TransCape

But there are rewards at the end of the day…

After very tough days in the saddle you will arrive at a ‘race village’ quite unlike the normal. Think ‘premium package’, only at the TransCape it comes standard. Given that this is a small field event we are able to base ourselves at a variety of lodges, guest houses and premium tented camps. Most nights we will have group dinner functions, but there will also be nights in guest houses where you will be able to kick back and find some quiet time to recoup for the next days challenge.

We also place a high premium on good food. Each night you will be able to refuel the tanks with the best local produce lovingly prepared by our hosts.

And what is good food without good wine in this part of the country? The antioxidant of choice to many an experienced mountain biker of these parts will also be one of the luxuries to help get those pistons firing at full strength again.

Not forgetting about your bike, we will have bike wash facilities available at all overnight venues as well as a dedicated bike mechanic team that will be offering special maintenance packages.

So we invite you to come saddle it up in the emerald heart of the scenic Garden Route. Crank your way into the verdant indigenous forests bristling beyond Knysna’s rugged shoreline. Cross the towering Outeniqua as you duel with gravity en route to the stunning, semi arid Klein Karoo.

Experience the best karoo lamb and warm hospitality of this special place, then saddle up and say goodbye to this unforgettable semi-desert. Pedal ever onwards as you navigate the remote gravel roads and secret single-tracks meandering via the hills and dales of the Overberg, a region resplendent with patchwork fields and lush grassland.

Ahead lies the Cape’s picturesque Winelands, but first you must conquer the craggy ranges shaping a natural barrier between you and your destination. Champaign on the top of Franschhoek pass and the finish line await, as do memories which will last a lifetime.

“TRANSCAPE MTB – A SINGULARLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT COMBINES HARD CORE ENDURANCE MOUNTAIN BIKE STAGE RACING WITH LUXURY, COMFORT AND 5 STAR FOOD”

RACE CONDITIONS

You had better be wearing your big girl panties, because the TransCape is not flat or easy. We do not believe in suffering, but a fair deal of blood, sweat and tears are an integral part of what makes any MTB event memorable. So yes, every one of our riders should be able to finish the event if they trained for it, but do not expect it to be a breeze.

Diverse terrain and the full brunt of the harsh African elements will be there to face off to every morning when you saddle up, with daily stages constituting anything from 70km to 130km, with distances depending on relevant technical and geographic challenges.

The Cape summer is not for sissies, and February just happens to coincide with red-hot temperatures and severe weather conditions. Extreme heat, thunderstorms, potentially freezing nights, gale force winds… all we can say is bring your A Game!

An adequate training programme – supplemented by a focused nutrition plan – will help to ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared for anything that Mother Nature and the TransCape MTB route throw at you.

So, although we will endeavour to make sure the route is well marked – with strategically placed water points and a few welcome surprises along the way – it is essential that all riders are self-sufficient en route, with ample hydration, food and bike spares to handle these extremes.