FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO I PREPARE TO TAKE ON L’ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
During the registration process, you will have the opportunity to subscribe to a training plan prepared by CYCOLOGY at a discounted rate. These training plans are designed to fit everyone’s schedule, especially if you don’t have a lot of time available for bike training.
WHAT TYPES OF BIKES ARE ALLOWED AT L’ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
Riders are able to choose from a selection of bikes including road bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes and cross bikes (recumbents, disc wheels, tri or aero bars are not permitted). Cyclist riding an e-bike won’t be ranked in a specific ranking to preserve fairness between participants. Straight handlebars and disc brakes are permitted.
Tandems are only permitted for vision impaired riders (only the vision impaired riders will be required to register).
Please ensure, for the safety of all riders that bikes are well maintained throughout the course.
IS A HELMET COMPULSORY?
Yes, it is compulsory to wear a helmet throughout the entire route. Any participant without a helmet will be removed from the event.
DO I NEED TO CARRY PHOTO IDENTIFICATION DURING L’ÉTAPE?
All riders must carry photo identification at all times.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME ON RACE DAY?
There will be Food and Energy Zones to supply riders with nutrition, water and other necessities, however to ensure all riders are prepared we suggest packing the below list of items:
- Helmet *
- Photo identification card *
- Water bottles *
- Additional food and/or sports nutrition
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Spare clothing for warmth or rain protection
- Bike equipment including: a puncture repair kit, spare inner tubes, and an air pump
- Mobile phone (don’t forget to ensure it is fully charged prior to the start)
Items marked with * are compulsory.
IS THERE MECHANICAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR MY BIKE BEFORE THE EVENT?
The day before the event, mechanical support will be available in the L’Étape Malaysia Village for riders to check their bike, if needed. There will also be mechanical support available at the Start Line. Both areas of support will be available on a first come, first serve basis. The mechanical support will also be available throughout the race – both on the course and at selected Food Zones.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE RIDE?
According to monthly averages, the peaks are likely to range from a minimum temp of 29°C to a maximum of 34°C. Riders will need to be prepared for all weather conditions on the day. Riders are encouraged to consult the Malaysian Metrological Department at www.met.gov.my for forecasts in the area prior to the event.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EVENT IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER?
The race will commence in the event of light rain.
In case of a thunderstorm making a race dangerous, we will delay race by 30mins. If heavy rain persists, we will cancel the event as we have to factor in the need to reopen public roads. Racers can collect their finisher entitlements if this happens.
Race organisers could any point of time on race day, in consultation with the authorities and ASO, have the final say as to whether a race could proceed.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE EVENT IS CALLED OFF DUE TO GOVERNMENT'S EVENT AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, DUE TO COVID-19?
Your entry will be automatically moved to the new date. All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable for automatically cancelled events. In the event an alternative date could not be found in the calendar year, racers will receive their race entitlements via post.
WILL THERE BE A SAFETY AND EVENT BRIEFING?
A race e-guide covering details pertaining to the race, including safety instructions will be produced before the race. These will be sent to all registered racers and participitants are advised to familiarise themselves with the e-guide prior to arriving at Desaru Coast.
PREPARATION
HOW DO I PREPARE TO TAKE ON L’ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
During the registration process, you will have the opportunity to subscribe to a training plan prepared by CYCOLOGY at a discounted rate. These training plans are designed to fit everyone’s schedule, especially if you don’t have a lot of time available for bike training.
WHAT TYPES OF BIKES ARE ALLOWED AT L’ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
Riders are able to choose from a selection of bikes including road bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes and cross bikes (recumbents, disc wheels, tri or aero bars are not permitted). Cyclist riding an e-bike won’t be ranked in a specific ranking to preserve fairness between participants. Straight handlebars and disc brakes are permitted.
Tandems are only permitted for vision impaired riders (only the vision impaired riders will be required to register).
Please ensure, for the safety of all riders that bikes are well maintained throughout the course.
IS A HELMET COMPULSORY?
Yes, it is compulsory to wear a helmet throughout the entire route. Any participant without a helmet will be removed from the event.
DO I NEED TO CARRY PHOTO IDENTIFICATION DURING L’ÉTAPE?
All riders must carry photo identification at all times.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME ON RACE DAY?
There will be Food and Energy Zones to supply riders with nutrition, water and other necessities, however to ensure all riders are prepared we suggest packing the below list of items:
- Helmet *
- Photo identification card *
- Water bottles *
- Additional food and/or sports nutrition
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Spare clothing for warmth or rain protection
- Bike equipment including: a puncture repair kit, spare inner tubes, and an air pump
- Mobile phone (don’t forget to ensure it is fully charged prior to the start)
Items marked with * are compulsory.
IS THERE MECHANICAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR MY BIKE BEFORE THE EVENT?
