CHECK IN
The check in will be open in Geilo from 18:00 - 19:00 Friday 20th. and 12:00 – 16:00 on Saturday 22nd.
As always there are valium pills on offer as you receive the package containing:
Viking Tour Cycling Jersey.
Numbered profile cards of all road stages with place names, sprints, gradients, important phone numbers etc.
Start numbers and electronic timing chip (touring classes are only registered, no times are taken).
Road book with:
Detailed maps
Maps of stage finishing towns.
Set of rules and list of participants.
Emergency phone numbers, numbers to the organizer etc.
RACE OFFICE
The race office (RO) will be at the Valhalla camp and open every afternoon. RO will function as a manned info point with lost & found, weather forecasts, questions not answered in the road booketc. Maps of the camps, race results and race related news are published as they come in.
Sports nutrition, VT-apparel, cold drinks etc. are for sale and you can hang out telling the tales of torment. We are very happy if we can copy your photos for the photo collection at www.vikingtour.no and future VT promotion.
INTERNET
We are every year trying to organize wireless internet connections (WLAN) on all stage finishes.
Info on this -passwords etc- are changed to often to put in the roadbook. We publish such info on simple motes in Valhll.
During stages we use FaceBook to publish live info, photos and video from both racing and the lanterne rouges. Racing times and safety are taken very seriously. Other issues are not.
Short status reports as calls or SMS messages are very welcome during the stages.
The phone number for Mr. Update will be out a few weeks before the race.
Results, press releases and phots will be updated daily at www.vikingtour.no / org.
PROTESTS
Protests must be given orally as soon as possible at the race office.
The jury only sits down after a complaint is given in writing.
MONEY
All stage finishes have minibank terminals . Non-Nordic credit cards can be a problem if paying directly in some stores, though most tourist-aimed shops can handle them .
LUGGAGE
Bike cases and other stuff you do not need during the cycling week can be stored in a locked room for free. Cars can be parked for free in a special lot all week.
A lorry (LKW) brings all luggage between the stage finishes for those who wants.
You are asked to tie your things together and load it onto the truck as one piece every day if possible.
This makes it much easier for everyone to find their stuff fast.
The crew can bring your laptop or other fragile equipment. Talk to the Race office crew about this .
We receive many requests to transport spare wheels and other cycling gear from individual riders.
We do not have the capacity to help all who ask this service.
We also want it to be possible to win a Viking Tour trophy without a cryptonite time trial frame .
Transport of such goodies are therefore left to following cars .
We do of course transport special food for participants needing this.
There will be vegetarian meals available at the recommended dining places.
CLOTHES
Even if the Viking Tour stays in southern Norway this year, we will spend much time at 1000 meters above sea level. We may joke and laugh happily before start at sea level in everything between 30 to 12 degrees. It is a physical fact that temperature drops app 1 degree for every 100 of ascent.
If you think the maths is difficult, you should not sign up for Viking Tour.
In addition to the normal cycling wear - shoes, shorts, shirt, helmet, gloves- you will need to bring the "extreme weather package." If the organiser declares "Extreme weather" on one or more stages, you will not be allowed to start without wearing the following: Shoe cover in neoprene or other warming material. (The thin lycra stuff is just too cool in icy rain.) Long legged pants and long sleeved jacket - both must be water repellant and fully wind breaking. Long fingered glovesYou`ll receive your own Viking Tour jersey before start, so you do not have to bring many yourself .
TIME SCHEDULE VIKING TOUR 2012
Due in May 2012
Friday 20.7.
Valhalla is open from 14:00
Race office in Valhalla is open 18:00 - 19:00
Saturday 21.7
Race office in Valhalla open 12:00 - 16:00
Breakfast available at ______________07:00 – 10:00. NOK ____
Short briefing in Valhalla 16:00 – 16:15
Start prologue, Individual Time Trial.16:30 (No aerobars allowed !)
30 second start intervals.
