Bulletin 2

Luxembourg Orienteering Club welcomes all participants to our City and Forest Weekend 2021, part of the 2021 City Race Euro Tour series.

The Luxembourg Government has recently confirmed that the laws and regulations regarding COVID-19 sanitary measures at sports events are to continue to apply without major changes in practice, until at least 18 December 2021. This means that all the procedures that Luxembourg Orienteering Club has already formally agreed with the Luxembourg Ministry of Health should continue to be applied. More positively, it means that the City and Forest Weekend 2021 can definitely proceed as planned!

We are very grateful to our sponsors, Advanzia Bank and Helga Orienteering Software, for their support, either financial or in kind.

COVID-19 – Essential reading

Please do not come if you are unwell

If, on or shortly before the days of the events, you find that you have any symptoms that suggest that you might have Covid-19, please stay at home, and do not arrive at the event.

Restrictions on who can participate

The situation remains as already set out in Bulletin 1, and as confirmed on 17 September in Event News.

All participants (including non-competitors) need to be either fully vaccinated, recovered or negatively tested. ~~This applies to all participants 6 years and older. (Unfortunately, a change in the rules, raising this age limit to 12 years, does not take effect until 1 November 2021.)~~

New rule, edited on 2021-10-20: Following new legislation coming into effect in Luxembourg this week, it has now become clear that, specifically for sports events, all obligations to pass the CovidCheck are already only now applicable to children OVER 12 years and 2 months old. (Bulletin 2 had noted that this change was going to take effect on 1 November 2021.)

Consequently children UNDER this age will NOT need to take a Covid-19 test in the days before the Weekend, and will NOT be asked to show any certification at the CovidCheck points that our events will be operating. They must however still visit the CovidCheck point on arriving at the event and be issued with a wristband, and wear the wristband afterwards.

As a condition for the Weekend being allowed to take place, we will be operating the “CovidCheck” procedure to confirm that everyone is satisfying the fully vaccinated, recovered, or negatively tested requirements. The use of the CovidCheck system is also intended to minimise the extent of other constraining COVID-19 sanitary measures having to apply during the Weekend.

To be permitted either to start any course on either day, and/or to be permitted to enter either of the Event Centres, a valid COVID-19 certificate (in Luxembourg known as a "CovidCheck certificate") with a QR code will be required, on paper or in digital form. COVID-19 certificates in this form issued by any EU country will be recognised as valid CovidCheck certificates, as well as those issued by other countries in the “Schengen” area such as Switzerland and Norway. However, checks have confirmed that COVID-19 certificates with a QR code that are issued by the United Kingdom are not recognised as valid. For further information concerning travel, and the validity of non-EU COVID-19 certificates, please see https://covid19.public.lu/en/travellers/visiting-luxembourg.html

The only certificates that can be accepted without a QR code are those issued in Luxembourg by persons authorised to do so (e.g. a school or local authority; usually restricted to Luxembourg residents). The organisers will NOT be providing any rapid antigenic tests.

Any entrant who has any concern or question over their eligibility to participate because of the above restrictions should immediately contact the organisers at weekend2021@orienteering.lu .

The Luxembourg rules for the CovidCheck certificate are published here: https://covid19.public.lu/en/covidcheck/certificate.html . More generally, the COVID-19 related measures currently in force in Luxembourg (including those concerning access to bars and restaurants) are published here: https://covid19.public.lu/en/sanitary-measures.html

The CovidCheck point

We will be operating a CovidCheck point near the Event Centre each day. You only need to pass through the CovidCheck point once during the Weekend. This will be as soon as you arrive on the first day that you are participating.

At the CovidCheck point, the QR code on your CovidCheck certificate will be scanned by an event official, using the official Luxembourg Government CovidCheck.lu app, already in common use in Luxembourg whenever entering restaurants etc. (For more information on how this system operates, see https://covid19.public.lu/en/covidcheck/app.html or https://youtu.be/sIXnMsdN7kw. Please note that the app does not retain any record of the identity of people whose certificates are scanned.)

To ensure a quick process and to avoid queue formation, please have your CovidCheck certificate ready to be scanned, ideally in a printed paper version.

