Gravel + Enduro = GravDuro, Red Cherry Events’ latest offering where the thrill of gravel racing meets the relaxed atmosphere of enduro riding. Hammer it along some of the most iconic sections in the Western Cape and venture into Oak Valley, Paul Cluver, and up the infamous Hans se Kop. The event isn’t a race, but you will be timed for four or six stages along the route, which will count towards your overall time.

The event will set off from Trail’s End Bike Hotel in Grabouw on October 26, 2024. Enjoy a relaxed start and social liaison sections before tackling the four or six stages of the route, which features a combination of some of the most iconic farms and climbs in the Western Cape.

Westvaal Somerset West Isuzu will be the official support vehicle as we make our way through the first-ever GravDuro. With the amount of rain we have had out in Grabouw, these 4×4 Isuzu vehicles are going to be the right tools for the job, to get our 12 timing mats out onto the route.

The Routes for 2024.

There are two routes to choose from: 4 stages and 6 stages. The route is one continuous loop, with the stages positioned at various points along the loop. Both 4-stage and 6-stage riders will complete the same stages. The 4-stage riders will turn back after finishing their 4th stage and return to Trail’s End, while the 6-stage riders will continue to the finish atop Hans se Kop.

The route covers a total distance of 100 km, with 6 timed stages accounting for 60 km of the total distance. The liaison sections (the segments between the stages) are entirely GPS-based. Only the actual stages will be marked, allowing you to go flat-out through them without worrying about following the GPS.

Don’t have the energy to tackle all the stages? There will be prizes at the end for riders who complete either 6 or 4 stages, so you can opt-out if the going gets too tough.

Out on route, there will be lots of support from the 6 Segment Sponsors.

Stage 1 – Chalk Qair

Stage 2 – Red Cherry Events

Stage 3 – Vye Cycle Kit

Stage 4 – Cycle Lab

Stage 5 – Leatt

Stage 6 – Best Bikes / AluServe

Click here to view the whole route.

Our video series

With any new event, there are always going to be a lot of questions asked. How does this work? What is different? Are the stages all flat? The list goes on.

With all the questions and all the messages, we thought it would be wise to come up with a video series explaining in detail all the topics at hand. See our first video below and head on over to our Red Cherry Events YouTube page for more content on the first-ever GravDuro.

The Format Explained.

The 60 km race consists of the 4 timed stages combined, while the 100 km race comprises the 6 stages combined. You can race the entire route or take breaks between the timed segments to catch your breath and admire the breathtaking views. The race strategy is up tp you!

The overall winners will be determined based on the fastest combined times over the 4 and 6 stages, respectively, across all bike categories (Gravel, MTB, Gravel E-Bike, and MTB E-Bike), and will be split by male and female.

How Timing Works.

60 km riders, listen up! Timing will be done with an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system using a chip behind your race board. Don’t get too close to the start of the stage if you’re not ready to begin, as the RFID system will register you as tagging in.

100 km riders, this is for you! Your timing will use a combination of RFID tags and wristband tags. You will follow the same timing process as the 60 km riders for the first 4 stages. After that, you will switch to wrist-based timing for the last two stages.

The Bikes We Allow.

The route is designed with gravel bikes in mind, so we expect the fastest bike on the day to be a gravel bike. No gravel bike? No problem! You can still participate with a traditional MTB or E-Bike, and there will be prizes for all categories. We will have different classes available for all the bike types listed below, so please ensure you select the correct category when signing up.

The event is most suited to gravel bikes, and the terrain and segments will be chosen with this in mind.

Testimonials

With over 5000 competitors taking on our events year-on-year.

Whether you are a hardcore motorbiker or a social weekend cyclist, we have something that will speak to you, click here to view our upcoming events.

Red Cherry Events Technical Partners