Henri Rouleur

Sounds like the all too common situation of someone's ego and expectations far exceeding their ability.

I'm riding a Giant Revolt Advanced 2. It's roughly in your price range. The "flip-chip" technology allows you to adjust the geometry of the bike. Adjusting the geometry, and adjusting your tire size at the same time (say 40cc to 50cc), allows you to switch pretty easily from race to bike-packing modes, which I understand to be one of your priorities. My only criticism of the bike is the stock wheel-set, which I found to be heavy and slow. I solved that problem by saving up some more and eventually upgrading to a set of Easton EC90 wheels. Now the bike feels like a rocket. With some decent road tyres I doubt that I will be much slower than with my road bike (a Giant TCR). In general, I'm very happy with the bike.

The WP road cycling calendar looks very good to me. I don't believe we have as many (and as well organised) races in Gauteng, and I'm not aware of any criteriums anywhere but in Cape Town.