th 6 Edition - Route Details The Route The Race starts in Pune, the city of cycles, and finishes in Goa, on the sea shore. Set on the Deccan Plateau, the route follows the Sahyadri Range, which defines the western edge of the Deccan, finally dropping through dense forests that cover the cliffs of the Escarpment, into the Konkan as it heads to the Indian Ocean. Each year the route is modified to adjust to road conditions. This year the route goes via Surur phata through Wai to Panchagani, turning south to go through Bhilar towards Medha/Satara. From Satara till Belur (just before Dharwad it remains on the NH4, turning back to Belgaum to head for Goa through Chorla Ghat. Route Details have been finalized after a physical inspection of road conditions conducted by the team in end of October. We do not expect any further changes, except if there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any last minute changes, participants will be notified. Description / Cautions The Start Venue for this edition is The Cliff Restaurant and Club, at Forest Trails Bhugaon, Paranjape Schemes (Construction) Ltd which has hosted the start of the last 2 editions. From there one heads steeply downhill and on to Chandni chowk to join NH4, heading south towards Bangalore. The first climb to Katraj tunnel is followed by a flat, slight downhill until one crosses the Nira River at Shirwal at @60 km. While this stretch usually offers an opportunity to do very good time, this year there are some sections under construction and participants are cautioned that the service roads that one has to take, are in bad condition. The road improves after Shirwal, and climbs up Khambatki ghat which is undergoing construction work, a 3.5 km ascent with a short descent on the other side. Immediately after at @85km one turns off the highway to head though Wai up Pasarni Ghat, to Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, in the Sahyadri mountain range. Participants are cautioned that the climbing section has some bad patches and intermittent potholes, which are being fixed at present. After Panchgani the route turns left at Bhilar, to head over the spectacular ridgeline with high crosswinds and a view to valleys on both sides. The route descends down to Medha village via a steep descent over fairly good roads. Turning left at Medha the route heads to Satara to join NH4 again at @162km. Participants are warned to be very cautious on the downhill, though the road is in an good condition there is some scree on the sharp and steep turns. The surface of road after the descent till Satara, over rolling terrain is a bit rough. The route continues south over rolling terrain with one short climb after Nippani, at @322km. At @446km (ie @10km before Dharward) we turn around to head back to Belgaum. Navigate through Belgaum to Infinity Studio a Bike Shop that will host the control point of the race, through the night. The route heads out of Belgaum towards Chorla over rolling terrain with fairly good roads, but with very little resources available. The Descent on Chorla Ghat is spectacular through dense forest. Participants are warned to be very careful on this descent as the road is NOT in good condition and has sudden potholes. Participants MUST use extreme caution while descending, do not speed, especially at night and ensure you remain within the vehicle lights. Crew are advised to keep very close to the riders. After entering Goa at Porlem, the route goes to Sanquelim before turning left over rolling terrain, and then heads towards the airport via Ponda. Navigation is essential to remain on route in this section. The route goes along a creek before turning sharply upwards and continues towards the airport. Turning off from the Airport road towards Bogmalo, the road heads down again to end on the beach, at the finish venue for the Race which is John’s Seagull Bar n Restaurant, Bogmalo. With great beaches, fresh sea food, and most importantly… a low tax on beer, Goa is a big holiday destination and Inspire India is happy to welcome all Participants, Crew and Officials to the legendary after party… The Deccan Clifhang’ov’er! ROUTE CAUTIONS 1. Km 1.25-km 5 - The road after you exit Forest trails, from Bhugaon till Chandni chowk there is bad road surface. 2. Km 110km 117km – Ref Rule #27 below 3. Km 118-km 132 – The road is very narrow with rough patches and high crosswinds. There is also scree or loose gravel on the sharp bends in the descent. Extreme caution is advised. 