Planning crew rotations, Racers sleep breaks, is different for longer Multi day Races like Ultra Spice, RAA, RAW and RAAM

1. International Ultra Cycle Races
in India
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
Challenge yourself!
Push Beyond your limits!
And find yourself!

2. InternationalUltraRace
Crew/OfficiatingExperience
• RAAM 2012, 13, 15, 16 - Crewed for Various
Teams, Solo from various countries
• RAW 2014 – Crewed for Solo Racer
• RAAM 2014 – Official at RAAM
• RAE (Race Across Europe) 2015 – Crewed for 2
person team from UK
• RAA (Race Around Austria) 2016 – Crewed for
Ammar Miyaji
• RAA 2017 – 2 person team Inspire India at RAA
2017
EVENTS DESIGNED AND CONCEIVED BY DIVYA TATE
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

3. Ultra Spice Race
India’s Longest Ultrarace
DETAILS
ROUTE – Goa-Jog Falls-Chikmagalur-Coorg-
Wayanad-Ooty-Mangalore-Goa
DATE : End Jan-Early Feb
START & FINISH : Bogmalo Beach, Goa
DISTANCES : 600, 1200, 1750 KM
TIME : 30, 70, 120 hours (solo 18-49 men)
FORMAT : Solo and Team Relay event
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

4. 80%oftheworkhastobedoneBEFOREyoureachthestartline
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
The Importance of
PREPARATION & PLANNING
For Detailed presentation
on Preparation & Planning
Refer Ultra Race Resources
section on Inspire India
Website
www.inspireindia.net.in

5. Support - Vehicles
• All racers must be accompanied by support vehicles at all times.
• In multi day races 2 support vehicles are mandatory. Planning
Crew Rotations is the biggest difference between a Non-stop
Ultra Race like DC and a Multi Day race!
• In daylight hours support can be in the form of leap frog support.
• At night direct follow is mandatory, and in other conditions which
warrants it, direct follow support is recommended.
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
RULES

6. Support - Vehicles
• For the 1200 & 1750 Km race 2 support vehicles with a minimum of 2
licensed drivers in each vehicle, is mandatory for all solo and teams.
• This is however a bare minimum. A third crew member is highly
recommended in each vehicle.
• For the 1200 & 1750 KM race 2 support vehicles are required for safety
reasons, to allow support crew to take turns being on active duty for
the racers and retiring for a proper sleep break daily.
• Both Vehicles must be there for the entire duration of the race.
• No set of crew may be on Active follow duty for longer than 15 hours.
It is recommended that crew is rotated every 10-12 hours.
• Officials will exercise the right to apply rule no 10:B (SLEEP) if this is
flouted.
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
RULES

7. Providing Support – Hand offs
• Food, Water bottles etc may ONLY be handed to
cyclists by Pedestrian hand-offs as above!
• Hand offs – Inspire India Ultra Races do not permit
hand offs from vehicles as on left!
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
RULES

8. Relay team exchanges
• Relay team racers have to
pass on the baton by
overlapping wheels when
racers exchange!
• Racers may do moving or
stationary exchanges
during the day, but at night
it can only be stationary if
only one vehicle is actively
involved.
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
RULES

9. TEAM Racer Rotations - PLAN
Racer rotations can be planned
for @35-45 mins comfortably
with short pulls of 10-15 mins or
less on uphills and long pulls in
the night to allow resting
teammates to sleep.
The final plan will be based on a
no. of variables, and then have to
be adapted on the course.
• Depending on team size
• Strengths and Strategy
• Terrain
• Time of day/night
• Sleep cycles
• Health
• Crew Rotations
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
Additionally - It is essential to Keep data at all times of what
rotations were actually made. Above – Data of every rotation of
Inspire India 2 person team at Race Around Austria 2017

10. Support Vehicle/Crew Transitions
• For long races one must Plan Crew
Rotations with an ON duty (follow car)
shift of 8-12 hours depending on how
many vehicles/crew teams you have.
• Remember that the Racer/s may cover
180-200+ kms in that time so resting
crew may spend 4-5 hours driving to
catch up.
• Plan meet up/shift changes to snyc with
your team/racers race plan, based on
their planned pace and sleep break.
• This will allow crew to get about 4-5
hours max of sleep while the rest of
their off duty time is spent driving up
and doing errands.
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
In multi day races support vehicles and/or crews will have to
have planned shifts.
Fresh or rested crew will replace the out going crew along with
food, beverages, fresh clothes, charged batteries etc by
meeting them up the road.

11. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
CREW ROLES
Very simply the crew duties in follow vehicle can be split into
1. Driver
2. Navigator
3. Rider Care
• The Driver’s job is mainly to drive while ensuring
everyone’s safety.
• The Navigator’s job is one of multitasking, to navigate,
communicate with other crew, report to race officials,
watch the racer, keep data etc
• The Rider Care person is in charge of ensuring the racer is
hydrated and well fed, keeping track of Nutrition (as in
next slide)
The crew may rotate who is doing each of these at any given
time, and also double up as masseur, bike tech, media, cook,
etc. They may also need to take small rest breaks while in
active duty.
Be mindful of each others’ needs…
Your safety depends on it!

12. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
Below is a basic plan made for RAA solo 1500 Km
With 2 vehicles and 2 sets of crew
SAMPLE PLAN 1

13. Plan needs to account for
• Duration of race,
• Terrain
• Crew roles
• Crew size
• No. and Kinds of
Vehicles
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
Below is a slightly more detailed plan made for RAA 2 person team 2200 Km
With 1 follow vehicle van & 1 RV with a permanent driver and 2 sets of 3 crew
each lead by Dee and Chai.
SAMPLE PLAN 2

14. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
On the left is a detailed hourly
plan made for RAAM solo 5000
Km
With 3 vehicles and 3 sets of crew
SAMPLE PLAN 3

15. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
The Nutrition plan will need to take into account
• Racer preferences
• Tried and tested data from simulation rides
• Availability on route
• Change in racers taste after a couple of days on the
road
• Racer discipline
• Riding schedule, sleep schedule
On the left is the legend for the Nutrition plan for 2
person Team at RAA 2017
Nutrition plan - to ensure that the racers are
getting the nutrition, hydration that they need to
keep racing at the pre-determined pace
RACER NUTRITION PLAN

16. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
Below is a detailed hourly plan made for DC solo 645 Km for Shusannah Pillinger.
Being a one day non-stop race it
was possible to integrate it with
her ride plan wrt expected arrivals
at control points.
This is difficult to do for longer
racers, since the nutrition has to
be planned on a time bound basis
regardless of the location on
route. A daily hourly schedule of
nutrition is recommended, that
keeps in mind sleep rotations for
the racers as well.
RACER NUTRITION PLAN

17. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
Keep detail track of what has been given and
consumed by the racers.
This will help during the event to monitor race
progress or intercept a reduced ability on part of
the racer.
Long term this helps the racer analyze and
improve performance in future races.
RACER NUTRITION PLAN