The aim of the tour is to provide a very comprehensive base training for the Cape Town Cycle Tour in March. It has been found that 5 days of back-to-back cycling at a medium to easy pace works best – then afterwards to move high-intensity training and racing in order to peak for the Cycle Tour. Mostly, though, the Build Up is about spending 5 days riding through some of the most scenic parts of the world with a group of like-minded people enjoying the freedom & exhilaration of cycling.

Day 1 – Arrive in Port Elizabeth by 15h00

Late afternoon arrival in Port Elizabeth, when we will run one group airport shuttle to Jeffrey’s Bay. We overnight at the famous Super Tubes surf break.

Day 2 – Ride to TSITSIKAMMA – 105 km

Leaving the SA surf capital behind, we warm up the legs on an easy initial 10km, and then there is a hilly section after Humansdorp before it flattens out alongside the Langeberg Mountain range. There is a refreshment stop under the trees at 46 km and an optional stop at Oudebosch Farm Stall at 73km, then cycle on through the forest, ending at the cosy Tsitsikamma Village inn, where we enjoy lunch by the pool.

Day 3 – A splendid display of Nature & Passes into Knysna – 102 kms

This is the heart of the world famous, scenic ‘Garden Route’. Bloukrans & Nature’s Valley provide two wonderful challenges with stunning descents and testing climbs. After a refreshment stop at Garden of Eden, our route takes us through to Knysna, where we overnight at our hotel overlooking the lagoon.

Day 4 – Knysna to Herold’s Bay – 95 km

We continue along the N2 to Sedgefield and on to Wilderness, where we head up White’s Road for an “Afrix-Roubaix” detour off the busy main drag, which takes us on hard-packed dirt, along quiet, shaded roads and into George, we then ride up & back down the iconic Outenique Pass and on to Herold’s Bay, ending with lunch overlooking the ocean at Dutton’s Cove, before shuttling 2 hours to our overnight at Aan de Eike in Swellendam.

Day 5 – Early morning short transfer from Swellendam to near
Riviersonderend, then cycle to Hermanus – 124 or 147 km

After an early breakfast, we transfer 34kms to a drop off point along the R319 and cycle to Bredasdorp (Die Hards might choose to leave earlier and cycle this stretch), then on through Napier to Stanford, where we enjoy lunch at a local farmstall. You may choose to load up here after 124 kms or ride the new road into Hermanus for a total of 147km. We spend the night at the Harbour House Hotel, close to the ocean and there are many shops, craft stalls and bars to explore and we enjoy a final celebration dinner together.

Day 6 – A SPECTACULAR FINALE ALONG THE COAST – 80 km

We head out to Kleinmond & on around the coastline past Betty’s Bay & Rooi Els to Gordon’s Bay – which must be one the best scenic cycling routes in the world – as it overlooks the massive False Bay across to the Cape Peninsula – & the prospect of a reinvigorating swim at Gordon’s Bay Beach. We enjoy lunch at the water front, before we transfer to Cape Town for drop off at a central point.