Route

The race starts from (and finishes at) The Ferry Hotel situated on the banks of the Gamtoos River, near Jeffrey’s Bay.

After the start, the route heads off along a 5,8km tar section in a Northerly direction before turning sharp left and a further 5km of undulating tar road follows to get the legs nicely warmed before the gravel road fun starts.  Riders turn right at Flamingo Lake onto the Padlangs gravel road, with some short-sharp climbs incl. the infamous “Concrete Killer” climb (@ 17,5km) to test the climbing legs for what’s to follow later in the race.

At about 19,5km into the race the route crosses the Hankey tar road and then takes a left turn onto a fast downhill tar road section and a small climb before splitting off to the right onto gravel to Loerie Ruskamp where the 1^st water point is located (at ± 22km into the race).   After Loerie Ruskamp the route drops down to a river crossing (normally without any water in it) which signals the start of Lex’s Monster climb …a 12.5km ascent with an elevation gain of ± 900m, with the KOM Hotspot at the summit at ± 36km into the race.

After the KOM Hotspot riders are treated to some exhilarating and somewhat technical downhill jeep track (NB: REDUCE speed for the deceptive Kamakaze hairpin bend 39km into the race!), before the route reaches the 2^nd water point (AT THE INTERSECTION with Elands River Rd) at just short of 44km into the race. The route then turns left onto Elands River Rd and goes past the Sand River Dam.

The route then winds through the Elands River Valley to reach the 3^rd water point at the Cheese Shop ± 76,8km into the race, where riders will be faced with the difficult choice of either stopping to fill up with fuel or continuing past and onto the 2^nd major climb of the race (± 7.5km with 250m elevation gain) up to the Mast.

From the Mast to Patensie is fast downhill territory, spiced up with a few short sharp climbs and tight bends along the way. Just before the tar road at Patensie, the route takes a SHARP right next to the canal, and then a left +/- 1km further, where riders will be relieved to see the 4^th water point at  +/-100,5 km into the race (at Patensie) where it would be prudent to fill up on fuel. (NOTE: 15h30 cut-off time applicable HERE!)

The route crosses the R331 tar road (check for normal traffic here) after the waterpoint and then meanders between some lush citrus farmlands and then takes a right and gradually climbs through Droëkloof before turning left at ± 111km into the race, after which riders will be faced with the daunting task of tackling The Never Ender climb (± 12km with 250m elevation gain). The summit of Never Ender is reach at +/- 122km into the race and followed by a bit more climbing along the Y-Split (TAKE NOTE: keep left at the split!), after which riders can “enjoy” (if not corrugated) the next ± 6km down to Zuurbron farm. NOTE: the route takes a SHARP LEFT just BEFORE the STOP sign (at the Hankey – Humansdorp tar road) and drops down along a newly cut  short section of single track, then goes underneath the tar road and takes a LEFT UP (NOTE: change from last year!) to the very important Zuurbron WP and Checkpoint @ +/- 132km (NOTE: no-lights & race cut-off times applicable HERE!). NOTE: The 2024 route has changed from Zuurbron to the FINISH!

After leaving the Zuurbron WP, turn RIGHT onto a gravel road (known by local riders as “die Skommelpad”). NOTE: lookout for cars on the road before turning right! After +/-5km on this gravel road the route turns LEFT (NB: Do Not miss this LEFT TURN!) off the gravel road and through a SLIDING GATE into Sonop Citrus farm for a +/-3km exhilarating descent (be very careful though as this is a working farm!). The route then makes a few “kinks” past some “mealie” fields before crossing the Gamtoos river. After crossing the river, you take a right and it’s another +/- 2,5km of gravel road, before you TURN LEFT (@ +/- 145km) onto a tar road.

Riders will be pleased to know that it’s pretty much smooth sailing form here all the way to the finish, with tar all the way! NOTE: This final stretch should look familiar (unless you get it in the dark), as it is the same tar road section (in the opposite direction) that you started with this morning. NORMAL road rules apply, so please look out for cars on this tar road! Many a race is either won or lost along this final stretch, depending on whether you’ve left your legs behind on one of the many climbs earlier in the race. NOTE: Don’t miss the sharp RIGHT turn at +/- 151km!

NOTE: The last part of the FINISH will be a bit more trickier than last year, as you’ll be approaching The Ferry Hotel from the opposite (Loerie side) direction! PLEASE be very careful with the last right TURN into grounds of The Ferry Hotel! We’ll be waiting to welcome you at the finish line, where you can enjoy a cool frosty and something to eat while reliving the memories made in completing the Trans Elands 160km extreme, SA’s toughest 100 miler, founded by Lex Holmes.

