millions of years and offers a look into the future. Each stage has its own character and rhythm. Distances increase and the profile undulates as the week rolls on, and the challenge ramps up to a crescendo. Over seven days, riders climb 10 630 metres on varied surfaces: from champagne gravel to seldom-used dual track. The demands on the intrepid competitors shift constantly. Even the seemingly flat stages carry their own difficulty. There is no single, definable theme. The route offers a one-of-a-kind blend of starkly contrasting landscapes and road surfaces – it’ s an all-out endeavour against the backdrop of the Western and Eastern Cape. Those who finish will earn a record set in cycling history.
27 NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN