[Event] Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo

[Mongoose!]

Valtteri Bottas.... SA gravel community needs a sponsor brother.. $$$.

..

[Shebeen]

SWARTBERG 100 

It has been a fantastic 9 years of hosting the Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo in our beautiful town of Prince Albert.

In 2016 we launched South Africa’s first dedicated gravel bike race, we chose the slogan “Choose your Weapon!” which seems to have caught on in SA’s cycling world. We wanted all-comers on any bikes, knowing that eventually gravel bikes would dominate the race format and route. We let it naturally evolve, and it’s been a wonderful experience to see the racing fraternity go from “What’s a gravel bike?” to long discussions on tyre size and gearing on the myriad of gravel bikes available in the market today.

We have had to re-evaluate our focus and available time on all the projects we have going in the MTBAfrica Events company. There is the return on investment in time and money but more importantly there is the opportunity cost to consider.

Our GravelGrinder Tours are hugely successful, they are “Cycling, social and culinary adventures” involving 3 days of 60km per day in SA’s prettiest Karoo towns, enjoying the best cycling routes in the area, the local cuisine in top notch restaurants and a vast array of the best of South African wines to choose from at all the meals. We run 12 to 14 of these per annum.

We have recently launched the KarooRak, a bicycle rack we can proudly say is South Africa’s toughest and most functional bike rack. It has been tested for more than 4 years transporting our customer’s bikes on tour, we have considered every frustration and shortfall of bike racks on the market today. We believe we have a winner.

Given our current commitments, it is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the end of the Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo, we thank you for all your support in the past, it’s been a great journey.

Yours Sincerely
John Swanepoel - Race Director and Chief Domestique

 

 

 

https://www.karoogravelgrinder.com/

seems like a lekker business, hope they can keep growing it.

[LuckyLuke]

Was such a awesome event!!

[milky4130]

On 8/22/2024 at 9:13 AM, Bub Marley said:

Wow, this sucks. This race was on my list events for the future.

 

I think the closest race to this is the Prince George 100 miler. Maybe someone that’s done both can comment on the differences.

I’ve done both, Swartberg 100 ends off with the Pass and PA starts off with the Pass. Different sides and different dynamics, different race.

Glad I was there for the inaugural in 2016 then again back for 2018. 2017 was a wash out. Thanks Big John and Team it was a privilege to ride your event. All the best with the future endeavors.

[babse]

11 hours ago, milky4130 said:

I’ve done both, Swartberg 100 ends off with the Pass and PA starts off with the Pass. Different sides and different dynamics, different race.

Glad I was there for the inaugural in 2016 then again back for 2018. 2017 was a wash out. Thanks Big John and Team it was a privilege to ride your event. All the best with the future endeavors.

or the pioneer that does the pass after 5 days of racing in the legs 🤪

[Mamil]

I see that the Ronde van Riebeek guys have resurrected this event now called the Ronde van Swartberg - "Help help me Rhonda - Help me Rhonda" --- as Brian Wilson said

[Skubarra]

32 minutes ago, Mamil said:

I see that the Ronde van Riebeek guys have resurrected this event now called the Ronde van Swartberg - "Help help me Rhonda - Help me Rhonda" --- as Brian Wilson said

Our accommodation booking for the April long weekend is already uncancelled. 🥳

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

I see that the Ronde van Riebeek guys have resurrected this event now called the Ronde van Swartberg - "Help help me Rhonda - Help me Rhonda" --- as Brian Wilson said

https://www.facebook.com/rondevanriebeek/posts/pfbid02ky9wXo9mPkkhS8EKVMSTmyH57NfFBuvJB7NSBxv1eadvLzcp6PaDmrq4DGhUm9Fwl

 

 

well it's just one ronde, but a big one at that!