The King Price Race to the Sea isn’t just another race to tick off on your calendar. It is a journey where determination matters more than speed, and getting to the finish takes more than strong legs. It’s the kind of race you talk about long after the dust settles.
This is a gravel race at heart with approximately 70% of the route stretching over gravel and 30% on tar, taking cyclists along rolling farm roads, rocky jeep tracks and stretches of smooth tarmac.
Participants can choose between the 100 Miler that sets off from the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek and ends at Benguela Cove Wine Estate or the 50 Miler that starts at Wolwekraal, which is the halfway point of the 100 Miler race, and also ends at Benguela Cove.
The challenging though exhilirating route will test riders’ grit and endurance. Cyclists entering the 100-miler need to be 19 years or older while the 50-miler is open to riders who are 16 years and older. The 100-miler stretches over 157 km with a total elevation of 2 391m from the heart of Franschhoek to the finish line a few kilometres outside Hermanus.
The 7 km ascent up the Franschhoek Pass, said organisers, is the biggest single climb of the day at 736 m, and it sets the tone for what’s to come. “It’s not the last climb of the day, but it’s the one that reminds you you’re in for a ride.” Along the route there are seven fully-stocked water points offering cold refreshments, wholesome snacks to provide much-needed energy boosts and banter to lighten your spirit and keep you going.
The 50-miler stretches over 82 km with 1 444 m of elevation gain. Organisers describe the event as a test of endurance, adding: “This is a journey. A challenge. A celebration of gravel, endurance, and the human spirit. It’s the chance to ride across one of the most beautiful regions in the country, powered by passion, surrounded by fellow adventurers, and carried by the simple joy of forward motion.”
