Mossel Bay logistics: single transition area, Saturday check-in and pre-dawn shuttles

The good news: a single transition area

Mossel Bay is a logistically simple race by 70.3 standards: T1 and T2 are in the same spot, the De Bakke Beach car park on Garret Street. No bags to sort between two distant transitions, no shuttles between T1 and T2. The swim is point-to-point from Santos Beach to De Bakke Beach, so the walk to the swim start is the only transfer on race morning.

Important note: all the logistics details below refer to the 2024 edition, the most recent with a public athlete guide at the time of writing. For 2026, check times and venues in the official guide as soon as it's released.

Registration and bike check-in: all on Saturday

In 2024, registration was at the Marquee Tent at the Diaz Hotel & Resort. Bike racking was on Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00, and here's the point that catches people out: there is no race-morning bike check-in. If you show up at dawn on Sunday with your bike in the car, your race is over before it starts. Plan to arrive in Mossel Bay by Saturday morning, with enough margin for registration, the briefing and bike drop-off without rushing.

Practical tip from check-in: take photos of your spot in transition and memorize fixed reference points (poles, signs) — with a single transition area the bike density is high, and on Sunday morning, in the dark, everything looks the same.

Race morning

Transition opened at 05:00 and closed at 06:15 (2024 data): a tight window, 75 minutes to pump your tires, set up nutrition and shoes, and get out. Race-morning shuttles ran from 04:30 to 06:15 from the Diaz Hotel and The Point Hotel car parks. If you're staying far from the town center, your wake-up time is dictated by the shuttle, not the start.

On parking: in 2024, the De Bakke Santos campsite required the pink parking disc. Rules like this change year to year: check the 2026 arrangements and don't improvise on Sunday morning.

Where to stay and with whom

Mossel Bay is a coastal town in the Western Cape, on the Garden Route. The race's logistical landmarks (Diaz Hotel, The Point Hotel, the De Bakke/Santos area) are concentrated on the waterfront: staying within walking distance of transition simplifies everything, but nearby accommodation sells out fast for a race that draws around 2,000 participants according to event listings. Book as soon as you register, with flexible cancellation.

For family and supporters it's a convenient race: the swim, transition and the three-lap run are all concentrated on the seafront, and athlete race reports mention big crowds along the run course. Your supporters can see you at the start, three times on the run and at the finish without moving the car. The only blind spot is the bike: 87 km out of town on roads with dedicated lanes, hard for spectators to reach.

Costs and registration

Available sources don't list the 2026 entry fee: verify it on the official race page. On top of the entry fee, budget for travel to South Africa, possible bike transport and at least two nights on site (Saturday morning to Sunday evening at a minimum; three nights is more realistic).

Operational checklist

• Book accommodation near De Bakke/town center as soon as you register.
• Arrive by Saturday morning: registration + bike check-in 12:00-17:00.
• Verify in the 2026 guide: transition hours, shuttles, parking rules, registration venue.
• Sunday: set your alarm around the 04:30-06:15 shuttle, transition closes at 06:15.
• No plans that involve the bike being in the car on Sunday morning.