Registration for the three Maryland Endurance Championship events to be held on May 22nd that include the U.S. National 12-Hour Championship, the Free State 6-Hour, and the Mason-Dixon 3-Hour, can be completed here.

Registration for the Climb to the Clouds Everesting Ride, to be held on Sunday, May 8th, can be completed as well on BikeReg.

Registration for all four events will be conducted on event day.

Saturday, May 8th– Climb to the Clouds Everesting Ride.

Friday, May 21st – Advance packet pick-up will be held; location and times are forthcoming. The course (big and small loops) will be open for review during the day.

Saturday, May 22nd – Event Day!

The U.S. National 12-Hour Championship begins at 8am, with the Free State 6-Hour starting at 2pm, and the Mason Dixon 3-Hour commencing at 5pm. All riders will finish their respective challenges at 8pm.

We are taking stringent measures to ensure the safety of all riders, support personnel and volunteers.

Measures that will be implemented before the event include:

• Registered participants, staff and volunteers will receive information in advance outlining the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to help educate potential event-goers on whether they should attend or stay home. Information will be posted on the event website, and all participants will be reminded via regular email communication prior to the event.
• Registered participants, staff and volunteers will be advised to stay home if they have experienced COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days prior to the event, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, or have had contact with a known or suspected COVID-19 case.
• Emergency services and the Frederick County Health Department will be alerted in advance of the event, and advised that the event is taking place and location.
• A venue site plan and a list of safety protocols will be available to all participants on the event website to familiarize all with the safety provisions in place during the event.

Measures that will be implemented during the event include:

• Highly visible signage outlining face coverings and/or other personal protective equipment rules, physical distancing requirements, and other COVID-19 specific procedures will be placed throughout the event venue.
• Per physical distancing guidelines, all should stay at least six feet from one another, even if they are wearing face coverings.
• “No Contact” day-of registration and packet pick-up will be conducted, adhering to social distancing.
• Visual cues (tape of floors, chalk marks, and signs) at key venue locations (bathrooms, event-day registration, packet pick-up) will be placed to encourage everyone to stay at least 6 feet apart.
• A first-aid station will be placed within the event venue to care for minor injuries and isolation of those who are exhibiting symptoms.
• Cyclists will be instructed to be wearing CDC-approved face masks at all times unless they are actually competing on the rides. Warm-up and warm-downs will take place alone without the accompaniment of anyone else.
• Publicly-accessible facilities (cyclist and volunteer check-ins, bathrooms, timing stations, first aid, and food/beverage stations) will be cleaned regularly. Capacity to those facilities will be limited to 2 people at one time. Surfaces will be cleaned with soap and water before using an approved household disinfectant. Commonly touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, toilets, faucets, sinks, or items distributed to attendees will follow CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidelines. Instructions on proper hand-washing will be provided in bathrooms.
• Hand disinfectant stations will be set up and properly maintained through the event venue.
• Participants, staff and volunteers will be required to use hand sanitizer or wash hands upon entry and exit of the venue, exit of bathrooms, after disposing of waste, and after consuming food.
• Start of each event will be staggered to ensure proper social distancing requirements and minimize person-to-person contact.
• Updated contact information for staff, volunteer and venue operations will be maintained to communicate information about any COVID-19 updates.
• Regular PA announcements will be made during the event to remind all of the COVID-19 safety procedures, and what to do for anyone displaying symptoms. Reminders not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth will also be included.
• All participants, volunteers and staff will be required to check in at the event venue should it become necessary to notify them of exposure to COVID-19.
• Culturally appropriate messages and materials will be made available that prohibit handshakes or high-fives that are common at many events but could facilitate the spread of COVID-19.
• To the extent possible, event personnel will screen event-goers for COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with visible COVID-19 symptoms, such as a cough, will be required to leave the event immediately. Event management will review reporting requirements, and re-assess risk of continuing the event.
• Food and beverage will only be served via pre-packaged single-serve options.
• If any person displays symptoms, they will be separated from others until they can go home. Local health officials will be contacted at that time in order to communicate potential exposure to staff and event-goers.

Measures that will be implemented after the event include:

• If an event-goer displayed symptoms at the event, event management will communicate potential exposure to the venue owner/operator, public health officials, staff, and event-goers.
• All surfaces will be cleaned with soap and water before using an approved household disinfectant. Commonly touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc. after the event will be cleaned and disinfected using CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidelines.