If you cannot provide a valid CovidCheck certificate, unfortunately you will not be allowed to start either competition, or to enter either Event Centre. This rule applies equally to anyone wishing to enter an Event Centre, but who is not competing on any course. Entry fees will not be refunded as a consequence of a certificate that the CovidCheck app does not validate.

Proof that the “CovidCheck” has been validated

Competitor numbers (dossards) are not being issued. Instead, once your CovidCheck certificate is confirmed as valid, both competitors and accompanying non-competitors will be provided with a CovidCheck wristband made from light tear-proof paper. An event official will attach the wristband securely to a wrist of your choice: it must not be removed until it is no longer needed.

This wristband must then be shown each day, whenever entering the Event Centre (before or after competing), and at the -3 line on entering the Start area. Anyone not wearing the wristband will not be allowed to start their course, or to enter the Event Centre either to download, or for any other reason.

Mask wearing

Participants must wear a mask:

While waiting to complete the CovidCheck process;
When using any public transport (buses, trams, trains, funicular railway, public lifts, etc.) anywhere in Luxembourg;
At the Sunday City Race, in the public panoramic lift that both links the designated car park at the Glacis to the Event Centre, and which links the Event Centre to the Start – participants will thus either have to carry their mask while competing in the City Race, or dispose of a mask in the bin provided at the Pre-start area.

Other important sanitary measures

Please observe 2-metre social distancing in any “busy” areas, such as any queue at a CovidCheck point, the Pre-start areas, and at the download points inside the Event Centres.

After finishing your run, you must be careful to observe social distancing from other finishers. Also, do not cough or spit in the area surrounding the Finish.

Event officials will also be subject to the CovidCheck, and will wear masks whenever in close contact with participants.

Other essentials

No entries on the day – “sur place”

Due to COVID-19 constraints, no entries on the day (even for the Open classes) will be possible, for either day of the Weekend.

All entry fees must be paid in advance

The organisers will NOT be able to accept payment of entry fees at either Event Centre. You will not be able to participate unless all entry fees due have been paid before the Weekend. Amounts due must have been credited to the bank account of Luxembourg Orienteering Club asbl (BCEELULL, LU22 0019 5955 5007 4000) on or before Friday 22 October, or paid by credit card as outlined in Bulletin 1 when entering using the O’Punch website.

The only exception to the above requirement for fees to be prepaid is for members of clubs in Belgium or Luxembourg that participate in the O’Punch system. Those clubs will instead receive an invoice for all fees that are due. The organisers are however not operating a similar system for entrants belonging to clubs in any other country: as noted above, all fees due must be prepaid before the Weekend.

Some SPORTident timing chips may not work!

At the Sunday City Race, Course 1 (Men Elite (H21, H35)) has more than 30 controls. Course 2 (Women Elite (D21, D35)) has 29 controls, and Course 3 (Veteran Men (H40, H45, H50) and Junior Men (H18, H20)) has 30 controls.

Certain SPORTident timing chips can only record 30 controls (including controls visited in error), and thus should not be used. SI-Card5 (numbered 1 – 499 999), and SI-Card8/ ComCard Up (numbered 2 000 000 – 2 999 999) are affected. Please check your timing chip, and if you see a problem, please contact the organisers before the Weekend at weekend2021@orienteering.lu to arrange to hire a timing chip for the Sunday City Race.

Safety aspects

Please read all the safety-related instructions specific to each event very carefully.

Once started, you must download your timing chip into the results system.
All participants take part at their own risk, throughout the Weekend. Luxembourg Orienteering Club asbl disclaims all liability, to the maximum extent allowed under Luxembourg law. In particular, all participants are responsible for ensuring their own physical fitness for the courses entered, and for their health during the event.

General infirmation – both days

Location overview

Start times

All entrants, even for the Open courses, will have start times allocated before the Weekend.

The full list of start times will be published on helga-o.com/start on the evening of Tuesday 19 October. Please check that your entry details are correct. If there are any problems or queries regarding the start list, please contact weekend2021@orienteering.lu . It will not be possible to change your start times during the Weekend, so please contact us beforehand!

