R3,100.00
This stage starts at Floreat Riverside Lodge. (Calibrate your GPS to 1007m above sea level)
After exiting the venue, the participants immediately enter the Safcol forestry area for an initial climb to spread the field of riders on jeep tracks track sections before a very fast drop down on the main forestry road into the Tweefontein area. A short, sharp climb ends with a steep winding single track onto the main road ending on an uphill single track to the Team of Mountain and first refreshment station at the Tweefontein Forest Nursery at 14km.
A fast downhill, narrow single track, a challenging bush tunnel exit, and over the now-defunct railway line takes riders to the iconic Hippo Dam hidden in the forest. From there the route climbs gradually and continuously for a few kilos to the split, where the Solo Challenge riders turn away to the right. An initial 1km steep climb to the famous Bell road is rewarded with undulating, rolling downhills to the (take note!) last refreshment station at 27km.
Here the gradient and surfaces get somewhat challenging, with a very steep “Mini Scorpion” climb up to a short section of cool indigenous forest, before entering another twisty single track back down to the main road. A superfast, steep main road descent into the series of winding Ceylon Plantation single tracks, the riverside tourist trails, through Merry Pebbles on to the finish line at Floreat.