GEORGE NEWS - A handful of brave mountain bike athletes will start their 2023 TransCape MTB journey tomorrow, Sunday 5 March as they head-off on a six-day stage from Redberry Farm in George to Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate in Botrivier.
Registration for the race is taking place at Redberry Farm today, 4 March.
The group of riders participating in this year's event are, once again, provided with luxury accommodation, three meals a day, and all the support a mountain biker can wish for and this year's TransCape takes the rider over a staggering distance of 550km in just six days.
TransCape history
In December of 2011, around a campfire deep in the Karoo, the seed for a unique mountain bike event was planted.
PHOTO GALLERY: TransCape 2023 journey starts
Lenore Collett and her husband Wayne dreamed of creating a stage race that would take riders all the way from the lush, green forests of George in the Garden Route, through the Klein Karoo, the Overberg region and finishing in South Africa’s picturesque winelands.
The aim was to make the primary goal of the event not the race to the finish, but rather, the adventure of the journey. A boutique MTB experience, it would offer tough riding, complemented by the very best in accommodation, food and attention to detail.
And so, the TransCape was born. The race has always attracted a committed group of international riders, many of whom return every year. The crew and riders have almost become family. Again, the intimate size of the field lends itself to this as the TransCape cycle race normally accommodates less than 100 riders.
The route
The first day takes riders from Redberry Farm in Blanco up the classic Montagu pass into the Klein Karoo. A short jeep track will take them halfway through Paardepoort shortly before they pass through Zebra Station. The finish of this very well balanced and enjoyable opening stage will end at La Plume Boutique Guesthouse in Oudtshoorn.
The next day the field will leave Oudtshoorn for the 77km trek through the Klein Karoo to the majestic Rooiberg Pass. Stage two has two halves, with the opening 45km being predominantly fast flowing gravel as they work their way to the foothills of the Gamka and Rooiberg mountains. Crossing the Gouritz river and entering Gamkaberg Nature Reserve marks the start of the second half. The final 12km homestretch takes riders to Rooiberg Lodge in Van Wyksdorp.
The first of the three long stages (91km) winds through the reserve back up to the main Van Wyksdorp road to the Kweekkraal Guesthouse in Riversdale where riders can relax and prepare for Stage 5's 95km from Riversdael to Gaikou Lodge in Swellendam. Stage five is a 96km ride from Swellendam to the quaint town of Greyton, and an evening at Greyton Lodge.
The penultimate stage dishes up some of the Western Cape's most beautiful MTB country as it takes the field on it's final 65km push from Greyton to breathtaking Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate in Botrivier.
The event also supports various charities, unprivileged schools and conservation initiatives along our route.
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