SPORTident timing chip hire

If, as part of your entry fee, you have paid to hire a SPORTident timing chip “card”, this should be collected from the information point at the Event Centre.

You will need to leave a deposit of either EUR 50 or an identity document. This should be placed in the brown envelope provided – please write your name and mobile phone contact number on the outside of the envelope, and seal it, before passing the envelope back to the event official for safe keeping.

On returning the SPORTident timing chip, the event official will in exchange return your sealed brown envelope. If you are taking part in the Saturday Forest Race, you may either return your SPORTident timing chip after the Saturday Forest Race and collect it again at the Sunday City Race, or retain the SPORTident timing chip overnight and return it after the Sunday City Race.

Luggage drop

On both days, there is the possibility to leave luggage in a supervised area adjacent to the information point within the Event Centre. You will be issued with a numbered ticket, which should be presented when reclaiming your luggage. The organisers do not accept any liability for any loss.

Start procedures

The procedure will be the same as is generally in use at larger events. Please “clear”, “check”, and “test SI Air+”, using the timing units in the Pre-start area.

The only additional step will be that you must show your CovidCheck wristband when you are called up at the -3 minute line.

Loose control descriptions (IOF standard symbols only) for all courses will be available after the -2 minute line. You will be asked to stand at your map issue point after crossing the -1 minute line, but you may not pick up your map until instructed to do so. Your timing for the race then starts as soon as the start signal is given – there is no timing control at the start point or start kite (i.e., no “punching start”).

You alone are responsible for checking that you have stood at the correct map issue point, and picked up the correct map, for the course that you have entered!

Maps are printed on 120gsm Pretex (waterproof) paper and will not have any form of plastic protection. For all courses, control descriptions (IOF standard symbols only) and codes will also be printed on the face of the map.

On both days, the start kite will be located less than 30 metres from the Start line. You must follow the short taped route all the way to the start kite. The start kite will be located at the centre of the start triangle shown on the map. As the start kite is very close to the Start line, no symbol other than the start triangle will be shown on the map.

There will be no possibility to change your start time if you arrive late at the Start – irrespective of when you actually start, your result will be calculated based on the start time shown in the start list. The Start officials will do their best to get you started as soon as possible, but you will not be allowed to start at the same time as another runner on your course.

Timing

The SPORTident timing system will be used for both days, with SI Air+ mode activated. Users of SI Air+ timing chips do not need to place their timing chips in contact with the timing unit on the stake or trestle at each control, nor at the Finish point.

All other SPORTident timing chips (including those hired from the organisers) will function in the normal way – they must be placed in the hole in the timing unit at each control, and at the Finish point.

As noted in the “Other Essentials” section, if you are competing on Course 1 (Men Elite (H21, H35), and Junior Men (H18, H20), please be sure to use a SPORTident timing chip that can record more than 30 controls.

Once you have passed through the Start, you must go to the Event Centre after competing, and download your timing chip into the results system. This requirement applies even if you have retired from your course, and do not visit the Finish point. Failure to download would mean that the organisers would have to assume that you are still in the terrain, potentially badly lost or injured. This might mean that the organisers have to launch extensive search procedures, even though you may in fact already be safely on your way home!

Finish procedure

The Finish point will be indicated solely by a large banner, and two timing units on top of stakes.

As soon as you have used a timing unit at the Finish, please move away from it, and proceed to the Event Centre to download.

There will be no water or other liquids provided in cups or bottles at the Finish, or at either Event Centre. Please bring your own water and drinking cups.

Event Centres

Your CovidCheck wristband will be checked each time on entering either of the Event Centres, on arrival, or to download your timing chip after having competed, or otherwise.

Please respect both of the Event Centre premises – we would like to be able to use them again in the future! Each day, please remove any studded or muddy shoes before entering – this is particularly important at the Saturday Forest Race. No dogs are allowed inside either Event Centre. Please do not leave any rubbish, other than in the litter sacks provided.

Due to Covid-19 constraints, facilities and activities at the Event Centres will be more restricted than we would have wished. As already noted, there will be an information point that will handle SPORTident chip hire and luggage drop, and the download point. The Event Centres each also offer a reasonably large indoor floor area, where you can prepare for and recover from your run, and leave your rucksacks and bags while out on the course. There will be toilet facilities, although these are somewhat restricted at the Event Centre for the Sunday City Race.

