The 100km 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 6km of undulating tar road follows to get the legs nicely warmed before the gravel fun starts. Note: don’t expect this tar road to be smooth sailing, it’s a farm tar road so you might even engage (or wish you had) full sus on some of the rougher sections along here.
After ± 2km of gravel (with covered citrus orchards on your right and golden cliff faces to your left) the route splits to the left, where you’ll go through a sliding gate and then cross the Gamtoos River (for the 1st of many river crossings).
You’ll then ride between farmlands and next to the Gamtoos River for ± 4km, which arguably is the most scenic section of the whole 100km route. Enjoy the views and be thankful that the sandy sections here are relatively flat, thus should be plain sailing unless your tyres are too hard.
At ±18,5km you’ll cross the Gamtoos River (again), after which you’ll get a short, sharp “kicker” and after a sharp right turn another small “kicker”, followed by ± 4km of easy gravel riding.
As you reach the town of Hankey @ ± 24,6km into the route, the route takes a sharp left and 200m further, a sharp right before reaching WP1 @ ± 25,5km into the route. Note: after the WP you’ll be crossing the Hankey – Humansdorp tar road, so please be VERY CAREFUL here.
You’ll then ride a short section next to the tar road, before taking a sharp right to cross over the Kleinrivier, after which you’ll enjoy a section of exclusive access through and around citrus orchards some of which will be “under cover”. You’ll exit the orchards after the main shed (pakhuis), after which a short section of tar road will follow, which includes another crossing of the Gamtoos River and a sharp Right, just before Mooihoek (Strawberry Farm).
The route then winds its way along and over the Gamtoos River, takes a hairpin bend @ ± 43km and reaches WP2 @ ± 46km at the start of Droëkloof (which, as a matter of interest is where the 100km route joins up with the old 160km “extreme” route).
The route gradually climbs through Droëkloof before turning left at ± 50,5km into the race, after which riders will tackle The Never Ender climb (± 12km with 250m elevation gain), which fortunately is the only climb of note on the new 100km route.
The Y-Split is reached @ ± 62,5km (TAKE NOTE: keep left at the split!), followed by another short climb, a fast descent and another short climb, 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 very short section of single track (the ONLY single track on the whole route!), then goes underneath the tar road and takes a LEFT up to WP3 (at the Zuurbron farm exit) @ ± 71,5km.
After leaving the Zuurbron WP, turn RIGHT onto a gravel road (known by local riders as “die Skommelpad” or Milkshake road). 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 public 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 (again!).
After crossing the river @ ± 81,3km (along the same bridge you crossed in opposite direction earlier on in the race), you take a right and a SHARP LEFT @ ± 82km for the last climb of the race the “Citrus Squasher” with its summit at 86km, followed by an exhilarating descent before reaching WP4 @ 88,3km.
After the WP, you’ll turn right onto a public gravel road and continue to Flamingo Dam where you’ll take a sharp left onto tar @ ± 89,8km (NOTE: be VERY careful here as this a public tar road where NORMAL road rules apply!)
Riders will be pleased to know that it’s pretty much smooth sailing from here all the way to the finish, with tar all the way to the finish! NOTE: This final stretch should look familiar, as it the same tar road section (in the opposite direction) that you started with this morning. Many a race is either won or lost along this final stretch, depending on whether you’ve left your legs or your lungs somewhere on the route earlier on during the race.
NOTE: Don’t miss the sharp RIGHT turn at ± 95,5km!
NOTE: PLEASE take care at the FINISH, as you’ll be approaching The Ferry Hotel from the opposite direction to which you started, thus you’ll need to cross over oncoming traffic to TURN right 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 Zest Fruit Trans Elands 100! NOTE: You have a FINISH TIME LIMIT of 8 hours, but if you use all of it …there might not be any beers left when you get to the finish 🙂 .
Actual distance = 101,5km with ONLY ± 1200m of Elevation gain