The day before the event, mechanical support will be available in the L’Étape Malaysia Village for riders to check their bike, if needed. There will also be mechanical support available at the Start Line. Both areas of support will be available on a first come, first serve basis. The mechanical support will also be available throughout the race – both on the course and at selected Food Zones.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE RIDE?
According to monthly averages, the peaks are likely to range from a minimum temp of 29°C to a maximum of 34°C. Riders will need to be prepared for all weather conditions on the day. Riders are encouraged to consult the Malaysian Metrological Department at www.met.gov.my for forecasts in the area prior to the event.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EVENT IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER?
The race will commence in the event of light rain.
In case of a thunderstorm making a race dangerous, we will delay race by 30mins. If heavy rain persists, we will cancel the event as we have to factor in the need to reopen public roads. Racers can collect their finisher entitlements if this happens.
Race organisers could any point of time on race day, in consultation with the authorities and ASO, have the final say as to whether a race could proceed.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE EVENT IS CALLED OFF DUE TO GOVERNMENT'S EVENT AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, DUE TO COVID-19?
Your entry will be automatically moved to the new date. All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable for automatically cancelled events. In the event an alternative date could not be found in the calendar year, racers will receive their race entitlements via post.
WILL THERE BE A SAFETY AND EVENT BRIEFING?
A race e-guide covering details pertaining to the race, including safety instructions will be produced before the race. These will be sent to all registered racers and participitants are advised to familiarise themselves with the e-guide prior to arriving at Desaru Coast.
START/FINISH
WHERE AND WHEN DO I COLLECT MY REGISTRATION PACK?
Race pack collection will be available at the L’Étape Malaysia Village on Friday 12 November 2021, from 10 AM to 12MN. All riders must bring their confirmation email (a soft copy will be accepted) and photo identification to pick up their Registration Pack. Check-in can only be completed by the registered rider, and cannot be collected by a third party.
HOW DO I GET TO THE START LINE?
Access to the start differs depending on where you are staying. More information will be available in the Riders’ Guide that will be released one month prior to the event.
WHAT TIME DO I HAVE TO BE AT THE START LINE?
We recommend you arrive 45 minutes to 1 hour before your start time. The first start will be given at 7.15 AM on Saturday 13 November 2021.
HOW WILL MY START POSITION BE DETERMINED?
During registration, participants will answer questions based around expected speed for the course to determine the rider’s starting wave. For that reason, it is essential that all the answers are accurate, to avoid the misplacing of a rider.
If riders are unsure of their expected average speed, we would suggest finding a route similar to L’Étape Malaysia in difficulty and record the ride on Strava (or a similar app or device) that records performance. This will determine the average speed time for that route, that riders can use as an indicator of their expected average speed.
WILL THERE BE A WAY TO TRANSPORT SPARE CLOTHING FROM THE START?
If you wish to drop spare clothing before you start, a free bag-drop service will be available in the L’Étape Malaysia Village.
The bag drop service will open from 5.00 AM onwards.
GENERAL
HOW DO I PREPARE TO TAKE ON L’ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
During the registration process, you will have the opportunity to subscribe to a training plan prepared by CYCOLOGY at a discounted rate. These training plans are designed to fit everyone’s schedule, especially if you don’t have a lot of time available for bike training.
WHAT TYPES OF BIKES ARE ALLOWED AT L’ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
Riders are able to choose from a selection of bikes including road bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes and cross bikes (recumbents, disc wheels, tri or aero bars are not permitted). Cyclist riding an e-bike won’t be ranked in a specific ranking to preserve fairness between participants. Straight handlebars and disc brakes are permitted.
Tandems are only permitted for vision impaired riders (only the vision impaired riders will be required to register).
Please ensure, for the safety of all riders that bikes are well maintained throughout the course.
IS A HELMET COMPULSORY?
Yes, it is compulsory to wear a helmet throughout the entire route. Any participant without a helmet will be removed from the event.
DO I NEED TO CARRY PHOTO IDENTIFICATION DURING L’ÉTAPE?
All riders must carry photo identification at all times.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME ON RACE DAY?
There will be Food and Energy Zones to supply riders with nutrition, water and other necessities, however to ensure all riders are prepared we suggest packing the below list of items:
- Helmet *
- Photo identification card *
- Water bottles *
- Additional food and/or sports nutrition
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Spare clothing for warmth or rain protection
- Bike equipment including: a puncture repair kit, spare inner tubes, and an air pump
- Mobile phone (don’t forget to ensure it is fully charged prior to the start)
Items marked with * are compulsory.
IS THERE MECHANICAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR MY BIKE BEFORE THE EVENT?
