles travelling to some remote places on narrow country roads.
Every day there will a ‘King of the mountains’ contest on the biggest hill on the route, with a timed stage for hill running and there are one or two cut-offs for safety reasons – for example night fall for the swim at the end of the first day.
There is a briefing and results announcement each night and an early staggered start each day, and all being well the teams and solos should progress across the country in an orderly fashion – assisted by around 30 volunteer staff and follow by a small but select team of media personnel, a film crew, and their helicopter!
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