2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Series - Qualify NOW!
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> The Swartberg 100 in South Africa joins UCI Gravel World Series
 
Add to My Favourites
 
Add to My Favourites

The Swartberg 100 in South Africa joins UCI Gravel World Series

South Africa’s premier gravel race, the Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo, has officially achieved Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) accreditation for the 2023 Gravel World Championship Series 

The Swartberg Gran Fondo South Africa's first and only UCI accredited gravel race. Set to take place on 29 April 2023, the 171km gravel race, covers a total of 3,000m of climbing.

Starting in Prince Albert, the 171km route covers a combination of tar and gravel sectors, with the gravel comprising a total of 79km. The course traverses steep mountain passes, gruelling gravel and tar stretches, and fast technical descents. Its founder, John Swanepoel describes the Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo as, “Arguably one of the toughest Gran Fondo’s in the world.”

The dramatic landscapes this race traverses are quite simply breathtaking and riders will leave with lasting memories. The Swartberg mountains are amongst the best exposed fold mountain chains in the world, and the road slices through these magnificently scenic rock formations.

Riders are given a 10 hour window to finish the 171km circular route from Prince Albert, through the town of De Rust and ending back in Prince Albert. The first 86km of the race is considered the more “flat and rolling” terrain, whilst the second 86km heads into the hills with Middelwater climb, Oudemuragie Pass and the Swartberg Pass. There are four strategically placed waterpoints placed along the way to keep riders fully hydrated in the heat of the day.

The Oudemuragie Pass is 31km long climb with a total ascent of 595m. 

The formidable gravel Swartberg Pass is a relentless climb of 28km, with the final 9.8km reaching gradients of 16% in places. It’s a total 745m ascent to the final waterpoint at the 150km Swartberg Pass summit. 

The 21km decent down the Swartberg Pass back to Prince Albert is beautiful and fast, and particularly sketchy,  Once in Prince Albert, riders are greeted by a festival vibe with local craft beer, Klippies & Cola, and of course, exaggerated war stories and promises to return.

Event accommodation is available in the tented village, conveniently situated about 800m from the start, in either luxury glamping tents that include linen and breakfast, or standard 3x3 dome tents with linen. For riders opting not to stay in the tents, bed & breakfasts and self-catering options are available in town, though limited. The race village promises a space with manicured lawns, hot, high-pressure showers, and fireside koffie and condensed milk to rekindle any lost amp factor at dawn.

To learn more visit: https://www.swartberg100.com

 

 
Add to My Favourites
 
Add to My Favourites
 
Tag: ucigravelws
 
Jul 12 2026 - NEWS: Elena Hartmann and Joel Roth take Victory 2026 UCI The Majestics Gravel Race
Jul 06 2026 - NEWS: Nele Johanna Laing and Petr Vakoc take Victory at 2026 UCI Hegau Gravel Race
Jun 20 2026 - NEWS: Holly Harris and Brendan Johnston fastest and the 2026 UCI Devils Cardigan Gravel Race
Jun 22 2026 - NEWS: Roberge and Smith take Elite Titles at 2026 UCI OG Classique Gravel Race
Jun 22 2026 - NEWS: Karolina Migon and Fabian Rabensteiner conquer the 2026 UCI Grand Tour 3 Cime Lavaredo Gravel
Jun 22 2026 - NEWS: Lorena Wiebes and Niels Vandeputte take Victory at 2026 UCI Eislek Gravel Luxembourg
Jun 14 2026 - NEWS: Claudette Nyirarukundo and Lawrence Lorot Triumph at the 2026 UCI Safari Gravel Race Hell’s Gate
Jun 15 2026 - NEWS: Wright and Drechou Triumph at the 2026 UCI Wish One Gravel Grands Causses
Jun 06 2026 - NEWS: Wendy Oosterwoud and Anton Albrecht Conquer the 2026 UCI Gravel Adventure
May 16 2026 - NEWS: Geerike Schreurs and Lukas Postlberger take Victory at 2026 UCI Gralloch in Scotland
May 16 2026 - NEWS: Cromwell and Johnston take Victory at 2026 UCI SEVEN Gravel Race
May 10 2026 - NEWS: Lorena Wiebes and Wout van Aert win 2026 UCI Marly Grav
May 01 2026 - NEWS: Giorgia Vettorello and Tobias Konig take Victory at 2026 UCI Giro Sardegna Gravel
Apr 26 2026 - NEWS: Jenna Rinehart and Daxton Mock take Victory at 2026 UCI Highlands Gravel Classic
Apr 26 2026 - NEWS: Romy de Kasper and Kamiel Notebaert take Victory at UCI Gravel One Fifty
Jul 19 2026 - EVENT: UCI 3RIDES Gravel Race
Jul 25 2026 - EVENT: Around the Pot
Aug 01 2026 - EVENT: Gravel Tour Hlinsko
Aug 02 2026 - EVENT: UCI Gravel Bogota
Aug 08 2026 - EVENT: Gravel Weekend
Aug 22 2026 - EVENT: La Monsterrando
Aug 22 2026 - EVENT: Khomas100
Aug 30 2026 - EVENT: UEC Gravel European Championships
Sep 05 2026 - EVENT: Specialized Gravel Series Limburg
Sep 05 2026 - EVENT: UCI Graean Cymru
Sep 05 2026 - EVENT: The Wolf
Sep 12 2026 - EVENT: Mammoth TUFF
Sep 19 2026 - EVENT: UCI Sea Otter Europe Girona
Sep 19 2026 - EVENT: Tartu Rattamaraton
Sep 26 2026 - EVENT: Gravel Grit n Grind