The event venues are approximately a one hour drive from downtown Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and approx. 75 minutes south of Harrisburg, PA.

Please consult the Visit Frederick website for details on overnight accommodations, things to do while in the area, food & drink destinations, and tours.

The official hotel for the Maryland Endurance Challenge is TownePlace Suites Frederick. We’ve secured a special rate of $ 119 for May 21 & 22. Riders can make reservations at any time by calling (301) 624-0050, and mention the 2021 Maryland Endurance Challenge Lodging when calling.

For the Climb to the Cloud Everesting Ride, rider packet pick-up will be conducted as riders check in for the ride at Gambrill State Park.

For the events on May 22nd, advance packet pick-up, along with course instruction and a welcome reception will take place on Friday, May 21st, location and hours to be announced. Day-of packet pick-up will also take place in advance of each of the three rides on Saturday, May 22nd, at the event compound on the Mount Saint Mary’s University east campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The weather in the month of May in Mid-Maryland is a transitional time of year.

Over the course of the month, daily high temperatures increase by 8°F, from 72°F to 80°F, rarely falling below 59°F or exceeding 91°F. Daily low temperatures increase by 10°F, from 47°F to 57°F, rarely falling below 36°F or exceeding 66°F.

In Frederick, the chance of a wet day over the course of May is increasing, starting the month at 33% and ending it at 38%.

While the weather is typically warm with lower humidity, as with every ride, arrive prepared for anything.

For May 22nd, 2021, sunrise will occur at 5:51am, with sunset scheduled for 8:22pm.

Standard road bike, recumbents, and tandems are allowed.

All bicycles must be propelled solely by human force. There is no limit to the number of bicycles a rider may use. A rider may switch between standard, single speed, and fixed gear bicycles within the standard category.

Standard bicycles must be no more than 2 meters long and 75 cm wide. All types of human powered vehicle will be allowed, but will be entered in the appropriate category. Disc wheels, wheel covers and/or aero bars are allowed in the standard category.

Riders and support crew members must conduct themselves in a civil manner at all times. When entering the time station, please do not act in a loud or disruptive manner.

Riders and support crew members may not act maliciously towards any other person for any reason. Riders and support crew members may not intentionally impede the progress of or misdirect any other person for any reason.

Park in designated areas only. The Mount St. Mary’s University has kindly allowed the event to use their premises for this event. Riders and support crew members must respect the grounds and facilities, and will be held financially accountable for any breakages or damage.

Violation of the conduct rules or any other inappropriate behavior by a rider or support crew member may result in the rider’s immediate disqualification.

We follow WUCA rules, with some modifications. If there is any doubt, the rules stated herein will take precedence.

All rules and regulations are meant to maximize the safety of the riders. In an emergency, all attention must be focused to resolve the situation. Riders and their crews are expected to help in these situations, and will be given credit for any lost time.

All rules and regulations must be obeyed by all riders and support crew members at all times.

All of the May 22nd events are draft-legal endurance events. The 12-hour and the 6-hour event are part of WUCA’s UltraCycling Cup. The 3-hour event is not.

Once the ride begins, no one will be permitted to change events or categories.

The Event Director has the authority to override, modify or create rules based on extenuating circumstances.

Should increment weather become extreme during the event, to the point where rider safety is at risk, the Event Director maintains the authority to pause, and even cancel the event.

Riders must obey Maryland and Frederick County traffic laws at all times. This includes, but is not limited to: stopping at all stop signs, using hand signals for all turns, keeping as far to the right as safety permits, using the shoulder whenever possible and obeying speed limits.

Maryland bicyclists generally have the same rights, and same duties, as drivers of motor vehicles.

Maryland prohibits the wearing of headsets or earplugs on both ears while riding.

Bicyclists are required to come to a full and complete stop at all stop signs and traffic lights displaying a red signal.

Motor vehicle drivers must allow at least 3 feet of space when passing a bicyclist.

The driver should be able to see the passed vehicle in the rear view mirror before returning to the original lane. After passing, drivers must make sure the rider is clear of the bicyclist before making any turns.