The day before the event, mechanical support will be available in the L’Étape Malaysia Village for riders to check their bike, if needed. There will also be mechanical support available at the Start Line. Both areas of support will be available on a first come, first serve basis. The mechanical support will also be available throughout the race – both on the course and at selected Food Zones.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE RIDE?
According to monthly averages, the peaks are likely to range from a minimum temp of 29°C to a maximum of 34°C. Riders will need to be prepared for all weather conditions on the day. Riders are encouraged to consult the Malaysian Metrological Department at www.met.gov.my for forecasts in the area prior to the event.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EVENT IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER?
The race will commence in the event of light rain.
In case of a thunderstorm making a race dangerous, we will delay race by 30mins. If heavy rain persists, we will cancel the event as we have to factor in the need to reopen public roads. Racers can collect their finisher entitlements if this happens.
Race organisers could any point of time on race day, in consultation with the authorities and ASO, have the final say as to whether a race could proceed.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE EVENT IS CALLED OFF DUE TO GOVERNMENT'S EVENT AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, DUE TO COVID-19?
Your entry will be automatically moved to the new date. All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable for automatically cancelled events. In the event an alternative date could not be found in the calendar year, racers will receive their race entitlements via post.
WILL THERE BE A SAFETY AND EVENT BRIEFING?
A race e-guide covering details pertaining to the race, including safety instructions will be produced before the race. These will be sent to all registered racers and participitants are advised to familiarise themselves with the e-guide prior to arriving at Desaru Coast.
THE ROUTE
IS THE COURSE TIMED?
Yes, the 140km and 60km courses are timed. All riders will be given a number for their bike in their Registration Pack, this will have a timing chip attached and must be secured to the bike. This will record the time of the rider as they cross the Start Line, check points throughout the route and the Finish Line to provide accurate time.
IS THE ROAD CLOSED TO TRAFFIC DURING THE EVENT?
Similar to the professional riders in the Tour de France, the road will be closed to general motor vehicle traffic throughout the entire event. A time limit is set to ensure the road opens again at a specific time and this is outlined in the Time Schedule that will be released closer to the event. After this time, the road will reopen to traffic once again.
WHAT IS THE TIME SCHEDULE?
The Time Schedule helps plan the times at which the road is closed, when riders will be eliminated and when the roads reopen. These times are negotiated with L’Étape Malaysia, the councils, the police and the emergency services. Strict compliance with the Time Schedule is essential if we want to continue to enjoy a road which is entirely closed to traffic in the future.
The entire route will be closed to all non-event related vehicles. Roads will re-open progressively on a time schedule which allows riders who ride at an average of 15 km per hour to complete the route.
The Time Schedule will be published on L'Etape Malaysia's Instagram and Facebook page.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I AM ELIMINATED FROM L'ÉTAPE MALAYSIA?
The Time Schedule Vehicle will follow the precise Time Schedule on the course. Any participant who is overtaken by this vehicle (which features a timer on its roof) at any point during the race, will be declared “Hors-Course” (out of the race).
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM ELIMINATED?
If a rider is eliminated, they will be asked to go to the pick-up areas where a bus and truck will take the rider and their bike to the L’Étape Malaysia Village.
ARE THERE RULES THAT STILL NEED TO BE FOLLOWED ON CLOSED ROADS?
When overtaking, do it on the right and with caution;
Indicate prior to overtaking;
When riding in the peloton, indicate to riders following of any dangers or imperfections on the route.
ARE THERE FOOD ZONES ON THE ROUTE?
There will be Food Zones and Energy Zones on the course. Water is available at all Food and Energy Zones via self-serve tanks with taps.
WHERE ARE THE FOOD ZONES LOCATED?
Food and Energy Zone locations will be released 14 days before the event.
WHERE AM I ABLE TO DISPOSE OF TRASH?
All Food Zones will have bins to dispose of trash. If consuming gels or snacks while on the road, riders must ensure that they hold on to associated rubbish until they are able to dispose of this correctly. Let's maintain Desaru as a pristine area for all to enjoy.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I BREAKDOWN OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON THE COURSE?
If a rider has an accident or mechanical issues, there will be medical teams and support at selected Food Zones as well as along the route (mobile assistance). In addition to the support offered, each rider should bring spare inner tubes, air pump and any extra components that they may need with them.
WILL THERE BE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE ON THE COURSE?
There are first aid stations set up in the L’Étape Malaysia Village, at the Start Line, at Food Zones, and at the Finish Line. There will also be medical teams among the riders on the route, in case riders need medical attention or transportation to a nearby first aid station.
WHERE DO I RECEIVE MY FINISHER MEDAL AND T-SHIRT?
Riders who complete the course will receive a Finisher’s Medal once they have crossed the Finish Line. The Finisher T-shirt will only be given to those who completes the 140km and 60km distances