4. Km 555-km 575 – Bad road patches on the descend, potholes and loose gravel on the bends. Extreme caution is advised. Use lights and ensure crew vehicle stays in close follow 5. There is a diversion of traffic from Anmod to Chorla which may cause more traffic on this section. RULES WRT ROUTE to prevent traffic congestion on hilly narrow sections of the Panchgani area. 27: Special RULES WRT ROUTE A. To prevent traffic congestion on hilly narrow sections of the Panchgani area Additional/extra support Vehicles are absolutely not permitted on the route from Surur or Wai Phata at Km 81 till Hotel Jalsagar Dhaba on Medha Satara Rd at Km 147. B. Teams and solos must proceed with only one support vehicle for this section of the route C. Very very narrow road at Bhilar. Absolutely no stopping between Mala's at Km 110 till km 117 after Bhilar. No vehicles may stop in this section D. No hand offs in this 7km section (racers may take a hand off between Panchgani and Mala’s before starting on this narrow section of the route) E. No team racer transitions are allowed between Km 110-km 117. racers may exchange between Panchgani and Mala’s before starting on this narrow section of the route F. Use caution between Km 117-km 136 and make sure you do not obstruct traffic. The road is wider, but crew must pull off the road as much as possible for hand offs and racer transitions. Control Point Details N Control Distan Close of Place Landmark o Point ce Control 8:15am 1 Start Pune The Cliff 0 Saturday 24th 2:15pm CP1 - 2 Panchgani Malvi's after Mala's 110 Saturday Manned 24th Extra Meet up 3 Medha-Satara Rd Jalsagar Dhaba 147.5 Vehicles can Point rejoin CP 2 – Yelur (before Sai International Hotel – 4 Unmann 254 Kolhapur) Clean Restrooms available ed CP3 - Opp Kaveri Hotel – Not so 5 Unmann Top of Tawandi ghat 329 clean Restrooms! ed CP4 - 8:00am 6 Before Belur Pit Stop 448 Manned Sunday 25th CP5 – Belgaum Firefox Bikes Near Indian Oil, Khanapur 12 noon 7 505 Manned Infinity Studio Road Sunday 25th CP6 - Naveli Junc 5:00pm 8 Sanquelim 590 Manned Sunday 25th 8:30pm 9 Finish Bogmalo Beach John's Seagull 645 Sunday 25th Solos and Tandem Team will be flagged off from 5:00 am and 6:15 am. Teams from 7:30 am. Refer Itinerary details and Flag off sequence for exact time of departure. Actual start time will be different for each racer, as it is a time trial format. The manned control points will close down at the close times mentioned above. Control Points no. 1, 4, 5 and 6 are manned. Your passage has to be validated by our control point marshalls. Zero the odometer at each control point to reduce error in measurement of odometer START VENUE The Cliff at Forest Trails by Paranjape Schemes, Bhugaon Instructions for Pre Race Registration days 22nd and 23rd Nov. The Upper Parking is for the use of the Participants. Please park there and you may bring your bicycles, helmets other gear for inspections to the Registration Hall. All other formalities, including Bicycle inspections are conducted in the hall. Prepare your vehicle for inspections in the upper parking and only when you are fully ready, line up for vehicle inspections that are conducted in the porch of The Cliff. Instructions for Race Day 24th Nov start On arrival for race start, you will be instructed to park in your race start order in the upper parking at The Cliff when you report, and asked to line up on the road in the same order at start time. Racers will line up as directed at the start line, which is from the Porch of The Cliff. Please refer Start Venue map below. ONLY FOR OFFICIALS With thanks to Deccan Cliffhanger Venue Sponsors Start The Cliff, Pune – CP1 Malvi’s Panchgani- ZERO THE ODOMETER Partial Total Ref Distan Road CP- Place Distanc No ce Name CP Name Directions Description/Cautions e The Cliff, Forest Trails, Start is heading steep 1 0 Bhugaon downhill 0 2 0.25 0.25 Sharp left 0.25 Paud 3 1 Rd. 1.25 Bhugaon Left turn towards Chandni Chowk 1.25 Left onto Bridge and right Paud Chandni immediately towards NH4 to 4 5.25 Rd. 6.5 Chowk Bangalore 6.5 This turn comes Turn right to before the end of the merge/join downhill, you can see Chandni NH4 to the highway on your 5 0.5 NH4 7 Chowk Bangalore right. 7 DO NOT GO ALL THE Chandni Slide onto WAY DOWN TO 6 0 NH4 7 Chowk NH4 ENTER PUNE CITY 7 Do not take left and continue straight on 6a NH4 NH4 11 6b NH4 Stay on Flyover to not go left 14.6 7 61.5 NH4 68.5 Keep Left on NH4 One way for Khambatki 68.5 8 2 NH4 70.5 Khambatki Ghat Start climbing ghat 70.5 9 4.5 NH4 75 Top of Ghat Descent 75 EXTRA VEHICLES TO Keep left, do CONTINUE Wai not go on STRAIGHT TO Intersecti Flyover, Use SATARA for 10 6 NH4 81 on Service Rd- JALSAGAR Dhaba 81 Above Picture is for Extra Vehicle Only… Racers and primary follow vehicle to head for Wai- Panchgani Wai Turn Right for Intersecti Wai, under Head for 11 0.5 NH4 81.5 on flyover Mahabaleshwar 81.5 Wai- Surur 12 10 Rd 91.5 Wai Bear right 91.5 13 1 Wai 92.5 Wai Bear left to ST Stand 92.5 Wai- Start climbing ghat, Panchg Narrow Rd.