The Event Centres will not offer showers, formal changing facilities, or a creche.

We will run a refreshment point at both events selling beer, bottled water, cakes and other refreshments. We will happily fill your own cup with tap water. Due to Covid-19 constraints, all food sold at the refreshment points will only be provided on disposable plates. As soon as you have finished consuming, please put your plates in one of the litter sacks provided. Please bring your own cup or glass for all drinks.

We may need to restrict access to indoor areas, if it appears that these are becoming too crowded and social distancing cannot be observed. If this is the case, priority for access will be given to competitors needing to download, and then to people collecting bags or other possessions that they have previously left.

Please socialise, and consume food and drink (including that purchased from the refreshment point), outdoors, to the maximum extent sensible, particularly if it is not raining – thank you! Although it is not a formal requirement, as a courtesy to others, please also still consider wearing your mask, especially while indoors at an Event Centre.

Results, no prizes

To avoid crowding, there will be no results display of any sort at either Event Centre.

Live results will be available throughout the course of both events, and afterwards, at https://helga-o.com/webres/

Each day’s results are for a separate event. The results of the two Races will not be combined.

There will be no prize-giving ceremony, and no prizes will be awarded, for either of the two Races – we are sorry that this has to be the case.

Results from the Sunday City Race will be counted in deciding the 2021 overall City Race Euro Tour rankings.

Principal event officials

Weekend Co-ordinator	Ondra Kotecky (Luxembourg OC)
Planner (Forest Race), Event treasurer	David Roach (Luxembourg OC)
Planner (City Race)	Sasha Rybakov (Luxembourg OC)
Controller (Forest Race and City Race)	Jonas Wolff (Luxembourg OC)

We are also most grateful to Michael Hock (ARDOC and Luxembourg OC) and his colleagues from HELGA, for their support with entry systems, and on-the-day timing and results. We couldn’t do the events without them!

Saturday 23 October – Middle distance forest race

Timetable

12.00	Villeroy & Boch Factory Outlet Centre parking area opens
12.00	CovidCheck point opens
12.30	Event Centre opens
14.00	First start time
~15.30	Last start time
17.15	Courses close, all competitors must report to download by this time
17.30	Event Centre closes
18.00	Villeroy & Boch Factory Outlet Centre parking area closes, gate locked

Map

1:10,000 scale, contour interval 5 metres. A4 size for all courses. To IOF standard ISOM 2017. Mapping by Marian Cotirta in July 2020, updated in 2021.

Seats and benches are mapped with a small black circle. Large signage, and apparatus used for the “fitness” course that runs through part of the forest, are mapped with a small black cross. Numerous 2-metre-high yellow marker posts for underground gas pipelines are not mapped. Only the more prominent knolls and rootstocks are mapped – there are many other smaller ones in some areas of the forest.

Terrain

Near-city forest, with a dense network of paths and tracks. Predominantly beech forest, with some mixed pine and fir tree areas, cut by shallow valleys, some flanked with sandstone rock-faces. Runnability very good to medium. The wet summer has resulted in a particularly strong growth of nettles, brambles, and bracken on the NW part of the mapped area. The map has been updated to show the worst areas as “good visibility, slow run” or “good visibility, walk”, but other areas of unpleasantness may be encountered.

Travel and Location

The Event Centre is located at the Stade Mathias Marner football ground, within the Bambesch Centre Sportif area.

Cars must however park at the Villeroy & Boch Factory Outlet Centre site, located at 330 rue de Rollingergrund (49.628199, 6.107285). There will be no event-specific road signage.

Due to road works and possible road closures in the west part of the city, cars coming from Arlon are advised to leave the A6 autoroute at Exit 3, drive 3km north on the CR181 to the Bridel roundabout, and then take the N12 for 3km towards Luxembourg. Then turn left at the T-junction, and the car parking is on the right after 300 metres.

Car parking space will be tight, so please park as directed. There will be a charge of EUR 2 per car – please have a EUR 2 coin handy to give to the parking marshal on arrival, in order to prevent cars queuing on the main road.

