1. DURING THE RACE
1.1 What day does the race start?
The day of the start will be December 6th 2015, although you must be in the Havana on the 5th.
1.2 What are the timetables of the stages?
The start for each stage will be at 8:00 AM
1.3 Will the course be marked?
The course of the race stages will be marked with arrows. In addition, the organization will provide the tracks of each one of the stages. You don’t need to have navigation skills although the use of GPS is highly recommended. It is compulsory the passage through the checkpoints-CP (Control Points) so the race is not open to navigation. You must follow the course proposed by the organization.
1.4 When will I know the route?
The exact route will be revealed the night before each stage. In late October will be …the description of the stages, the exact kilometers and the altimetry.
1.5 How will the checkpoints be placed and how many will there be? The checkpoints will be placed depending on the course of each stage. Although, there might be variations depending on the course, there won’t be more than 4 per stage.
1.6 What if I don’t reach the checkpoint on the scheduled time?
In this case, the organization will pick up the participants who have been relegated to the broom wagon and take them to the campsites. These participants may take the start the next day, although their results no longer count towards the overall standings.
1.7 How many refreshment stations will there be?
In the Titan Tropic Cuba, the refreshment stations are called HYDRATION STATIONS.
At each stage there are a total of three hydration stations. They depend heavily on the layout and characteristics of the stage. But the organization of the Titan Tropic Cuba intends not to exceed 30 km without hydration stations.
1.8 What can you find in the Hydration Stations?
2 or more people from the organization, bottled water, other drinks (juices, cane juices, sodas…) and fruit.
1.9 What happens if I abandon a stage?
The participants that abandon in any of the stages will be out of the general classification. They will be picked up (runner and bike) by a sag wagon and transports them at the end of the stage. They will be able to take the exit in later stages, but their times won’t be counted in the general classification. In the case of a second abandonment, they will not be able to take the exit again.
2. PERSONAL LOGISTICS
2.1 How can I take my bike to Cuba?
Whether you have hired the shuttle flight of the organization or you prepare to travel to Cuba on your own, your bike must travel to the Titan Tropic in the organization’s trucks.
The price for shipping the bike from Barcelona to Cuba is included in the registration. All participants must send their bike to the RPM storage the weeks before the Titan Tropic whether flying down to Cuba with the organization or on their own. The American participants not residing in Europe will receive a discount of 40€, as they cannot use this service.
On the month of October we will give you further details about this service but we can advance your some details:
- STEP 1: Please get in touch with the organization to request the box for the bike.
- STEP 2: The organization will send a box freight collect, that the participant will have to resend (assuming the cost of this shipment) to the RPM storage where the bike must arrive between November 9th and 10th.
2.2 How much clothes should I bring?
It is highly recommended to bring a jersey and a bib-short for each stage. We also advise to bring along a light windbreaker. During the rest of the journey you will use shorts and light t-shirts. Bring something warm also, but not overly so. Don’t’ forget the bathing suit for the hotels and some campsites.
2.3 Do I need a VISA to enter Cuba?
All travelers need a passport valid for at least for 6 months and a visa that will be processed by the organization for all the participants. The cost for the visa will be 22€ per person.
2.4 How will I move my luggage each day?
The organization will do it every day by a transport truck. The transport truck is limited to one bag per participant that must travel in its corresponding truck (by race bib number). The end of the last stage in Cayo Jutías will not be in a camp itself and the participants will only find the bag with spare clothes that they have previously submitted to the organization to spend a few hours on the beach and comfortably make the transfer to the Havana.
2.5 Do we have telephone and internet coverage?
Many areas where the campsites are located have telephone coverage since they are located near towns. Yet it may happen that in some areas or campsites is impossible to find telephone coverage. The Internet is very limited on the island, even with the data rate of the phones. It is almost restricted to the hotel of the arrival and departure, where some access time cards can be purchased.
2.6 How can I Travel to Cuba on my own?
The organization offers participants aircraft from Barcelona and Madrid but if you want to travel on your own you can do in the following ways:
The nearest airport to the departure and arrival of the race is the Habana airport, which has regular flights from different parts of America and Europe.
If you choose to travel by plane by yourself we can manage the transfer from the airport to the start and from the finish back to the airport (contact the organization).
In any case, participants arriving by their own means to the starting point the day before the race, can stay at the same hotel as the organization (if available) and must manage their previous accommodation. The meeting point is at the Memories Miramar Hotel on December 5th at 18:00 hours.
2.7 Can I bring accompanying persons?
We have created an accompanying persons program for the last days in Cuba. The accompanying persons can enjoy some race points and the awards gala.
