Road To Desolation

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Road To Desolation GRAVEL CYCLING EVENT IN THE KAROO. GRAAFF-REINET, EC, SOUTH AFRICA

Two weeks to go. Entries close very soon. Come and find desolation.
12/09/2026

Two weeks to go.

Entries close very soon.

Come and find desolation.

Due to popular demand - the route preview is here.Swipe and see what you’re in for.And if you’re not in yet: we have a h...
10/09/2026

Due to popular demand - the route preview is here.

Swipe and see what you’re in for.

And if you’re not in yet: we have a handful of last-minute entries left. It might be your last chance. Ever.

The new route has an epic rhythm. Graaff-Reinet to the Valley of Desolation.

The first 3km are neutral, until the gravel on Mountain Drive. A hilly road that lets you know straight away this is not your average day on the bike. Please don’t become a statistic in the first few hundred metres.

From there we head into Camdeboo National Park. The 5km single-track section demands a good position - get it wrong and you could lose the race before the 10km mark.

Out of the single track, a few kilometres set you up for Old Ouberg. A private road, a short but stingy 4km climb, and at the top: the camper. Our fuel station. More on that in the coming days.

Then the Open Sky section. Familiar terrain if you’ve raced previous editions, but with new bits too - including 10km that are genuinely unpleasant. Not the surface. The false flat that never seems to end.

But rest assured: it’s all downhill from here. Well. Almost.

You’ll pass the camper again to refuel before the last bit of gravel reminds you you’re not done yet.

And then - finally - what you came for. The Valley. 7 relentless kilometres you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. But you didn’t want it any other way.

You’ve reached your destination. Desolation.

Mountain Drive. A great way to wake up.

A prime gravel road overlooking the town. Two short but stingy climbs that will most probably break the field up already.

Just please take that one corner a little more carefully than our friends from LOW & SLOW CC did. We’re hosting a social ride on Friday so you can have a proper look at it - and not become a statistic the next morning.

The single track. Sounds worse than it is.

Pretty much all flat - but positioning before the entry is everything. Get in late and you’re stuck behind the field until it spits you out 5km later.

That alone can decide the race.

The Ouberg climb. A private segment we’re very excited to have.

Despite what previous years might suggest, the road is in amazing condition - so it’ll be intere

Our finish line is different.Come and find desolation.We are almost full if you are on the fence this is your time to en...
01/09/2026

Our finish line is different.

Come and find desolation.

We are almost full if you are on the fence this is your time to enter.

📸 dont call me jessica, its jess Max Sullivan

Winner! - Congrats - we slid into your DMs. You have 24h to accept before we are reaching out to the substitutes. Every...
25/08/2026

Winner! - Congrats - we slid into your DMs. You have 24h to accept before we are reaching out to the substitutes.

Everyone else: there’s another bike up for grabs at our race dinner, and the dinner’s included in your entry. More on that soon.

Regular entries close tomorrow - Thursday onwards it’s late fees. Come find Desolation with us. 26 September.

Five weeks out. Make desolation your destination.26th September
24/08/2026

Five weeks out.

Make desolation your destination.

26th September

20/08/2026

We have a raffle to win an entry, bike and nutrition coming up. Until then enjoy our smooth and fast gravel on our new route. Lots of exciting news to come. Keep your eyes peeled.

Find DESOLATION on the 26th of September.

Come and race.

South Africa’s fourth oldest town. Far from everything. Warm like somewhere you’ve been before.Robert Sobukwe, formerly ...
07/08/2026

South Africa’s fourth oldest town.
Far from everything. Warm like somewhere you’ve been before.

Robert Sobukwe, formerly Graaff-Reinet - and in TE WATER HOUSE a venue that feels the same way.

Registration happens here. So does the shakeout ride. So does dinner together after the race. All included in your entry.

Make desolation your destination.

Come and race or ride.

26.09.2026

Address

2 Park Street
Graaff-Reinet
6280

Telephone

+27762230218

Website

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