After two years, Gauteng’s mid-winter gravel race, the Gravel Travel 100 Miler, will celebrate its third edition on Saturday 27 July 2024 with a significant elevation to premier event status, thanks to the sponsorship of Honeycomb. Here are seven good reasons to enter.
Paid partnership with Honeycomb Gravel Travel 100 Miler
If any province is going to become the hotbed of Gravel Racing in South Africa, it’s Gauteng. What the economic hub of South Africa lacks in gradient and coastal beauty, it makes up for with ample gravel roads and thousands of endurance racing enthusiasts.
The third edition of the Gravel Travel 100 Miler, to be held at Café du Cirque, Randvaal, just south of Joburg later this month, is set to build the momentum of Gauteng’s gravel racing growth. In case you need motivation, here are additional reasons to enter.
IT’S A PREMIER LEVEL RACE NOW
The first two editions of the Gravel Travel 100 Miler were organised by Bomani Events with very limited budget in the hope of attracting a significant title sponsor. All the basics were in place, but the race lacked the finer touches that can only really be achieved with sponsorship. With race now under the ownership of the new In the Sticks Gravel Series and Honeycomb the title sponsor, several elements of the race and race village have been bumped up in status. There’s very good prize money, all Cycling SA categories will be catered for, a third distance option has been added, the race village will have a festival style feel and there will be a livestream broadcast of the race.
THERE’S A RACE DISTANCE FOR EVERYONE
The two original distances for the Gravel Travel 100 Miler are 160km and 60km. Both of those are on offer again in 2024, but the organisers have answered the call for a third distance and have added a 110km option. This distance is sure to attract a large number of entries because it’s very doable for most who feel the 60km is too short and the 160km is too formidable. This distance will also be where CSA categories 60 years and over, as well as Junior (Under-19) and Youth (Under-17) can compete.
ANY OFF-ROAD BIKE WILL DO
Although primarily a gravel road race, the Gravel Travel 100 Miler is open to mountain bikes and gravel bikes. It’s also offering an eBike category for those who have an eGravel bike or eMTB looking for a fresh challenge. eBikes will compete in the 110km distance event, making battery range management part of the race strategy.
IT’S PART OF A SERIES
The 2024 edition of the Honeycomb Gravel Travel 100 Miler forms part of In the Sticks, a new Gauteng Gravel Racing Series that will have an abbreviated three-race format this year and a full five-race format in 2025. As the opening round of the new In the Sticks Series, Honeycomb Gravel Travel 100 Miler will set the tone for the remainder of the 2024 series in terms of what entrants and supporters can expect. There will also be points allocated at each round to determine the most consistent top performers throughout the In the Sticks Series.
THE ROUTE ISN’T TOO HILLY
Big climbs usually mean big descents, which many consider risky. Each of the three Honeycomb Gravel Travel race routes take place on mildly rolling terrain where riders can carry good momentum and expect to hold a generous average speed.
THE RACE VILLAGE IS PROPER
Instead of kissing your loved ones goodbye at sunrise and returning only after lunch to complete the Gravel Travel 100 Miler, why not take them with you to share the outing? The organisers have invested significantly in improving the supporter experience, including:
- A safe play area for kids
- Food and beverage vendors
- Freshly brewed quality coffee
- Live music
- Livestreaming broadcast of the race on the big screen
- Ample comfortable seating and shade
THERE’S DECENT PRIZE MONEY
In order to attract and reward top racers, events need to offer a decent prize purse, which is exactly what the Honeycomb Gravel Travel 100 Miler has done! Here’s the breakdown of the R100 000 Elite race prize purse:
Equal for Men and Women – 1st R25 000 | 2nd R12 500 | 3rd R7 500 | 4th R3 000 | 5th R2 000.
There will also be prizes for various top performers in the different categories.
The 2024 Honeycomb Gravel Travel 100 Miler takes place on Saturday 27 July at Café du Cirque, Randvaal. Online entries are open and can be done here.
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