WHERE WE’ RE GOING
STAGE 4
COMPASSBERG LOOP
Distance: 111km Elevation gain: ± 1 45Om Elevation drop: ± 1 45Om Highest point: 1 894m Surface: 1OO % unpaved
STAGE 4 IS THE ONLY LOOP stage of the week, starting and finishing at Blaauwater Farms. It’ s also one of the most geographically distinct, tracing a remote highland loop through the wild heart of the Karoo and swinging close to the flanks of Compassberg – the Karoo’ s highest free-standing peak with unmissable views.
The climbing begins immediately: 5.5km at just under 5 %, gaining 230 metres. It’ s likely to be hard on cold legs, especially so early on and even more so after three days of racing. After a short drop, the road pitches upward again – a 3.7km climb ramping up to over 12 %. The descent that follows – spicy, unforgiving gravel
40 NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN