WC Gravel Race recommendations

[SOG]

Hi Guys.

Newish to the gravel world. Looking to tick off a couple more races next year. Please hit me with some recommendations.

Can't afford to do all of them as these weekends away really start to hurt when you add up petrol, accommodation, nutrition etc.

 

 

Karoo Burn (242km) - R1990.00

Swartberg100 (170km) - R1950.00

Ronde van Riebeck (160km) - R 590.00

The Gallows (116km) - R1000.00

Around the Pot 100 (160km) - R1050.00

Around the Pot (98km) - R700.00

Old Hermon (85km) - R550.00

Race to the Sea (162km) - R1290.00

The Ceder (245km) - R1495.00

The Ceder (140km) - R975.00

Boland Gravel Monster (150km) - R1150.00

Boland Gravel Monster (100km) - R800.00

Greyton Pie Run (76km) R450.00

Road to Desolation (179km) R900

Taste of Desolation (66km) R750

Prince George 100 miler (165km) R1950.00

Stanford 100 (169km) - R950.00

Stanford 50 (77km) - R650.00

 

I'm looking for good value for money options, with a deep pool of racers. Don't mind paying slightly more for a memorable experience/weekend... Having said that, 2k seems like a bit much for a one day race.

 

Thanks.

Edited September 26, 2023 by SOG

[El Duderino]

I did Ronde Van Riebeek this year. Highly recommended. I thought it was great value at just under R600. 

Would do it again. 

[Sidekick Racer]

Welcome!!

For context - what level of riding are you at roughly? IE. Is a 245km Ceder an option for you?

I will give you some recommendations based on that.

[SOG]

@Sidekick Racer Thanks! I'm pretty experienced on Road/MTB, not elite but I like to race. Done Trans Baviaans and W2W. Would definitely be keen for the 245km.

[Sidekick Racer]

@SOG Ok awesome, so very competent then!! 🔥

I have done quite a number of the races around the Western Cape the past few years and some of my top one's (no particular order):

The Ceder 245 - amazing route, super organisers, great crew and vibe, weekend in the Cederberg with affordable accommodation. The Goodie Bags are also worth more than the entry fee at this one

The Gallows - great route, epic finale that breaks you, awesome energy. McGregor weekend is a vibe and tons of cheap accommodation. Another race where the Goodie Bags are PROPER value and the organisers are legit

Swartberg 100 Miler - one of the coolest routes on the calendar, Swartberg Pass is awesome. Book accommodation early as this can be a nightmare

Ceder 2 Day Trek - This is a lesser know race. Crazy value with food, accomodation and bag transport with 2 days of racing for R2500 odd. Super organisers and 2 short 80km days into the Cederberg from Clanwilliam. Your partner can also join you on the Saturday afternoon / evening - great vibes

Pie Run  (McGregor) - the quality of gravel is amazing and it is a short, sharp fast race. Easy to just go for the day or just the night before. Only 80km but a nice affordable throw in.

 

The scene is exploding at the moment with new races constantly added - enjoy it!

[Shebeen]

28 minutes ago, SOG said:

Hi Guys.

Newish to the gravel world. Looking to tick off a couple more races next year. Please hit me with some recommendations.

Can't afford to do all of them as these weekends away really start to hurt when you add up petrol, accommodation, nutrition etc.

 

 

Karoo Burn (242km) - R1990.00

Swartberg100 (170km) - R1950.00

Ronde van Riebeck (160km) - R 590.00

The Gallows (116km) - R1000.00

Around the Pot 100 (160km) - R1050.00

Around the Pot (98km) - R700.00

Old Hermon (85km) - R550.00

Race to the Sea (162km) - R1290.00

The Ceder (245km) - R1495.00

The Ceder (140km) - R975.00

Boland Gravel Monster (150km) - R1150.00

Boland Gravel Monster (100km) - R800.00

Greyton Pie Run (76km) R450.00

Road to Desolation (179km) R900

Taste of Desolation (66km) R750

Prince George 100 miler (165km) R1950.00

Stanford 100 (169km) - R950.00

Stanford 50 (77km) - R650.00

 

I'm looking for good value for money options, with a deep pool of racers. Don't mind paying slightly more for a memorable experience/weekend... Having said that, 2k seems like a bit much for a one day race.

 

Thanks.

that's a cool listy maclistface already.

maybe we should have a section for this.

some other ones slightly off the beaten track = Eroica nova and https://makadasadventures.co.za/montagu-gravel-grit-festival/

 

RvR really does stand out there in the pack bang for buck wise. now if they can just get some actual Belgian beer and not Stella I am #1 ambassador!

 

 

[SOG]

Thanks @Shebeen and @Sidekick Racer Really appreciate the info. Going to put those on the list then. Cheers

[cadenceblur]

should perhaps add some dates as well, 

[Bub Marley]

2 hours ago, SOG said:

Hi Guys.

Newish to the gravel world. Looking to tick off a couple more races next year. Please hit me with some recommendations.

Can't afford to do all of them as these weekends away really start to hurt when you add up petrol, accommodation, nutrition etc.

