How do start groups work, and when does my group start?

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Accepted Answer

Riders start in start groups, each with its own start time. Your group letter is your race number prefix. Your official start time for the 7-hour limit is your group's start time, and starting before your designated time can mean disqualification. 2026 start groups (summary of the published schedule): Groups Start time Elite men; U17 boys (Fish Hoek start) 06:15 Racing women (Fish Hoek start); racing men 40-49 and 17-29 not in the elite race 06:20 Racing men 50+ and 30-39 not in the elite race 06:24 Racing tandems 06:27 Seeded groups 1A to 4B, with hand cycles at the back of 3D 06:30 to 07:27 International groups 4C to 4E 07:30 to 07:36 Seeded groups 4F to 7A, including groups for over-70s and over-75s and for riders by number of tours completed (from 6 tours up to 24+) 07:39 to 08:24 7B (seeded, PPA and 5 tours), corporate and charity (7C), PPA (7D to 7F) 08:27 to 08:39 Open groups 8A to 8F 08:42 to 08:57 9A seeded; open groups 9B to 9F, with buggies at the back of 9B 10:00 to 10:15 The organisers set the groups and publish the start times before each event. They may also seed e-bike riders into a group using their own criteria. The women's elite and U17 boys' race uses a separate 78km route starting in Fish Hoek.

Groups	Start time
Elite men; U17 boys (Fish Hoek start)	06:15
Racing women (Fish Hoek start); racing men 40-49 and 17-29 not in the elite race	06:20
Racing men 50+ and 30-39 not in the elite race	06:24
Racing tandems	06:27
Seeded groups 1A to 4B, with hand cycles at the back of 3D	06:30 to 07:27
International groups 4C to 4E	07:30 to 07:36
Seeded groups 4F to 7A, including groups for over-70s and over-75s and for riders by number of tours completed (from 6 tours up to 24+)	07:39 to 08:24
7B (seeded, PPA and 5 tours), corporate and charity (7C), PPA (7D to 7F)	08:27 to 08:39
Open groups 8A to 8F	08:42 to 08:57
9A seeded; open groups 9B to 9F, with buggies at the back of 9B	10:00 to 10:15