785km

Total descending: 10 650m

Total climbing: 10 630m

OF RIDERS ARE FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Longest stage: Stage 6 at 144km Shortest stage: Stage 1 at 84km Most climbing: Stage 1 with 2 O5Om Most descending: Stage 6 with 2 5OOm

The other half of the field comes from 27 different countries, including:

1 summit finish Swaershoek Pass on Stage 5

Unpaved: 85 % Paved: 15 %

$ 150 000 Total prize purse

YOUNGEST RIDERS Men: Tarquin Smit 20 Women: Emma van der Stockt 25

OLDEST RIDERS Men: Stephen Salt 71 Women: Carol McCallum 64

		REGION
Watch out for meerkats standing guard – these social animals take turns keeping watch for predators.	The Karoo is home to the highest diversity of succulents on the planet.	Low light pollution means the Karoo offers some of the best stargazing on earth. October is peak meteor shower season – keep an eye out for streaks of light overhead.	Parts of the route cross fossil beds over 250 million years old – predating the dinosaurs.

82 NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN