The Prince George Monumental 100 Miler is only one edition old, but it’s got all the qualities of becoming an iconic must-do race on the growing South African Gravel-racing calendar. The 2023 edition, which takes place on 14 October, is also the final round of the Western Cape Gravel Series. Here’s why it’s set for event greatness.
Paid partnership with Dryland Event Management
It’s a point-to-point race
Say what you like, a point-to-point race in South Africa holds significant appeal. Yes, there’s a logistical challenge, but South Africans quietly relish a logistics challenge because it usually means bringing at least one supporter (and a 4×4 Double Cab) to the race to share in your pre-race nerves and post-race pride. The 100 Miler (165km) starts at the Mont d’Or Swartberg Hotel in Prince Albert and finishes at Witfontein, George.
The route is spectacular
It’s one thing incorporating the iconic Montague Pass in a Gravel race route, but to pair it up with the legendary Swartberg Pass makes for a route that’s simply hard to beat. Both passes are classified as National Monuments! Two of the country’s most famous gravel-road passes – the Swarberg Pass at the start and the Montague Pass near the end – ensures a sensory feast for participants (and race media).
The gradient is great
When you have two significant mountain passes on your race route, you’re going to have two huge climbs and two exciting descents! Make no mistake, flat races are hard, but they don’t fully challenge your skills as a bicycle racer. The accumulated climbing at the Prince George Monumental 100 Miler is 2500 metres, which is plenty of ascent to challenge you, but not enough to break you. Well, unless you’re not fully prepared… The long and twisty descents also ensure that skill and courage are rewarded too.
There’s a shorter option
Last year, Tristan Nortje of Toyota Specialized won the 100 Miler in a time of 5 hours 49 minutes. The cut-off time is 11 hours, which is a long time to be on a bicycle! Not everyone is ready to tackle the 100 Miler, which is why the 50 Miler (78km) option has been introduced for 2023. Also a point-to-point race, the 50 Miler ends at Blanco Primary School in George (same as the 100 Miler), but it starts at Highgate Ostrich Show Farm and covers 1000 metres of total ascent. This is also a good option for eBike riders as this route is within range for a single battery.
It’s organised by Dryland Event Management
With over 15 years of premium event organising experience, Dryland Event Management https://dryland.co.zaannually presents some of South Africa’s most prestigious bicycle races, including the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, Tankwa Trek and Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. Other cycling events in the Dryland stable are The 36ONE MTB Challenge, News24 Karoo Burn, Glacier Storms River Traverse and Glacier Waterberg Traverse. The start and finish infrastructure, famous route water points, rider safety, media coverage and entrant value for money are just some of what you’ll experience at the 2023 Prince George Monumental 100 Miler.
The Prince George Monumental 100 Miler is also the final round of the 2023 Western Cape Gravel Series. The series was established to encourage wider Gravel-race participation and recognise top performing men and women as well as age categories with provincial awards.
Here’s the series:
20 May: Ronde Van Riebeeck
3 June: The Gallows
9 September: The Ceder
17 September: Boland Gravel Monster
14 October: Prince George 100 Miler
Top 10 overall Men and Women after two rounds:
Men
1 Franko van Zyl
2 Donovan le Cok
3 Jean de Villiers
4 Jaco Davel
5 Waldo Zevenster
6 Andreas Studer
7 Hannes Kotze
8 Enzo Grande
10 Gareth Davie
Women
1 Cherise Willeit
2 Anneke Lund
3 Tyla Setzkorn
4 Jessica Wilkinson
5 Juanita Mackenzie
6 Courteney Webb
7 Kirsten Blend
8 Carien Visser
9 Kristina le Cok
10 Lindsay Pentz
To secure your entry for the 2023 Prince George Monumental 100 Miler or the 50 Miler, head to the official race website here. https://www.princegeorge.co.za
Paid partnership with Dryland Event Management
