Dryland Event Management, one of the most established cycling event organisers in the country, has launched the Garden Route Giro – a six-day gravel stage race that will be held on the iconic roads of the Garden Route and the Karoo. Here’s what some of the country’s top riders feel about the event.
Paid partnership with Dryland Event Management
“We started planning a gravel stage race in 2022 as the country was coming out of the Covid-19 lockdown period. Events took a massive hit, but cycling as an activity blossomed and we monitored the new interest in gravel bikes. As event organisers, adapting to market changes is important and we decided a gravel stage race should be added to our bouquet of events. And that gravel stage race is the Garden Route Giro,” said Henco Rademeyer, co-founder of Dryland Event Management.
Dryland Event Management is one of South Africa’s premier cycling event organising companies. The Oudtshoorn-based company’s events include the Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge ultra-marathon, Tankwa Trek and Cape Pioneer UCI mountain bike stage races; Waterberg and Storms River Traverse mountain bike stage races; The 36ONE MTB Challenge Ultra-marathon and the Prince George 100 Miler gravel race. Dryland’s events attract large national brand sponsors, including Momentum, Sanlam, 36ONE Asset Management, Biogen and Avis.
Details are still being fine-tuned, but the inaugural Garden Route Giro, that was launched in early September 2024 , will take place over six stages with a total distance of 700km with the usual premium experience that’s become standard at Dryland events. The towns that will host the Garden Route Giro include Knysna, George, Calitzdorp, De Rust, Riversdale and Prince Albert. The first edition will be held in the summer of 2026.
Here’s what some of the country’s leading gravel racers had to say:
“First impressions: Wow! Six days! That’s a big race – how I feel after 100 miles of racing gravel in South Africa makes me nervous for such an event. But I’ve done gravel stage races in the USA, and the common theme is to break the days up into 100 miles, long neutral zones, hill climbs/time-trials, singletrack stages, sprint stages etc; so I hope they look to do something like that too,” said Sarah Hill, regular podium finisher in the Elite women at South African gravel races.
“The Garden Route is beautiful and the race in my mind will be absolutely stunning. I’m eager to find out how they’ll structure the stage race as the mechanics will have their work cut out for them with all the likely tyre changes,” added Hill.
“I think it’s a very cool concept. I like how South African cycling event organisers are embracing gravel racing. South Africa probably has some of the best terrain for gravel races. Having gravel stage races is even better! We have so much space and loads of wilderness parks with great riding routes,” said Marco Joubert, winner of several South African gravel races and silver medallist at the 2024 SA Gravel Championships.
“Congrats to Dryland for seeing the potential and creating the first gravel stage race in South Africa. Hopefully they will grow the event to be attractive to international racers. If they have enough prize money and get the right riders there, the event will just grow – locally and internationally,” added Joubert.
“I am extremely excited about this race. I haven’t ridden those areas much. So it will be some new territory for me. I know the scenery is stunning and the bit of riding I have done there has been great. It’s going to be a beautiful route. The initiative behind it is awesome. I don’t know of any other gravel stage races so I think it’s going to be really big,” said current South African Gravel Champion, Danielle Strydom of Efficient Infiniti Insure.
“Although I’m the national gravel champ, I’m still quite new to the discipline. I’m really loving it. Dryland Events know their stuff. Their events have always been amazing so you know it will be well organised, the routes well marked, good food and a fun vibe. Although it’s still a while away, I hope to be at the first Garden Route Giro,” added Strydom.
“Judging by how gravel racing has taken the cycling world by storm, we have all been waiting to see who will ‘blink first’ to hosting a gravel stage race, because it was bound to happen,” said current South African Gravel Champion, Marc Pritzen of Team Honeycomb Pro Cycling.
“Having a gravel stage race in the Western Cape will not only be good for South African cycling, but is also sure to attract international riders,” added Pritzen.
“We have some incredible scenery and iconic climbs in this region and the Garden Route Giro route will definitely take those in. As it stands now, around 20% of the route will include tar sections,” said Rademeyer, adding: “We want the Garden Route Giro to showcase the beauty and diversity of the Garden Route coastal area and the Karoo inland region, which offer an ideal combination of mountains and flat lands for a high-quality stage race.”
As with Dryland’s other stage races, various packages will be available to service different needs, including accommodation and meal options. For more information on the Garden Route Giro, visit the event’s website here.