Last start: 18:45
Last rider to finish: Ca 19:05
Warm food for sale at_________________ from: ______ (Buffet NOK ,-)
Prize ceremony & welcoming briefing: 20:00
Sunday 22.7.
Breakfast at ____________________
Luggage deliveries onto truck:________________
Briefing + Start: __________________
First rider to timing line ca. ____________
First rider to finish __________________
Last rider to finish ca ________( ____ km/h avg/snitt including ferry/breaks/photos)
Warm food for sale at ___________
Prize ceremony- Leader shirts: 19:00
Monday 23.7
Breakfast at _____________________
Luggage deliveries onto truck: __________________
Briefing & start Touring: _________________
Briefing & start Racing: ______________________
First rider to timing line ca. _________________
First rider to finish: _________________
Last rider to finish ca: ____________(____km/h snitt/avg including breaks/photos)
Warm food for sale at ___________________
Prize ceremony: 19:00
Tuesday 24.7
Breakfast at _______________
Clothes & luggage deliveries __________________
Briefing & start Touring: _________________
Briefing & start Racing: ______________________First rider to timing line ca.___________________
First rider to finish: _______________
Last rider to finish ca: ____________( ___km/h avg/snitt including breaks/photos)
Warm food for sale at __________
Prize ceremony: _________________
Wednesday 25.7.
Breakfast at ________________________
Clothes & luggage deliveries ___________________
Briefing + Start: ___________________
Briefing + Start Racing: _____________________
First rider to timing line ca.________________
First rider to finish:____________________
Last rider to finish ca: ________________(__ km/h avg/snitt including breaks/photos)
Warm food for sale:____________________
Prize ceremony: __________________
Thursday 26.7.
Breakfast at___________________
Clothes & luggage deliveries: _________________
Briefing + start Touring:___________________
Briefing + Start Racing:___________________
First rider to timing line ca: ________________
First rider to finish: ________________
Last rider to finish ca:________________(__ km/h avg/snitt including breaks/photos)
Warm food for sale at____________________
Prize ceremony: __________________
Friday 27.7.
Breakfast at ________________________
Clothes & luggage deliveries ________________
Briefing + start Touring:___________________
Briefing + Start Racing:___________________
First rider to timing line ca: ________________
First rider to finish: ________________
Last rider to finish ca:________________(__ km/h avg/snitt including breaks/photos)
Free warm food served to all participants at ___________________
Prize ceremony and closing of Viking Tour 2012:_________________
VALHALLA
- where fallen vikings rise from the dead and get new life before dawn.
Valhalla is basicly a sports hall or school where you get your much needed rest and sleep.
You must bring your own sleeping bag and thin matrass if you prefer.
Simple but nourishing breakfasts are included Sunday 22nd. through Friday 27th.
All Valhallas have showers and toilets.
Bikes shall be parked at the assigned places.
We try to organize acess to local pools and sauna where such exist.
WLAN (wireless internet) acess and a TV for watching the TdF are as always on our work list.
Local maps of stage starts/finishes and Valhalla areas will be posted here by February 1st.
HOTEL OPTION
We have negotiated special prices with hotels on each stage finish: Dr. Holms Hotel in Geilo, Park Hotell Rjukan, Hordatun Hotel in Røldal and in Ulvik Brakanes-group with its three hotels Strand, Ulvik Fjordhotell and Brakanes Hotell. There are options for single, double and triple rooms to choose from on the sign up page. For high season in Norway, the prices are indeed favourable.
We of course transport all your luggage, accordions etc. to the hotels and pick them up next morning. Prices per room for hotel option July 21st. - 27th.: Double room NOK 5590.- Triple room NOK 7185,- Single room NOK 4230,-
Hotel for the last night - after the race- Friday 27th. to Saturday 28th. at Dr. Holms in Geilo:
triple room NOK 350, double NOK 400 and single room NOK 600. Breakfast is included all mornings when sleeping in hotels.
FOOD
Warm food is for sale on all stage finishes.
