Rider Information -2025
WELCOME
I’d like to welcome you once again to the Rayner Foundation Etape du Dales now running for over 25 years! Starting and finishing at a new venue – Horton Pavilion, Pavilion Playing Fields, Horton in Ribblesdale, BD24 0HT home of the Three Peaks Challenge. ///twisty.contracts.pipe
The Etape du Dales covers a new route with a distance of 177km (110 miles) in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
The event travels through some very remote and exposed countryside where for large distances there is no habitation and certainly NO MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE. Please do not treat your entry lightly and remember to respect this tremendous challenge.
The Etape du Dales route is an extremely difficult ride and requires an excellent level of fitness. It takes in many of the major climbs in the Yorkshire Dales and that means steep and technical descents as well. We do our best to ensure the course has good signage but you should be aware of the route and terrain and plan your ride accordingly.
BIKE
Please make sure your bike is in good working order and you have any spares needed. There will be mechanical support at the feed stations but there are large distances of totally uninhabited highly exposed countryside in between. A minimum gear of 36x28 is advised, but given the terrain a lower gear may be needed. NO TRI BARS ARE ALLOWED
We advise CAUTION if using carbon wheels with rim brakes as the long descents and continuous braking regularly results in blowouts and wheel failures.
HELMET
All riders MUST wear a helmet, no helmet no ride
CLOTHING
The course takes in high, and exposed areas, and riders may be on the road for a long time. In the past some have suffered through lack of clothing, please make sure you are adequately dressed for the weather and your physical ability. You can always take clothes off!
HQ
The event headquarters are at Pavilion Playing Fields, Horton in Ribblesdale, BD24 0HT - Using what3words, ///twisty.contracts.pipe
PARKING
The car parks open at 0630 hrs. There is parking on site at the playing fields for around 250 cars. THERE WILL BE NO PARKING ON STATION ROAD or on B6479. Riders who are being dropped off at the event i.e. not parking for the duration, should use the car park in the village and NOT the event car park. Cars brought to the playing field will be refused exit during the event start window (07:30 – 09:00) as this causes conflict with riders and cars coming in.
NO cars will be allowed back onto the playing field site after 12 noon, riders being picked up must meet cars in the car park in the village.
REGISTRATION
ALL NUMBERS AND TIMING CHIPS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AT REGISTRATION ON THE MORNING OF THE EVENT FROM 0630HRs
Open Tracking are providing a GPS tracker for each rider. The tracking device is tailored for endurance events & outdoor challenges. They are compact and lightweight at around 80g and can be carried in your cycling jersey's rear pocket.
The GPS data for each rider is publicly available at:
https://live.opentracking.co.uk/etapedales25/
allowing friends, family and supporters to monitor your progress along your chosen route.
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​The tracker will also be used to provide checkpoint and finish times for the event.
Riders can start between 0730 hrs and 0900 hrs, and will be allowed to start in groups of no more than 20, with intervals between groups.
EMERGENCIES // RETIREMENTS (DNF)
Riders unable to complete the event MUST contact the organisers either by reporting to a RAYNET operator at a feed station or call HQ on
Emergency Number 07522 079997
to advise the organisers and prevent any emergency action. Should you have to drop out on the ride and wish to make your own way to the finish there are train stations at Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Dent, and Ribblehead. The closest station to the HQ is Horton (300m).
There will be a sweep recovery system in place for emergency retirements ONLY. The sweep vehicle will follow the last rider on the road and will ONLY collect riders in need of emergency assistance. If you are with a rider that needs emergency assistance, please accompany them to the nearest feed station or RAYNET operator and then continue with your ride.
ROAD SURFACES
Road in the area are very exposed and the surfaces can be unpredictable, riders should show extra caution in particular on descents. Descents are steep, with sharp bends, adverse camber and other hazards. Ride within your own ability and capacity to stop safely.
This event takes place on public roads and riders must at all times adhere to traffic regulations, do not ride more than 2 abreast and ride in single file on busy narrow roads (there aren’t many).
TOILETS
There are toilets at or close to all the feed stations. Public toilets are available in Stainforth, Kettlewell, Hawes and the centre of Ingleton. Event toilets are provided at the feed stations at Wensley Village Hall, Garsdale Head, and Hawes. In the interests of public decency and the future of the event please use the facilities provided. Breach of this at or around the feed stations will result in instant disqualification and a report to the Police.
LITTER
Riders are reminded to use the bins at checkpoints, DO NOT drop litter on the course, any riders seen or reported dropping litter will be removed from the event and refused future entry.
REFRESHMENTS
Feed stations/checkpoints are supplied with energy drink and are also stocked with a variety of sweet and savoury food products. We cannot guarantee quantity or variety as this depends on your fellow participants! You are responsible for ensuring you have sufficient nutrition to sustain you on the ride. Due to abuse of the feed stations on previous events, wristbands will be given to all riders at sign-on.
NO WRIST BAND – NO FOOD,
Feed station are located at:
Wensley Village Hall – long and short route. [ ///prank.writing.appear]
Hawes / Wensleydale Creamery – short route [ ///theory.fairly.occur ]
Moorcock Inn Garsdale head – long route [ ///floating.cakes.greyhound ]
There is hot food available at the finish and there will be also a bar for refreshments.
STANDARD TIMES – Long Route Only
Standard Men Ladies
Gold < 7 Hours < 7 ½ hours
Silver < 8 Hours < 8 ½ hours
Bronze All other finishers inside the time limit
Gold standard is usually achieved by roughly 10% of the riders.
ROUTE
The route will be signed with direction arrows and also cautionary notices, in the unlikely event of vandalism or adverse weather removing these, riders should familiarise themselves with the route information.
A GPS file of the final route is available for download from the RidewithGPS web site.
Long Route details
Short Route details
CUT OFF TIMES
For safety reasons a cut off time is observed at the following feed stations. We do our best to ensure everyone enjoys the challenge in safety, so we must observe cut off times for the following stations. Marshals at the stations will advise on the best return route for anyone outside the limit.
WENSLEY - CLOSES 12:15
MOORCOCK - CLOSES 15:20
Anyone continuing along the course after the times above will be considered to have retired from the event.
RESULTS
Times will be available to riders via text shortly after finishing. If you have not given your mobile number on your entry and wish to receive a text showing your time, please complete your number on the sign on sheet. Full results will be published on the event website within 72 hours of the finish of the event. (www.etapedudales.org).