It is a 1.4 km walk, mostly uphill, to the Event Centre – please allow 20 minutes walking time. The route will be marked with red and white streamers. Please take especial care when passing along the part of one road where there is no pavement – this road is a one-way street, and, although not busy, cars will be approaching from behind you.

It is strictly forbidden for any cars to park any closer to the Event Centre, or in the surrounding residential areas. The Police have emphasised that roadside parking on the rue de Bridel is dangerous. The car parking areas on either side of the entrance to the Bambesch Centre Sportif need to be fully available for the general public to use – and if the weather is fine these parking areas will be full anyway. Please do not ignore this instruction – it would be likely to imperil any future use of the area for orienteering.

All cars must vacate the Villeroy & Boch Factory Outlet Centre parking area by 18.00, at which time the gates will be locked.

Camper vans over 2.2 metres high cannot park at the Villeroy & Boch Factory Outlet Centre – there are some height restrictions, as well as constraints on space. We recommend that camper vans (maximum weight 3.5 tonnes) use the Glacis public car park near the city centre. This parking will be used for the Sunday City Race the following day, and is free of charge on Saturdays. The Saturday Forest Race can then be reached by bus – see below.

Public transport to the Saturday Forest Race from the city centre area is a practical and sensible option, especially if you are staying in a hotel in the city centre or nearby. Note that all public transport (buses, trams, trains) in the whole of Luxembourg is free of charge for everyone, and tickets are not needed. Reminder – masks must be worn!

To access the Saturday Forest Race, you can use either of two bus routes, as follows:

Route 275 – direction Mersch / Kopstal – buses start from the Theater Quai 1 bus stop (200 metres NE from the Glacis car park, beyond the Theater tram stop) at 12.20, 12.50, 13.25, 13.50, 14.20 and 14.50. It is a 7-minute ride to the Peiffeschbierg bus stop. Buses return from the Peiffeschbierg bus stop (south side of the rue de Rollingergrund) to the Theater stop, at 14.58, 15.28, 15.46, 16.28, 16.48, 17.30, 18.00 and 18.35.
Route 21 – direction Eich – buses coming from Kirchberg area stop at the Fondation Pescatore Quai 2 bus stop (200 metres SE from the Glacis car park, on the right hand side of the road when approaching from the Glacis car park – the bus route appears initially to be going away from the event) every 20 minutes, at 07, 27, and 47 minutes past every hour. It is a 14-minute ride to the Peiffeschbierg bus stop (next stop after Villeroy & Boch). The route goes via the Stareplatz tram stop, which is a useful interchange point. Buses return to the city centre from the Peiffeschbierg bus stop (north side of the rue de Rollingergrund), at 08, 28, and 48 minutes past every hour.

The Peiffeschbierg bus stops are on the walking route (marked with red and white streamers) from the Villeroy & Bosch Factory Outlet Centre car parking area, about 400 metres after it starts and thus about 1.0 km, mostly uphill, on to the Event Centre – allow 15 minutes walking time.

CovidCheck point

The CovidCheck point at the Saturday Forest Race is located towards the end of the walking route from the car parking and bus stop, about 150 metres before reaching the Event Centre. You must not arrive at the Event Centre without having first been to the CovidCheck point.

As noted in the section “COVID-19 – Essential Reading”, please wear a mask at the CovidCheck point, and observe social distancing if there is any queue. Also, to help minimise any delay, please have your QR code ready to be checked.

As most participants are taking part in both Weekend Races, it is likely that the CovidCheck point at the Saturday Forest Race will be busy at times. In planning your pre-race preparations, please allow time for a short potential delay at this point – but be assured that the organisers will be trying to process you all as quickly as we can!

Event Centre

Please do not go on to the football pitch outside the Event Centre building.

Start

The Start is 600 metres from the Event Centre – please allow 15 minutes walking time. The route will be marked with red and white streamers.

The route crosses a busy road, with some traffic moving at up to 90km/h. Although the crossing point is a formal pedestrian crossing, we should have a marshal present to assist orienteers crossing. Please take care here, and expect a possible short delay before being able to cross.

