WindlineAbout the race
The Trans Baviaans is a 24-hour mountain bike marathon that the organiser bills as the toughest single-stage race in the country. It runs through the Baviaanskloof, whose name means "valley of baboons", from Willowmore to Jeffreys Bay.
History
Wikus van der Walt founded the race, and the organiser's site says it is 21 years and counting, with the 22nd edition set to take place on an altered route from Willowmore to Jeffreys Bay in 2026. Organised today by EcoBound, a family of outdoor events, it has grown into what the organisers call a community and a memory-maker.
The course
The route leaves Willowmore on a farm road, then climbs about 26 km to the top of Nuwekloofpas, at roughly 1,000 m. For about 80 km it drops into the Baviaanskloof and then keeps climbing and descending, with river crossings on the way to Zandvlakte and the gate of the wilderness area. Landmarks include:
- Baviaansback, an 8 km climb with more than 80 bends
- Fangs, a short climb of about 3.5 km at gradients up to 1:4
- the Mother of All Climbs, just under 5 km with around 50 bends
- Bergplaas, at about 140 km
- the Big Dipper, a 5.5 km descent through more than 70 bends into the Cambria Valley
After Patensie the road runs on to the Neverender, with its false summits, then the Mini Mac, before the finish at Mentors Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay.
Distances
The organiser quotes 230 km, about 2,840 m of climbing and a 24-hour limit, with checkpoints at 52, 93, 123 and 140 km, and the route varies a little by year, so riders should check the current GPX.
Entry basics
The 2027 race is on 14 August 2027 and entries are open on the site. Riders must carry mandatory gear, and the website carries pages on the programme, registration, checkpoints and race rules.
Where to watch
The Baviaanskloof is remote, so spectators are best placed in Willowmore at the start and at Mentors Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay at the finish.
Weather
August is winter in the Eastern Cape. Days are usually mild and dry, but nights in the kloof are cold, and since the race runs through the night riders should expect a wide swing in temperature. This is a general seasonal description, not a forecast.