Actual distance = 157km

The 60km race starts at The Ferry Hotel situated on the banks of the Gamtoos River, near Jeffrey’s Bay.

After the start, the route heads off along a 5,8km tar section in a Northerly direction before turning sharp left and a further 6,5km of undulating tar road follows to get the legs nicely warmed before the gravel road fun starts.

Here the road changes to gravel before the route splits to the right at 14,2km, before the Hankey Panky climb starts 500m later, with 4,5km of uphill gravel climbing, before turning left at 19.3km to start the descent down again.

At the bottom of the hill at the 23,7km mark, you’ll take a sharp left turn onto undulating farm roads to the first water point at 25km.

Here you’ll cross the river and ride on hardpack river sand roads alongside the river, before turning away from the river and heading up to the citrus farms at 27,3km, following the road as it turns at 28,1km to go around the fields, past the farm buildings and turning left at 28,5km.

On entering the covered citrus field at 29,4km, you will immediately turn right and follow the fence around the perimeter of the field as the short climb soon turns into a quick descent, before a right turn at 29,8km takes you out of the first covered field, past some more farm buildings, and into the second covered section at 30,0km.

On exiting the second covered field at 30,25km a sharp left takes you down next to the field to another left at 30,5km after crossing the irrigation ditch.

You will then turn sharp right at 30,9km, following the road around before turning right again at 31,3km, before turning down 200m to cross the river on the concrete bridge. Once through the gate, the road curves to the right before you take a double right at 32,0km, following the jeep track farm road alongside the river before turning left at 34,6km. Another left at 35km takes you along the boundary of the fields, before turning left at 35,7km, and then right 100m later, to come up past the farm sheds on your left. A short climb up to the main gravel road and a left turn at 35,9km sees you ride a short 300m section of flat road before turning right at 36,2km and the climb up Citrus Squash until you get to the waterpoint at 40km.

After refueling, you will head off down the left hand side on a fast downhill section, past the farm dam and farmhouse, before rejoining the gravel road at 41,9km and continuing through to Flamingo dam and a left turn onto the tar road at 43,9km. Please watch out for cars and returning 160k riders at this junction. After a short 100m tar section, you’ll turn right and head down towards the river, to follow the jeep track before a left turn at 45,1km, following the river around the mielie fields.

At 46,8km you’ll turn left away from the river, turning right 100m later, following the jeep track until turning left at 47,5km onto the wide white gravel road, before turning right off this road at 47,9km and then left at 48,2km. This jeep track winds it’s way around and between fields before turning right at 49,1km to go right around the farm shed, turning left then right to follow alongside the tar road, until rejoining the tar and turning right at 49,6km. Again, please watch out for vehicles in both directions, and 160k riders approaching from the left.

From here, the tar is undulating and fast, with a sharp right at the T-junction off the downhill at 50,6km. From this turn it is straight back to The Ferry Hotel, and the finish line at 56,6km.

Actual distance = 57km 

The 25km race starts at The Ferry Hotel situated on the banks of the Gamtoos River, near Jeffrey’s Bay. The first 8,8km is a Neutral Zone (NZ) where your speed will be controlled by a lead vehicle.

After leaving The Ferry Hotel, the route heads off along a 5,8km tar section in a Northerly direction before turning sharp left and a further 6,5km of undulating tar road follows. Here the road changes to gravel before turning right at 13,8km and the climb up Citrus Squasher, until you get to the waterpoint at 17,5km.

After refuelling, you will head off down the left hand side on a fast downhill section, past the farm dam and farmhouse, before rejoining the gravel road at 19,5km and continuing through to Flamingo dam and a left turn onto the tar road at 21,4km. Please watch out for cars and returning 160k riders at this junction. After a short 100m tar section, you’ll turn right and head down towards the river, to follow the jeep track before a left turn at 22,7km, following the river around the mielie fields.

At 24,4km you’ll turn left away from the river, turning right 100m later, following the jeep track until turning left at 25km onto the wide white gravel road, before turning right off this road at 25,5km and then left at 25,8km. This jeep track winds it’s way around and between fields before turning right at 27km to go right around the farm shed, turning left then right to follow alongside the tar road, until rejoining the tar and turning right at 27,5km. Again, please watch out for vehicles in both directions, and 160k riders approaching from the left.

From here, the tar is undulating and fast, with a sharp right at the T-junction off the downhill at 28,5km. From this turn it is straight back to The Ferry Hotel, and the finishline at 34,2km.

With a 3 hour time limit, you might just be finished in time to enjoy a hearty breakfast at The Ferry Hotel after your ride.

Actual distance = 34km (incl. 9km NZ)