Which is the closest airport to the start location ?
The closest airport is Torino Caselle international airport

Which is the closest airport to the finish location ?
Torino Caselle international airport
For more infos visit the web site http://www.aeroportoditorino.it

What does the entry fee include?
Entry fee includes gadgets, breakfast, refreshments along the race (two or more according to stage length), refreshment on arrival, dinner, showers, toilets, luggage transfer.

Do I find at the end of each stage a bike wash, showers/bath, massage, food?
Yes

Will there be any mechanical support to fix my bike if I break something?
Yes. The mechanic will be at the end of the stages. They will carry a range of spares, but you should bring your own spare parts for bits prone to breakage such as deraileurs or hydraulic brake cables.

How many food stops (refreshments points) do i find in each stage?
It depends on the difficulty and length of the stage (minimum two)

What kind of food is available for breakfast and dinner each day?
Breakfast: jam, chocolate, pasta, bread, fruit, coffee, milk, tea, house-made honey, and energy supplements and mineral salts supplements
Dinner (it changes every day): but always pasta!!! And meat (chicken, beef, pork), vegetables, soup, bread ...

Is there a road book?
Yes, you will receive it on the scrutineering day: it is not like the road book of car rally racing with all detailed directional marks, but it shows a map, the vertical drop of the stage and the refreshment points. The complete course of each stage is marked with ib signs or plastic marks.

Will we be given event bags or do we need to use our own?
You use your personal bag (max weight allowed 30 kg including your tent)

Is a smaller extra bag needed for high altitude camps? If so where do we leave the big bag on the high altitude days?
Yes, for the high altitude camp the max. weight allowed is 20 kg. The other bag (maximum 30 kg) will be transferred by o.c. (see art. 11 of the race regulation for more details).

How long must the light/head lamp last? 3 hours? 6 hours?
You should consider a couple of hours even though until today 30 minutes are enough!

Will GPS data of the stages be available? No.

Where are the bicycles kept at night (I ask this because my bicycle was stolen ina race)?
We could arrange some security zone or security cables, but if you leave the bike there, it will given you only the morning after at the bags delivery time: no night working and no repairs!

Are the base camps in or near towns or villages?
Usually they are, except in the high camps

Art.10 the competitors are obliged to sleep at the base camp: so all competitors must sleep in the camp every day or just the first day?
Companions can sleep in the town or village or camp correct?
Competitors must sleep at base camp during the whole race. Companion can sleep where they prefer.

From the english page a tent, mattress are suggested items. Are they suggested or required? If we don't bring a tent or mattress will one be provided?
We cannot oblige you to bring an inflatable mattress for example! But you should consider that the high altitude camp can be over 3000 mt. high, and nights can be very cold on the Alps! Should you have, for example, healthy problems and you need some extra things, someone will help you (but we cannot foreseen this for over 100 bikers).

Would it be hard to get around only speaking english? I plan on learning some italian ...
It's not needed: you will find people speaking english and other languages like french, spanish, german etc.

How much mountain bike experience do i need?
You will need to have a reasonable level of experience, fitness and skill to complete the event safely and enjoy the experience. The experience necessary comes from regular off-road riding. Iron bike is not an event for the inexperienced. The physical challenge of Iron Bike should not be underestimated

How demanding is the event on the bike?
Iron bike will test your bike. There’s plenty of occasions to accelerate wear and tear, and plenty of sticks to take out a deraileur if you’re tired. Your shocks will also get a good work out. Many riders found the event a lot harder on gear than they had anticipated. Ensure you bring the gear necessary to help clean up your bike at the end of each day and keep it lubricate.

What do you mean by a "medical certificate"?
A medical certificate testifying that you have been subjected to a sports physical exam with electrocardiogram performed under stress declaring you able for sport practice.

I don't understand what a "selective section/special" stage is.
The stages are usually composed by linking stages which are un-timed and special stages which are timed.

Is a "passage control" a check point to assure the racers stay on the proper course?
Yes.

Are the tents included in the total allowed weight of 30 kilos (20 kilos at high camps)? are sleeping pads?
Yes they are.

What is a k-way?
it is a water/wind proof jacket

Will there be sent out (by email) any formal communication to the riders with all the required details or is all information posted on the website?
All details will be shown on the web site. Should you have any special question please let us know. Are all camps accessible by car (so own support car can reach the camp). Not all camps will be accessible by car, for example the high camp cannot be reached by all cars because there is not enough place for all cars.

If support crew would like to join the dinners/breakfast, can that be arranged?
The support crews must pay the fee as indicated in the regulation (see web site)to have access to all facilities such as dinners, breakfast etc.

Will the riders receive a roadbook or complete information-package?
Yes.

What are we doing after the race, is there a finisher party or something like that or everybody get back home ?
There is the prize-giving and a dinner offered by the municipality of Sauze. Most of the organization as well as some riders remain there and leave the day after to relax and have fun all together!

Deposit: 100 Euro are asked as deposit for the rescue and another 100 Euros for the cellular phone. See art. 9 of the Regulation. Costs of bike service: depends on the repair and spares you need. You will find refreshments points during each stage, with food and drinks. How many depends on stage length, etc.