 

 

Karoo Burn (242km) - R1990.00

Swartberg100 (170km) - R1950.00

Ronde van Riebeck (160km) - R 590.00

The Gallows (116km) - R1000.00

Around the Pot 100 (160km) - R1050.00

Around the Pot (98km) - R700.00

Old Hermon (85km) - R550.00

Race to the Sea (162km) - R1290.00

The Ceder (245km) - R1495.00

The Ceder (140km) - R975.00

Boland Gravel Monster (150km) - R1150.00

Boland Gravel Monster (100km) - R800.00

Greyton Pie Run (76km) R450.00

Road to Desolation (179km) R900

Taste of Desolation (66km) R750

Prince George 100 miler (165km) R1950.00

Stanford 100 (169km) - R950.00

Stanford 50 (77km) - R650.00

 

I'm looking for good value for money options, with a deep pool of racers. Don't mind paying slightly more for a memorable experience/weekend... Having said that, 2k seems like a bit much for a one day race.

 

Thanks.

This year I did Ronde Van Riebeeck, Old Hermon & Boland Gravel Monster. Was also planning on doing the Jar from Dirt PPA one but that got postpones to December.

 

For next year, I’ve pencilled in Ronde (Half miler) again, The Gallows, Old Hermon, Race to the Sea & Stanford 100miler.

 

Ronde was great value. Old Hermon was well supported also at a great price. Boland Gravel Monster was probably the best route but way overpriced with essentially a cheap cap in a goodie bag. Wasn’t well supported also so not sure Ill do that again.

 

Swartberg 100 is an UCI approved event. It’s the OG of gravel. I really want to do it but wont have much time to train with Ramadan just finishing. Maybe 2025 I will enter for it.

 

 

[Vaultboy]

I 

1 hour ago, El Duderino said:

I did Ronde Van Riebeek this year. Highly recommended. I thought it was great value at just under R600. 

Would do it again. 

The big race went fine, but the shorter distances had a huge delay, due to too few ambulances being organised. Not lekker sitting on the starting line for 2 hours. Some entrants decided to leave. Organisers gave free beer to the finishers, and promised free entry to next year's race to those affected. I'll definitely do it again if its free....otherwise I'll wait to hear whether next year's event is organised better. 

[El Duderino]

Yeah, I was referring to the big race. I know there were lots of complaints about the short race. And the lack of Belgian Beer 🍺 😆 

[Kom]

16 minutes ago, Vaultboy said:

I 

The big race went fine, but the shorter distances had a huge delay, due to too few ambulances being organised. Not lekker sitting on the starting line for 2 hours. Some entrants decided to leave. Organisers gave free beer to the finishers, and promised free entry to next year's race to those affected. I'll definitely do it again if its free....otherwise I'll wait to hear whether next year's event is organised better. 

Yeah waiting wasnt lekker - but honestly what a great event .... and ... probably the only one that wasnt cancelled or hit by k*k weather.

[Vaultboy]

2 hours ago, SOG said:

Hi Guys.

Newish to the gravel world. Looking to tick off a couple more races next year. Please hit me with some recommendations.

Can't afford to do all of them as these weekends away really start to hurt when you add up petrol, accommodation, nutrition etc.

 

 

Karoo Burn (242km) - R1990.00

Swartberg100 (170km) - R1950.00

Ronde van Riebeck (160km) - R 590.00

The Gallows (116km) - R1000.00

Around the Pot 100 (160km) - R1050.00

Around the Pot (98km) - R700.00

Old Hermon (85km) - R550.00

Race to the Sea (162km) - R1290.00

The Ceder (245km) - R1495.00

The Ceder (140km) - R975.00

Boland Gravel Monster (150km) - R1150.00

Boland Gravel Monster (100km) - R800.00

Greyton Pie Run (76km) R450.00

Road to Desolation (179km) R900

Taste of Desolation (66km) R750

Prince George 100 miler (165km) R1950.00

Stanford 100 (169km) - R950.00

Stanford 50 (77km) - R650.00

 

I'm looking for good value for money options, with a deep pool of racers. Don't mind paying slightly more for a memorable experience/weekend... Having said that, 2k seems like a bit much for a one day race.

 

Thanks.

Thanks for starting this thread and putting this list together. Will you be updating it with the recommendations, and perhaps also indicative dates (e.g. 'early March')? Would be hella useful for everyone, but no worries if that's too much effort. 

[Bub Marley]

40 minutes ago, Vaultboy said:

Thanks for starting this thread and putting this list together. Will you be updating it with the recommendations, and perhaps also indicative dates (e.g. 'early March')? Would be hella useful for everyone, but no worries if that's too much effort. 

Agreed. This would actually be quite handy. 
 

Some of these races really need to up their marketing game. I’ve never heard of Road to desolation till I saw this thread. Also Greyton Pie Run. Never heard of it before. 
 

Jar from Dirt, the PPA gravel race needs to added to list as well. 

[Rowl]

An aside: Maybe consider getting the RaceSpace app, lists all races and can filter on date and desolation (location).

Edited September 26, 2023 by Roul
Context

[Shebeen]

10 minutes ago, Roul said:

An aside: Maybe consider getting the RaceSpace app, lists all races and can filter on date and desolation (location).

There's this too

https://bikehub.co.za/events

Needs to go further into the future but can filter for gravel