Garden Route Giro

The Giro begins in Blanco, George, beneath the Outeniqua Mountains — and almost immediately follows a road steeped in South African history.

The historic Montagu Pass, built in the 1840s to connect George with the interior, winds its way high into the Outeniquas on a narrow gravel road that has remained remarkably true to its original course. For generations this was the gateway between the coast and the Karoo; in 2027, it becomes the first great test of the Giro.

From the summit, riders descend through the tiny mountain village of Herold, leaving the green Garden Route behind as the landscape begins its dramatic transformation.

Beyond Paardepoort, the horizon opens. The route sweeps north through the Kammanassie country and onto the fast, quiet gravel roads of the Klein Karoo — working farms, distant mountains and enormous African skies.

The final run through Middelplaas is fast and flowing before a technical approach brings the race into De Rust, the historic little village at the foot of the Swartberg. Its name means “The Rest”, a reference to the travellers who once stopped here before continuing through Meiringspoort.

One stage. Two landscapes. Nearly two centuries of history.

From Garden Route green to Karoo gold — the 2027 Giro has begun.

WP1 SP/TZ/FEED – 20KM (Herold)

High Category Climb (HC) – 15km

Intermediate Climb (IC) – 53km

Intermediate Sprint 1 (IS 1) – 42km

Intermediate Sprint 2 (IS 2) – 62km

From De Rust, the Giro heads straight into one of the great natural gateways through the Swartberg — Meiringspoort.

The road twists between towering rock walls before riders turn onto Middelwater, tracing the northern foothills of the great Swartberg Mountains. Here, the first and only classified climb of the day arrives at 29 km — a short sting in the legs before the route finally breaks away from the mountains.

Beyond Middelwater, the landscape opens dramatically.

The race heads north into the Great Karoo, then turns west towards Groot Sleutelfontein and Prince Albert across a landscape stripped back to its essentials: endless horizons, dry riverbeds, scattered farms and long gravel roads stretching towards the distance.

This is Karoo country in its purest form — vast, dry, beautiful and wonderfully remote.

And this is a day for speed.

With the climbing largely done, strong groups will fly across the plains, with occasional sandy sections and dry river crossings adding just enough unpredictability to keep riders alert. Two intermediate sprints keep the racing alive on the long run towards Prince Albert.

Eventually the Swartberg rises again on the horizon as riders approach one of the Karoo’s most beautiful historic towns. The race sweeps past the landmark NG Church, down the main street and towards the finish in front of the Swartberg Hotel.

Then it is bikes down, beers up — and a front-row seat to watch the rest of the Giro roll home.

Big skies. Empty roads. Full gas.

Welcome to the Great Karoo.

WP2 SP/TZ/FEED – 66KM (Van Wyksdorp)

Intermediate Climb 1 (IC 1) – 29km

Intermediate Sprint 1 (IS 1) – 66km

Intermediate Sprint 2 (IS 2) – 87km

There is nowhere to hide on Stage 3.

Riders roll away from the Swartberg Hotel in Prince Albert for a short neutral start, but the peace lasts barely five kilometres. The first intermediate sprint arrives at just 8 km — and then the road points skyward.

Ahead stands the Swartberg Pass.

Built by master road engineer Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888, this extraordinary gravel road remains one of South Africa’s great mountain crossings. Its dry-stone walls, switchbacks and exposed mountainsides carry riders from the Great Karoo, over the Swartberg and into the Klein Karoo beyond.

The summit comes at 21 km, almost 1,000 metres above the start and carrying the day’s only classification — HC. This is the moment for the climbers and the lightweights to make their move.

What goes up must come down.

A spectacular 10 km white-knuckle descent follows before riders reach Water Point 1, the main spectator point and official technical zone.

From here the race changes completely.

Big gears replace climbing legs as the route tears south through Matjiesrivier, Wildehondekloof, Potgieterpoort and Lategansvlei — open Klein Karoo country where speed, power and strong groups matter.

Water Point 2 and the second sprint arrive together at 73 km before the final run past Greylands, beneath Route 62 and past De Hoop towards Volmoed.

There, in a tiny rural settlement surrounded by the vast Klein Karoo, the mountain stage comes to an end.

One mountain. One HC. One unforgettable crossing.

This is the Swartberg.

WP1/SP/TZ/FEED – 32KM

High Category Climb (HC) – 21km

Intermediate Sprint 1 (IS 1) – 8km

Intermediate Sprint 2 (IS 2) – 73km

This is the big one.