2.8 When will I be able to collect my bike?
The bikes can be collected on January 4th and 5th in Barcelona.
Those participants who have managed their shipments from their homes will be able to receive their bikes at home starting from those dates.
2.9 How do the assistance services work?
The organization does not offer assistance services (mechanics or physical therapy) to participants. Professional external companies to the organization offer these services to the participants on the route or in the campsites.
On the website of the TITAN TROPIC you will find the list of companies that offer these services.
You can engage directly the service with them: http://www.titantropic.es/es/asistencias/
2.10 Can I search for sponsors?
Yes, the search for sponsors is totally allowed and there are no conditions regarding this.
2.11 What material is the most indispensable?
It is obligatory the helmet, the hydration backpack, chambers and other supply elements. The rest will depend on the needs during the race of each rider. The use of GPS is optional. An important part of the route is made surrounded by a plant with thorns called Marabú, so we recommend the use of tubeless tires.
2.12 Will I have electricity in the campsites?
The participants will have access to zones for recharging electrical devices placed next to the logistics truck, but the participants are responsible for the surveillance of their devices.
2.13 Can I bring food?
The organization includes with the registration all the meals in the campsites (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Nevertheless, you can complete your baggage with some food vacuum-packed (cheese, sausages, etc) Take into account that the water station points during the stages are exclusively liquid, so you have to bring all the supplementary food of energetic snacks and gels.
2.14 Will I be able to wash the clothes in the campsites?
NO, it is completely forbidden to wash clothes in the bathroom of the campsites to avoid water waste. We advise all participants to use clean clothes every day, avoiding getting sores and assuring the water supply for all the participants.
3. HEALTH / LEGAL
3.1 What temperatures will I have to endure during the stages?
During the dates in which the race is programmed the participants must face temperatures that will range from 17ºC to 30ºC. The climate in Cuba is a moderated subtropical climate with two well differentiated seasons. From November to April is the dry season, which is less humid and slightly cooler, with an average of high temperatures from 21ºC to 28ºC and an average of low temperatures between 18ºC and 24ºC.
3.2 Do I need a vaccine?
No type of vaccine is obligatory, though we recommend to have the antitetanic one.
3.3 What physical level must I have to take part in the Titan Tropic Cuba?
Though it is a competition opened to all cycling lovers, it is advisable to be in a good physical shape. In addition, it is necessary to have a good pace to pedal during many Km.
3.4 Will there be a physical therapist available?
The organization does not provide the service of physical therapy, but the organization offers medical assistance. The participants can bring a physical therapist if he/she considers it suitable. As we approach the dates of the event, we will know the companies that will come to the race to offer their physical therapy services. You can consult the available companies in the section ASSISTANCES: (http://www.titantropic.es/es/asistencias/).
3.5 What type of insurance covers me during the race?
The organization puts at the disposal of the participants a medical assistance insurance in Cuba and the accidents insurance will be linked to the sports license that all the participants must have.
3.6 What type of first aid kit I have to prepare for the race?
Insect repellent lotion
Anti-inflammatory: ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol.
Antidiarrheal: fortasec
Potassium for the ramps: Boy-K
Disinfectant: iodine – topionic: for the injuries or to dry the sores of the hands, feet or saddle.
Plasters for the frictions in hands and feet.
Ointments for the sores: moisturizing ointments like those of the nappies for the babies
Oral saline solution Casen or other brands to be hydrated during the race or to re-hydrate yourself in the campsite.
Do not forget the sun lotion!
3.7 How must I hydrate myself during the stages?
The ideal is to be hydrated by water and isotonic drinks, to equal proportions. If you drink 4 liters in a stage, it would be suitable that they were 2 of water and other 2 of oral saline solution.
3.8 A couple of advices:
In this race, besides pedaling, it is very probable that you have to walk. So we advise that the shoes should not injure the feet. It is important to have used them before. It is very important to change the jersey and cycling bib-short every day.
4. ACCOMMODATION / FOOD
4.1 Which is the location of the campsites?
The campsites are located in natural singular environments, next to equipment’s and some are located in areas with permanent structures, which improve the comfort and the service.
4.2 What kind of food are we going to be served during these days?
You will find a varied of nutritive food rich in carbohydrates. Vegetables, cereals, pasta, rice… everything that the riders need to overcome the tough racing days on the base of the own products of the Cuban gastronomy.
4.3 In what conditions are the campsites?
The campsites have everything necessary to live. Toilets, showers, restaurant, medical services and tents for single use.
4.4 How will we sleep in the tents?
The tents are for single use (245x145x105 cms) and will be equipped with an insulating small mat and a towel. It is necessary that each participant takes his own sleeping bag.