Your guide to the Polyathlon & PolyLiban 2016 Edition I. ABOUT II. DATES & PROGRAM III. GENERAL REGULATIONS IV. REGISTRATION & FEES V. LOGISTICS & EQUIPMENT VI. FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS VII. SAFETY MEASURES VIII. DETAILED CYCLING ROUTES YOUR CHECKLIST THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS 11 PAGES, READ THEM ATTENTIVELY I. ABOUT The “Polyathlon des Cèdres” and the “PolyLiban Cyclo tour” are organized by L'Association du PolyLiban (www.polyliban.org) since 2008 under the high patronage of the Lebanese Army Commander and with the support and participation of the Lebanese Army and Poly-athletes from Lebanon, Europe, and the Middle East. The "Polyathlon des Cèdres" is the highest multi-sports event in Lebanon and the Middle-East. It aims to create self-awareness by pushing personal boundaries through the promotion of non-competitive sport activities with a green attitude. This 9th edition of the Polyathlon will link Batroun coast to Qornet el Sawda (3088 m highest peak in the Near East). The challenge includes rafting, swimming, archery, biking and trekking. The Polyathlon is followed by the PolyLiban Cyclo tour. The 9th edition "PolyLiban des 4 Cols" is a long distance cycling adventure around Lebanon crossing more than 360 km in 4 days along the most challenging mountain passes in Lebanon. II. DATES & PROGRAM Polyathlon des Cèdres 16-17-18 September 2016 Friday 16 September 2016 4:00 pm Arrival to Batroun (Colonel Brewery), check in and preparation 6:30 pm General briefing and stages explanation 7:30 pm Opening ceremony and pasta party 9:30 pm Final briefing and safety measures Saturday 17 September 2016 3:00 am Wake up and packing 3:30 am Breakfast and bags transfer 4:00 am Rafting stage (MANDATORY) 3 km 5:30 am Swimming stage (Optional) 2 km 6:30 am Bikes preparation 7:00 am Cycling stage 108 km / +3800 m Group A Arrival before 3:00 pm to Cedars, trekking to Qornet el Sawda Group B Arrival between 3:00 and 6:00 pm to Cedars Group C Arrival after 3:00 pm to Mizyara (at 70 km) bus transfer to Cedars 8:00 pm Dinner in Cedars for group B & C 9:00 pm Dinner in Qornet el Sawda camp for group A Sunday 18 September 2016 2:30 am Wake-up for Group B & C 3:00 am Trekking to Qornet el Sawda 8:00 am Arrival to Qornet el Sawda (Group photo) 9:00 am Bus transfer to Cedars 1:00 pm Bus transfer to Batroun (except for PolyLiban participants) 3:00 pm Arrival to Batroun IMPORTANT The Polyathlon is a multi-sport event, to complete it participants should do all the stages except for swimming (optional). Doing the trekking stage and sleeping at the Cedars’ barracks is reserved for the participants who complete the rafting stage and one of the cycling stage categories. PolyLiban des 4 Cols, September 19 to 22 September 2016 Monday 19 September 2016 (Col Cedars – Aainata) Cedars to Deir El Ahmar Distance: 95 km Elevation gain: 1700 m Tuesday 20 September 2016 (Col Hadath Baalbak – Ouioun El Siman) Deir El Ahmar to Mtein Distance: 95 km Elevation gain: 2600 m Wednesday 21 September 2016 (Col Kfarselwan – Zahle) Mtein to Ain Zebdeh Distance: 90 km Elevation gain: 1700 m Thursday September 2016 (Col Kefraya – Maasser El Shouf) Ain Zebdeh to Yarzeh Distance: 85 km Elevation gain: 2100 m IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING ONLY IN THE POLYLIBAN YOU SHOULD ARRIVE TO THE CEDARS BARRAKS ON SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2016 BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:00 PM Closing Ceremony on 22 September 2015 @ 7:30 pm Location: to be determined soon III. GENERAL REGULATIONS The Polyathlon des Cèdres consists of 5 sports' activities to be completed in less than 24 hours, all activities are MANDATORY except for the swimming stage (Optional) Sea Rafting (3km) Sea Swimming (2km) Cycling (108km) Archery Trekking (12km) All participants should respect the Polyathlon values and abide by the general rules and conditions. Polyathlon and PolyLiban cycling tour are non-competitive sport events and racing is NOT-ALLOWED. For their own safety and security all participants: Should follow the official routing distributed by the organizers; Should respect the organizers’ guidelines and remarks. For the cycling stage 3 categories are available: Group A Batroun to the Cedars 108 km (arrival to the Cedars before 3:00 pm) Group B Batroun to the Cedars 108 km (arrival to the cedars between 3:00 and 6:00 pm) Group C Batroun to Mezyara 70 km (arrival to Mezyara after 3:00 pm, transfer by bus to the Cedars) The participation is individual and each participant should specify in the registration form which cycling group he would like to join (A, B, or C). Polyathlon participants must arrive on Friday 16 September between 4:00 and 5:00 pm to BATROUN Colonel Brewery. PolyLiban participants must arrive on Sunday 18 September between 2:00 and 4:00 pm to the Cedars Barracks. Simple accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and refueling (snacks, fruits, and water), will be provided by the organizers during both events. For the accommodation each participant should have his own sleeping bag and small mattress. Each participant is free to bring his own food and beverages to refuel during the Polyathlon event. The organizers will ensure the transportation from the Cedars to Batroun on Sunday 18 September 2016 in the afternoon (departure around 1:00 pm) Rafting stage [MANDATORY] Participants will be divided into groups of 8 persons/raft Distance: 3km Each participant should wear a colored swimming cap, goggles and a headlamp NO ONE will be all allowed to participate without the above mentioned equipment Upon arrival, all participants must pass by the checkpoint Swimming stage [Optional] Distance: 2km Each participant should wear a colored swimming cap and goggles After each kilometer, participants have to get out of the water and pass by the checkpoint NO ONE will be all allowed to participate without the swimming cap and goggles Cycling stage [MANDATORY] Distance: 108 km; Elevation gain: 3900 m (Level: VERY DIFFICULT) Participants must wear an approved safety-cycling helmet. NO ONE will be all allowed to ride without a proper helmet! Traffic laws must be respected during the event. Note that all roads are OPEN to vehicle traffic. Riders are expected to help fellow riders who experience any problems. The organizers’ guidelines must be respected and adhered to, to ensure the safety of all riders. You should not deviate from the official route unless you have informed one of the organizing committee member and have received confirmation. You must obey the traffic officers and authorized marshals/organizers at all times. Do not litter in order to protect the environment. Each participant should have his own bike fixing gear and at least 2 extra tubes Each participant should have a head lamp Trekking stage [MANDATORY] Distance: 12km Each participant should wear proper Hiking shoes, a polar jacket (or wind stopper) and gloves. Each participant should have a bonnet/buff and head lamp. IMPORTANT Doing the trekking stage and sleeping at the Cedars’ barracks is reserved for the participants who complete the rafting stage and one of the cycling stage categories. Withdrawal An escort bus and truck are available for any participant who does not feel well and want to withdraw from the cycling stage. Participants who withdraw are not allowed to cycle again. The participant should inform the organizers about his withdrawal. The escort bus and truck will continue to the Cedars and will not go back to Batroun before Sunday afternoon. Participant who withdraw during the cycling stage and would like to go back to Batroun on Saturday should inform the organizers and ensure their own transportation. IV. REGISTRATION & FEES For your safety and security Pre-registration is MANDATORY 1- All participants are requested to register and pay for the Polyathlon des Cèdres and/or the PolyLiban des 4 Cols on the following link https://www.ihjoz.com/events/1872-polyathlon-des-cedres-polyliban-2016 before Friday September 9, 2016 Participants who cannot register and pay online can do a direct registration and payment during the “Info Meeting” 2- After September 9th registration WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!! 3- Who can participate in the Polyathlon & PolyLiban? Any person who is over 18 years old in good health with no heart or respiratory problems 4- The Info Meeting (MANDATORY for all participants) will be held at Beirut Digital District on Tuesday 30 August 2016 at 7:30 pm 5- We kindly ask you to bring the following documents to confirm your registration during the Info Meeting: -Copy of your ID (or copy of your passport) -Copy of your medical insurance -Registration fees (in case you didn’t pay online) REGISTRATION FEES/Person* Polyathlon 50 000 LBP (or 33$) PolyLiban 150 000 LBP (or 100$) Polyathlon & PolyLiban 175 000 LBP (or 117$) Cycling jersey 50 000 LBP (or 33$) Fees include accommodation, refueling, escorting, bags transportation, and all meals *The Polyathlon & PolyLiban are not for profit events, the symbolic fees cover part of the cost Even if you have completed the registration and payment NOTE THAT YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO ARRIVE BETWEEN 4 & 5 PM TO BATROUN ON FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER TO: Sign the check-in sheet Get your safety number and be informed about the safety measures Buy the Polyathlon 2016 jersey (first arrived first served) V. LOGISTICS & EQUIPMENTS During the Polyathlon des Cèdres Cycling clothes and shoes, snacks, water, and personal belongings should be prepared before the departure of the first 2 stages (rafting and swimming) and packed in a plastic bag with the name clearly written on it (distributed by the organizers).