There will be normally be vegetarian meals available at the recommended dining places :
You should not expect to have cooking facilities available at Valhalla .
We transport special food for participants needing this.
Use of alcohol is not allowed in Norwegian schools or at sport stadiums .
TOURING & HOLIDAY
No timing. If you are 17 years of age or more in 2011, you can ride with us regardsless of bike, gender, sense of humour....
There will be a special service van for the touring class riders.
Touring class will start at the same time, well before the racing class. For starting and other times, please see Practical / Time schedule.
CLASSES
Daily honouring of stage winners for women and men. Sprint and King & Queen of the mountains - competitions get leader jerseys.
Regardless of class, 30, 20 and 10 sprint / KOM points are awarded the frst woman / man to cross sprint and KOM lines.
Men and ladies:
17 - 22 yrs.
23 - 39 yrs.
40 - 49 yrs.
50 - 59 yrs.
60 + yrs.
Single riders can also and simultanously participate as part of a team.
Teams of 3-4: Three to four single riders who ALSO choose to list as a team before the first start. The three fastest team times on each stage are added for the total team times. A team rider who fails to complete a stage is moved to the touring class and will not later be counted as part of a team.
Riders abandoning the race can not be replaced.
Best club: Club & Union with most finishers regardless of class.
Special prizes:
Finisher with the longest travel to Hemsedal.
Finisher with the northernmost adress.
Oldest finisher
Youngest finisher
Heaviest finisher; Optional weight control in Hemsedal on July 29th.
Sportsmanship prize
The most unlucky rider
RULES
Racing class also rides non-timed sections
All riders in timed (racing) classes must ride thecomplete distances between stage finishing towns. All non-timed sections before or after the timing must be cycled. Riders failing to do so will be moved to the touring class.
Official race status: cyclosportive
Viking Tour is classified as a tur-ritt as described by the Norwegian cycling federation. This means the route is open to normal traffic and each competitor is responsible for following the rules of traffic and conducting him/herself as if on a private cycling trip.
Link: Rules for turritt from NCF. Link: Justice dep.: "Law on racing on public roads.".
Participants licences
At registration in Hemsedal Norwegian riders must show a valid license from NCF, covering participation in the Viking Tour or purchase a one-time licence in the race office. This costs NOK 200,-
Bikes, equipment
A helmet must be worn at all times during the race. No kinds of aero-bars are allowed even during time trials, prologues. Bar-ends are allowed on otherwise straight handlebars like on off-road bikes. No kind of ear plugs are allowed while on the bike - regardless of timed or nontimed sections.
Cell phones
Bringing a mobile phone might earn you or a friend crucial time if needing medical assistance or (hopefully) simply a new gear wire.
Lights
On stages with tunnels, all riders shall have a working red light pointing backwards and a white one pointing forwards. Lights can be on the whole distance, but blinking is only allowed when in tunnels. All feeding stations have first aid equipment, basic tools, radio/mobile-communication.
Outside assistance
Receiving drinks or food from a moving vehicle or from anyone in the road is strictly forbidden!
Tecnical assstance is allowed but only if the rider is off the bike.
Following cars.
Cars following the race must show extreme caution and drive well behind or many kilometres in front of the peloton. Preferred: Use of the alternative roads. Holding up one of the organizers cars will not be taken lightly. These are always busy when on the road. Keep very good distance behing riders so other cars can pass easily and without braking.
Littering, garbage
Throwing bottles, paper, etc., in the race will be given time penalties. There will be baskets for empty bottles at each feedingstation. It is a nice landscape - do not destroy it!
Protests, jury, penalties
The informal atmosphere and good sportsmanship between Viking Tour participants have kept the event alsmost chemically free from disagreements. If a protest is to come or the organizer experiences unwanted behaviour, rulings are made by a jury of crew members who themselves are cyclists. Complaints are to be set forth orally as soon as possible and the jury willl then wait until a written statement is handed in before dealing with it. Safety and fair play are top priorities. Obviously false accusations may result in reactions to the complainer.
