23-07-2025
Underberg Gran Fondo: A scenic cycling challenge in the Drakensberg
The foothills of the Drakensberg Mountain will host hundreds of riders on Saturday when they tackle the famous mountain range in the annual Underberg Gran Fondo gravel cycle race.
The event, which is considered one of the most scenic on the South African cycling calendar, gives cyclists the choice of three distances, 140km, 94km or the family-friendly 45km Tour de Farms – to test themselves under the spectacular backdrop of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritige Site.
All three races will take riders through Bushman's Nek area before entering the Coleford Nature Reserve, where they will see black wildebeest, blesbok, and possibly the rare Wattled Crane.
The 2024 champions of the gravel race, Team Drive Train Academy's Tyronne White and one of his trainees, Sanchia Malan from Index Property Solutions, are both expected to return to defend their titles.
The race will begin at 8am.
All events start and finish at The Olde Duck restaurant just outside Underberg and follow the same route until first the 41km.
The 90km follows the same route as the long event for just over 60km, and just after the big climb out the Ngwangwane Valley, the riders split away and head back to Underberg.
The 140km riders loop around and return through Himeville and then Underberg back to the fees until Wednesday, July 23, start from R660 for the 45km to R1045 for the 140km.
Entries close on Wednesday at
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