Cyclists may not ride more than 2 abreast and may not impede motor vehicle traffic.

For your safety, riders must wear an approved helmet at all times when on their bike, including warm-up and warm-down.

All riders must ride (or walk with their bicycle) every inch of the route to earn mileage.

Riders are allowed to leave the course, and be driven to and from their destination, but must leave from and return to the exact same spot. An event official must be notified immediately when this occurs.

No credit will be given for navigational errors or for leaving the course.

For complete details on routes, click here.

Drafting is allowed through each ride, and pace lines are encouraged. Choose a big back, be aware of your surroundings, and be courteous and share the load with your fellow riders.

Regardless of whether you are drafting or on your own, you must obey all traffic laws.

The timing station for all riders is located on College Drive on the Mount Saint Mary’s University campus.

The time station area is designated as a neutral zone. Riders must slow to 10 MPH in the neutral zone, with no passing allowed.

In order to have your times recorded accurately on each lap, riders must have their chips attached properly per instructions that will be provided at rider check-in on event day.

A rider may be self crewed or may have a support crew in the support area. Upon arrival at the venue site, riders will be directed to where they can set up their support station for easy access while on the ride course. The rider is expected to be conscious of the needs of other riders when setting up his crew area.

No support crew is allowed to follow a competitor on the course.

Support crew members must obey all event rules and regulations, as well as all traffic laws. If a support crew member violates a rule, it could result in their rider being penalized or disqualified.

Support crew members must be considerate of the support area. This includes the playing of loud music or behaving in a disruptive manner.

Support crew members are not allowed to ride a bicycle on the course at any time during the event.

A fully stocked aid station is located nearby the timing station on the Mount Saint Mary’s University campus, as well as at the 17.5 mile marker, halfway through the long loop.

Given your own particular needs, do come prepared to provision yourself with food, drink, and supplements with which you are comfortable and familiar with.

Basic support will be provided on event day at the ride start area on the Mount Saint Mary’s University campus. However, all riders are encouraged to be self-sufficient and properly equipped. Riders and/or their support crew should have everything necessary to repair or adjust the rider’s bicycle, and combat the elements.

Riders and support crew members are encouraged to assist one another with mechanical or other problems, but no time credit will be given unless it is an emergency or extenuating circumstances.

A sag wagon will be located nearby the timing station on campus, and will be dispatched as necessary.

Each event ends after exactly 12 hours, 6 hours, or 3 hours after its respective start – at 8pm.

All riders are encouraged to ride beyond 8pm so that we may calculate your mileage up to the last minute. The proportion of your final loop will be calculated based upon the time you start and finish your final full lap.

To protect riders and spectators, pets are not allowed anywhere on the course, at the timing station, or at the checkpoint at any time during the event.

The Maryland Endurance Challenge complies with the current World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List of banned substances. In addition, no motor assists will be permitted on any bicycle.

Event officials have complete authority and the decision of the Event Director is the final word on all matters.

To ensure compliance, event officials may be stationed along the route as well as at the checkpoint, in vehicles and on bicycles.

Any rider wishing to make an official protest must do so in writing and submit it to the Event Director no later than one hour after their event’s respective time limit has expired. The Event Director will rule on all protests within one hour.

Riders and support crew members must obey all rules and regulations at all times. There will be no exceptions.

Unless otherwise noted, the following penalties apply:

1st Offense: 10 miles off final total

2nd Offense: Additional 21 miles off final total

3rd Offense: Disqualification

Event officials reserve the right to immediately disqualify a rider, and ban them from future events if the situation warrants it.

Once the rides end at 8pm, please plan to stay on-site for replenishment and the awards ceremony.

Custom-designed Maryland Endurance Challenge medals will be awarded to the following:

MEN

12-hour challenge : First, second, and third places

6-hour challenge : First, second, and third places

3-hour challenge : First, second, and third places

WOMEN

12-hour challenge : First, second, and third places

6-hour challenge : First, second, and third places

3-hour challenge : First, second, and third places

Results will be posted on the event web site per the UMCA’s standard categorization – i.e. broken down by age category, and by bike type. Specifically:

Gender, age, mixed teams for tandem entries.

AGE

<18

18 – 49

50 – 59

60 – 69

70 and older

For tandems, the competitors’ average age will be used.