THE HISTORY
2007
886km | 15 045m
Six hundred teams set out from Knysna , climbing over the Prince Alfred Pass to Uniondale . Stage 2 was a long 132km to Oudtshoorn , via technical climbs in the Kamanassie Nature Reserve , while stage 3 featured the fearsome 14 % gradients of the Calitzdorp Crusher en route to Ladismith . Riders stayed in the Klein Karoo , overnighting in Barrydale and Montagu , before heading through Villiersdorp to a camp overlooking Kleinmond . The final stage was just 75km , but featured 1 285m of climbing through Elgin to the top of Sir Lowry ’ s Pass , and then a compulsory portage down the historic wagon trail to a finish at Lourensford . Team Bulls debuted in 2007 , recruiting Karl Platt and teaming him with ace stage racer Stefan Sahm . After a tough week of racing ( which saw the yellow jerseys change shoulders four times ) the German duo finished top of the leaderboard , marking the start of one of the race ’ s most successful partnerships .
16 | MTB | 20 YEARS UNTAMED