As noted in the section “COVID-19 – Essential Reading”, once at the Start, you must show your CovidCheck wristband when you are called up at the -3 minute line.

Course details

City Race Euro Tour Class	Age Groups	Birth Years	Course	Length (km)	Climb (metres)	Controls
Men Elite City Race	H21, H35 (Open)	Open (1982 – 2000)	1	5.7	245	20
Women Elite City Race	D21, D35 (Open)	Open (1982 – 2000)	2	4.8	200	20
Veteran Men	H40, H45, H50	1967 - 1981	2	4.8	200	20
Veteran Women	D40, D45, D50	1967 - 1981	3	3.9	165	14
SuperVet Men	H55, H60	1957 - 1966	3	3.9	165	14
SuperVet Women	D55, D60	1957 - 1966	4	2.8	135	11
UltraVet Men	H65, H70	1947 - 1956	4	2.8	135	11
UltraVet Women	D65, D70	1947 - 1956	5	2.3	75	10
HyperVet Men	H75 +	1946 or earlier	5	2.3	75	10
HyperVet Women	D75 +	1946 or earlier	5	2.3	75	10
Junior Men	H18, H20	2001 - 2004	1	5.7	245	20
Junior Women	D18, D20	2001 - 2004	2	4.8	200	20
Youth Men	H14, H16	2005 - 2008	6	3.5	150	12
Youth Women	D14, D16	2005 - 2008	6	3.5	150	12
Children Boys	H10 -, H12	2009 or later	7	2.0	55	8
Children Girls	D10 -, D12	2009 or later	7	2.0	55	8
Open Longer	ANY AGE		3	3.9	165	14
Open Medium	ANY AGE		4	2.8	135	11
Open Short	ANY AGE		7	2.0	55	8

Safety aspects

There are no particular hazards once on the course. None of the courses cross any roads used by traffic.

Finish

The Finish is 600 metres from the Event Centre. The route back to the Event Centre will be marked with red and white streamers. The route joins the walking route to the Start at the exit to the large public car park, just to the west of the road crossing used on the way to the start. In making the return road crossing, please take just as much care as on the way to the Start.

Sunday 24 October – Long distance city race

Timetable

8.30	Event Centre opens
10.00	First start time
~11.30	Last start time
13.30	Courses close, all competitors must report to download by this time
14.00	Event Centre closes

Map

1:4,000 scale, contour interval 5 metres (n.b., not 2.5 metres). A3 size for all courses. To IOF standard ISSprOM 2019. Mapping and update by Thibaut Derenne in August 2021.

Terrain

Streets and parks in the historic city, with mostly paved surfaces and many stairs, although with several park areas. Flat in the Ville Haute (Luxembourg Old Town) area, but with steep slopes dropping to the valley of the Alzette river, which meanders through the city. The longer courses also have a very steep ascent into an area of woodland, and will also run on grass while navigating a complex area of Vauban fortifications.

Location

The Event Centre is located at the Sang a Klang concert hall, 1 rue des Trois Glands, L-1629 Luxembourg-Pfaffenthal.

Travel by car

There is no parking at, or near, the Event Centre. Cars and camper vans should park at the “Glacis” open-air public car park on the Limpertsberg side of the city centre. This is the main car park for Luxembourg’s city centre, and is free of charge on Sundays. The Glacis car park is open to all vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, with no height or width restrictions.

There will be no event-specific road signage. The Glacis car park is well signposted. The main entry is on Avenue de la Faiencerie, 50 metres NW of its crossing with Boulevard de la Foire (49.615614, 6.122808). We will hang an orienteering marker at this entrance to reassure you that you are in the correct car park!

The Glacis car park is situated north of the main inner ring route around the old City Centre, about 400 metres west of the Pont G-D Charlotte (the “Rout Breck” or “Red Bridge”, which is the link between the city centre and the Kirchberg EU and financial services office district). If approaching the city centre from Route d’Arlon, it is necessary to first turn right on reaching the inner ring route, and then to proceed in the left-hand lane for about 300 metres, before turning left and doubling back to join the northbound inner ring route.