Leaving Volmoed, the Giro immediately turns southwest into the folds of the Klein Karoo, with the first climb arriving at Middelwater after 17 km. From there the route pushes deeper into remote country towards the Gourits River, with Gamkaberg dominating the landscape to the north.

Riders skirt behind Gamkaberg, an important conservation area originally established to protect the Cape mountain zebra, before passing beneath Rooiberg — a mountain familiar to those who survived the 2026 Giro. Fortunately, this time, you only have to look at it.

The second climb comes at Klein Rooiberg, before the road drops towards the isolated village of Van Wyksdorp.

And then comes gravel cycling at its best.

South of Van Wyksdorp, the route opens onto the sweeping Brandrivier roads — endless undulations, distant mountains and beautifully smooth surfaces that allow the big gears to roll.

This is Proper Gravel.

Two intermediate sprints keep the racing alive before the route finally turns towards the Langeberg and the historic Garcia’s Pass. Built by celebrated Cape road engineer Thomas Bain in the 19th century, the pass provided an important link between the interior and the coastal plains.

After more than 130 kilometres in the legs, riders earn one final reward: a fast tarmac descent through the mountains towards Riversdale and the finish.

Long. Remote. Relentless. Beautiful.

The Queen Stage — and Proper Gravel in every sense of the words.

WP2/SP/TZ/FEED – 78KM (Van Wyksdorp)

Intermediate Climb 1 (IC 1) – 17km

Intermediate Climb 2 (IC 2) – 64km

Intermediate Sprint 1 (IS 1) – 87km

Intermediate Sprint 2 (IS 2) – 108km

After four days in the mountains and Karoo, the Giro turns east — and for the first time, the sea is waiting.

Leaving Riversdale, riders roll into the broad agricultural landscapes of the Southern Cape, where dairy and livestock farms, grain fields and long, rolling hills define the horizon. It is the second-longest stage of the Giro, but with relatively modest climbing for the distance, this is a day that should suit the strong engines and fast finishers.

The first climb arrives at 23 km before the route heads towards the lower reaches of the Gourits River. Here the Giro crosses the river again — this time far downstream from its earlier encounter — with the first intermediate sprint adding some urgency to the approach.

Then comes one of the social highlights of the week.

At Jakkalsvlei, the Giro returns to the wine farm that hosted the 2026 start. Water Point 2, a spectator point and the second climb all come together here before riders continue through the quiet hamlet of Herbertsdale.

From there, open farm roads give way to a faster tarmac run past the Gondwana landscape and towards Mossel Bay.

And then, finally, the coast.

With the Indian Ocean ahead, Stage 5 ends with a fast and furious charge into Hartenbos — the perfect way to close out the second-last day and roll straight into the weekend.

From farmland to vineyard, river to ocean.

The Giro is heading for the sea.

WP2/SP/TZ/FEED – 65KM (Jakkalsvlei)

Intermediate Climb 1 (IC 1) – 23km

Intermediate Climb 2 (IC 2) – 64km

Intermediate Sprint 1 (IS 1) – 58km

Intermediate Sprint 2 (IS 2) – 105km

Six days after leaving Blanco for the Karoo, the Giro turns for home.

Stage 6 begins on the coast at Hartenbos, with riders heading east before leaving the shoreline behind and turning inland towards the familiar silhouette of the Outeniqua Mountains.

The opening kilometres are quick on tarmac towards Klein Brak River, but any thoughts of an easy final day disappear when the road kicks sharply upwards. The day’s classified climb arrives at 28 km as the route rises onto the southern foothills of the Outeniquas.

From here, this is pure racing terrain.

Short, punchy climbs. Fast descents. Deep valleys. Flowing gravel. The intermediate sprint arrives at 38 km, but there is little opportunity to settle as the Giro continues through the spectacular foothills past Great Brak Heights and Jonkersberg.

It is a fitting final chapter — fast enough for the sprinters, sharp enough to reward an attack and beautiful enough to remind everyone why they came to ride in this corner of South Africa.

And then the circle closes.

After six days crossing mountains, Karoo plains, farm country and coast, riders return to Blanco, George and the finish at Olympia Equestrian Estate.

There is no rush to leave.

The final finish line becomes a celebration — riders, families and friends together for an afternoon that marks the end of an extraordinary journey around the Garden Route and Karoo.

Six stages. One complete circle.

An amazing race. An unforgettable Giro. Proper Gravel.

No Spectator, feeding & technical point on Stage 6.

Intermediate Climb 1 (IC 1) – 28km

Intermediate Sprint 1 (IS 1) – 38km