Day 1 – Stellenbosch to Worcester – 118km/ 1370m ascent

Early morning collection from a central meeting place in the city and transfer to Stellenbosch.

(or meet us at the start). We begin our ride near the base of Helshoogte Pass, the easiest and first of 2 mountain passes for the day. Shortly after Boschendal, we turn off towards Franschhoek and the going is fast and flat until we reach a real obstacle, in the form of Franschhoek Pass, which is 7km long with an elevation gain of 450 meters. The views from the top back down to the Valley below are panoramic and breath-taking. We then ride down for 17km towards the Theewaterskloof Dam. At the T-junction we turn left for 9km to the town of Villiersdorp, then on to Rawsonville and finally ending in Worcester, where lunch around the swimming pool at our lodge will no doubt be very welcome!

Day 2 – Worcester to Paarl – 109km/ 1082m ascent

Today we ride through the spectacular Slanghoek Valley, ringed all around by mountains and vineyards, then tackle the iconic Baine’s Kloof Pass, which snakes up for 18km with dramatic drop-offs to the Gorge below. Don’t be fooled by the False Tops! The exhilarating downhill takes us to Wellington, after which its flat for the final 30km all the way to Paarl, where we end with cold beers and lunch at the Spice Route, then transfer back to Cape Town with drop off in Stellenbosch for self-drives.