ROAD TO DESOLATION

The race leaves the town of Graaff-Reinet in a North-Westerly direction. As the riders climb out of town and pass the Dam on the right the environment opens up into the Camdeboo National Park. With game dotted all over the horizon, riders will veer off the tar for a short section of single track. This will surely create some major splits in the groups. Six more kilometres of paved surface lead us to a left turn onto The Roodewal Loop, a pristine private road that starts out smooth and fast and culminates in a long, technical rocky climb up to the top of Ouberg.
 
Here the riders will have a chance to refuel before turning right onto the tar and heading in a South-Easterly direction back towards Graaff-Reinet. This portion of the route borrows from long version of the race. Exposed and fast, wind can play a huge part in the make-up of the groups heading towards the the right turn to The Valley Of Desolation. Being isolated here will play a massive role in how much they have left for the last test up to the top.
 
Again, the road rises ferociously and shows few signs of letting up all the way to the summit. Those who have anything left will slog their way to the top for a Taste Of Desolation. Remember to look down!

The race leaves the small town of Graaff-Reinet in a North-Easterly direction. After a 3km neutralised start, the race flag drops as the riders make a right turn onto a gravel road at dawn. The smooth gravel and the fresh morning air may lead some into a false sense of security but the slight incline of the first 40km’s and the inevitable attacks are sure to put some in trouble early on.
 
The first waterpoint will await riders at Erasmuskloof at 41km’s. With nearly 1000m of climbing in the legs, selections would’ve been made and groups will be littered across the landscape. A welcome respite follows with around 20km’s of rolling downhill terrain, however the fast speeds and loose terrain could well catch a few out as mechanical issues could play a huge part in the final selection. The landscape opens up before a second water point greets the riders at a Windmill at around 78km’s. A shortish tar meander takes the riders over the N9 before a punchy climb to the summit of Witnekpas. Pure bliss follows with some of the smoothest and fastest gravel terrain in the country as riders descend for the next 10km’s before the last rise and a sharp descent into the small town of Nieu-Bethesda located at the foot of the Sneeuberge. 
 
This will form the third waterpoint and is a great place for family and friends to have breakfast and watch the riders come through. A short, steep climb out of the valley takes you up and over into the Riverdeen farm. This 40km rolling stretch is best ridden in a group and anyone who finds themselves alone is gonna pay dearly by the end of the day. The final chance to restock on supplies takes place at 154km’s just before riders turn South-East onto the tar towards Graaff-Reinet. This exposed section could well distance riders falling off the wheel.
 
A right turn at around 172km’s takes the riders onto the road up to The Valley Of Desolation. A brief moment to take in the surrounds and contemplate what is to come. The road rises up viciously and doesn’t really let up until the mountaintop summit. The brutal gradients and the levels of fatigue will find the riders out immediately. A slow-paced onslaught awaits as riders toil up the final test. The view of the town below at around 175km’s will take your breath away if the savage slopes haven’t already.