The walking route to the Event Centre will begin at the SE corner (nearest the Red Bridge) of the Glacis car park, and will be marked with red and white streamers. Part of the route involves descending the (spectacular) Pfaffenthal panoramic public lift – enjoy the view! Masks must however be worn while waiting for, and standing inside, the lift. The walking route is about 850 metres long – please allow 15-20 minutes walking time, including the wait for the lift.

Alternative parking for cars (maximum height 2.0 metres) is available at the Place d’Europe underground car park, adjacent to the Philharmonie concert hall on Boulevard JF Kennedy. This major road runs directly from Exit 8 on the A1 motorway to the City Centre, crossing the Red Bridge after passing the Philharmonie concert hall and then continuing as the inner ring route. The Place d’Europe car park costs EUR 1.60 per hour.

The walking route to the Event Centre from this car park will not be marked with streamers. You should cross to the north side of Boulevard JF Kennedy, and then walk about 300 metres west, following the tram lines, down towards the Red Bridge. On reaching the Rout Breck tram stop, you will join the walking route outlined below for users of public transport.

Travel by public transport or on foot

All public transport (buses, trams, trains) in the whole of Luxembourg (including to and from Luxembourg’s Airport – bus routes 6, 16, and 29) is free of charge for everyone, and tickets are not needed. Reminder – masks must be worn on all forms of transport!

Users of trams or buses to the Sunday City Race should make their way to the Rout Breck tram stop, just east of the Red Bridge. They should then descend the funicular railway that runs every 2-3 minutes to the concourse of the Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg train station.

Travellers by train should make their way to this station.

From the station concourse, all travellers should then descend by lift or stairs to the rue Saint Matthieu (signed Pfaffenthal). Masks must be worn within the station complex while using either the funicular railway or the lift.

The walking route to the Event Centre from the low-level exit from the station will then be marked with red and white streamers. The route is about 500 metres long and is flat – please allow 7-10 minutes walking time.

Alternatively, bus route 23 runs directly from the main Luxembourg train station (bus stop Gare Centrale Quai 1) to very near the Event Centre. It is a 12-minute ride to the Théiwesbuer bus stop. Buses leave Gare Centrale at 25 and 55 minutes past each hour on Sunday morning. On getting off the bus, it is then a 100 metre walk, back in the direction the bus has come from, to the Event Centre.

If staying in Luxembourg City Centre and coming to the event on foot, to avoid traversing the competition area please approach the Event Centre from Avenue de la Porte-Neuve, near the Fondation Pescatore bus stops. Then follow the red and white streamers marking the walking route from the Glacis car park (see above) to descend the Pfaffenthal panoramic public lift. Masks must be worn while waiting for, and standing inside, the lift. This walking route is about 700 metres long – please allow 12-17 minutes walking time, including the wait for the lift.

CovidCheck point

The CovidCheck point at the Sunday City Race will only need to be visited by participants who did not attend the Saturday Forest Race. (Participants who already have a CovidCheck wristband should simply show it to the event official at the front entrance to the Event Centre.)

The CovidCheck point will be located at the rear entrance to the Event Centre, which is a short distance up the side road to the right of the building. If you need to visit the CovidCheck point on the Sunday morning, you should do so before going to the main entrance to the Event Centre.

Event Centre and toilet facilities

The Sang a Klang concert hall is old and architecturally notable, and is usually used as a choral and jazz concert venue. We are lucky to have such a lovely building as our Event Centre.

The hall however has only rather limited toilet facilities. Please pre-plan! As well as the facilities at the Event Centre, there are public toilets at the foot of the Pfaffenthal lift, and also in Place du Theatre, about 100 metres west of the Pre-Start area. (Unfortunately, the public toilets at the Glacis car park are normally shut on Sundays.)

Start

The Start is 900 metres from the Event Centre – please allow 20 minutes walking time. The route will be marked with red and white streamers.

The route begins by returning to the Pfaffenthal panoramic public lift, and then ascends it. Masks must be worn while waiting for, and standing inside, the lift. Beyond the top of the lift, the walking route to the Start then branches away from the walking route from the Glacis car park.

A warm-up map will be available in the Event Centre, on a table near the main entrance. This will show the route to the Start.

As noted above, once at the Start, you must show your CovidCheck wristband when you are called up at the -3 minute line. Participants who have only entered the Sunday City Race must therefore first visit the CovidCheck point at the Event Centre before starting, and thus must not go directly from the Glacis car park, or their accommodation, to the Start.

At the Start, please do not leave any litter. Please put used warm up maps, any discarded face masks, and any drinks bottles in the litter sacks provided in the Pre-start area.

Course details

Please note that on Sunday the distances are not in straight-line distance, but that they do count for obstacles.

City Race Euro Tour Class	Age Groups	Birth Years	Course	Estimated total length (km)	Estimated climb (metres)	Controls
Men Elite City Race	H21, H35 (Open)	Open (1982 – 2000)	1	~15.2	310	38
Women Elite City Race	D21, D35 (Open)	Open (1982 – 2000)	2	~11.8	~270	29
Veteran Men	H40, H45, H50	1967 - 1981	3	~11.2	~260	30
Veteran Women	D40, D45, D50	1967 - 1981	5	~7.2	~150	24
SuperVet Men	H55, H60	1957 - 1966	4	~8.9	~190	24
SuperVet Women	D55, D60	1957 - 1966	7	~5.3	~70	22
UltraVet Men	H65, H70	1947 - 1956	6	~5.8	~90	21
UltraVet Women	D65, D70	1947 - 1956	8	~4.9	~45	18
HyperVet Men	H75 +	1946 or earlier	8	~4.9	~45	18
HyperVet Women	D75 +	1946 or earlier	8	~4.9	~45	18
Junior Men	H18, H20	2001 - 2004	3	~11.2	~260	30
Junior Women	D18, D20	2001 - 2004	5	~7.2	~150	24
Youth Men	H14, H16	2005 - 2008	6	~5.8	~90	21
Youth Women	D14, D16	2005 - 2008	7	~5.3	~70	22
Children Boys	H10 -, H12	2009 or later	9	~2.6	~15	16
Children Girls	D10 -, D12	2009 or later	9	~2.6	~15	16
Open Longer	ANY AGE		4	~8.9	~190	24
Open Medium	ANY AGE		6	~5.8	~90	21
Open Short	ANY AGE		9	~2.6	~15	16

Course length and climbing are estimated figures measured based on an optimal route choice.

In some areas, controls are placed quite close together. Please check that the control number shown on the timing unit at the control is the number of the control you are looking for, as shown on your control descriptions.

It is strictly forbidden to use any public lifts during the race.

Shoes with metal spikes or studs (e.g. dobb spikes) are forbidden.

It is essential that all out of bounds areas marked with purple hatching on the map are strictly respected, especially (for the longer courses) in the area around the Vauban fortifications. Any failure to observe out of bounds areas would be likely to imperil any future use of the area for orienteering.

During your race, please take great care of your safety, and that of other people. In particular:

A number of busy roads are marked, with purple hatching on the map, as out of bounds. You must not cross these roads, except where gaps in the out of bounds hatching are shown on the map – typically these will be at traffic lights or formal pedestrian crossings. You may however use the pavements beside these roads.
Course 9, for Children, crosses two such busy roads, at formal pedestrian crossings. A marshal should be present to assist and protect orienteers crossing. Please take great care here, obey all instructions that the marshal gives, and expect a possible short delay before being able to cross.
You must obey the Luxembourg “code de la route” at all times, especially when crossing roads with traffic lights, where red lights must be respected. This is a condition for being allowed to hold this competition.
Be mindful that there are tourists and other non-orienteers in the competition area, especially in the Haute Ville – please respect all members of the public, and be particularly careful when running round building corners.
Please do not run through restaurants outside seating areas. Many of these are marked on the map as small out of bounds areas, but the mapper cannot be sure to have identified all such areas.
There are some high cliffs and very steep drops in some parts of the competition area used by the courses for adults. The courses have been planned to keep you away from danger, so if you find yourself near the edge, please step back!
Stairs and steep paved descents could be extremely slippery, especially on a rainy day. Please, be particularly careful on these.

Finish

The Finish is 250 metres from the Event Centre. The route back to the Event Centre will be marked with red and white streamers.