Route guide epic

ABSA CAPE EPIC 2012 ROUTE GUIDE

PROLOGUE – DAY 1 - Meerendal Wine Estate - Durbanville

The time trial is the first day of the Cape Epic and includes a 27KM sprint which begins at Meerendal Wine Estate on the Durbanville Wine Route and passes through the protected

Renosterveld back into Durbanville

INTERESTING FACTThis is the beginning of the 9th

edition of the ABSA Cape Epic. Did you know,

Meerendal’s wine-producing began in 1702!

Did you know, Meerendal’s wine-producing began in 1702!

Dr Evil’s famous quote…

PROLOGUE – DAY 1

STAGE 1 – DAY 2 - Robertson

• Robertson [115km]: Riders take on Hangman’s tree (+-30minute climb), Tortoise Peak (5km climb), eventually through Nama Karoo turning East towards Robertson down a rocky plunge before heading into the town.

INTERESTING FACTThe first house in Robertson was

built in 1812. Robertson hosts the first 3 stages of the ABSA

Cape-Epic 2012. “Stage 1 is always a shock to the system, 2012 is

no different”


STAGE 1 – DAY 2

STAGE 2 – DAY 3 - Robertson

STAGE 2 – DAY 3

• Robertson [119km]: Riders head through the Klein Karoo passing the village of McGregor. Riders will also pass through Van Loveren Wine Estate and past Ashton up some short steep climbs back to Robertson

The Little or Klein Karoo, which is a long valley bordered by the

Swartberg and the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape, forms the southern sibling of the larger Karoo - the Great or Groot Karoo occupies the northern part

thereof.

INTERESTING FACT

“It’s a fun day out but not too much fun”


STAGE 3 – DAY 4 - Robertson – Caledon

• Robertson – Caledon [147km]: Longest stage in history (147km) includes 4 major climbs. Riders go towards the ‘Toll House’ [the highest post of the day] with a fast descent into the valley. This is followed by a tough climb combined with a quick downhill. It ends with a slow 10km ride through the farmlands into Caledon.

INTERESTING FACT

The is the longest stage in the 2012 ABSA Cape Epic & in the history of the ABSA Cape Epic. This stage also includes 4 major

climbs

“It may well be the biggest day in ABSA Cape Epic history. You have been warned”


STAGE 3 – DAY 4

STAGE 4 – DAY 5 - Caledon

STAGE 4 – DAY 5

• Caledon [105km]: Two major climbs starting with Babylonstoring followed by Charlie’s Heaven. Riders head on a single track through Middleton and through Caledon’s botanical gardens.

INTERESTING FACT

Babylongstoring is the highest peak in the Hermanus area while Charlie’s Heaven offers views as

far as Cape Point & Cape Agulhas

“There should be a compulsory stop on Charlie’s Heaven to look at the view ”


STAGE 5 – DAY 6 - Caledon – Oak Valley in the Elgin Valley

STAGE 5 – DAY 6

• Caledon – Oak Valley in the Elgin Valley [119km]: Very fast track heading through the fynbos-lined mountains. Riders head up a 10km climb through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, followed by a single track through Lebanon, Thandi and eventually Oak Valley.

• Oak Valley is a magnificent estate set on 1786 hectares of prime land in the beautiful Elgin valley, renowned for its fruit, cut

flowers, beef cattle and increasingly for its high quality

cool climate wines.

INTERESTING FACT

“We’ll get them to oak valley’s single-track fast, but they’ll have to work for it”


STAGE 6 – DAY 7 - Oak Valley in Elgin Valley

• Oak Valley in Elgin Valley [85km]: Riders face a hard day of climbing starting with Nuweberg and then head through the Cape Nature Reserve. There is a final ascent towards Oak Valley which is not as simple as it looks.

• Nuweberg can have very strong earthquakes (on

average one every 50 years), with occurrences at 6-7 on the

Richter scale.

INTERESTING FACT

“85 km may not be far by absa cape epic standards, btu never underestimate

Groenlandberg”


STAGE 6 – DAY 7

STAGE 7 – DAY 8 [FINAL STAGE] - Oak Valley in Elgin Valley – Lourensford Wine Estate

STAGE 7 – DAY 8 [FINAL STAGE]

• Oak Valley in Elgin Valley – Lourensford Wine Estate [64km]: The riders make their way from Oak Valley over Twin Peaks above Elgin Dam and down the Gantouw Pass. Lourensford is where the riders will finish the race.

• The Afrikaans name for the Twin Peaks is Die Tweeling Pieke, and has a height of

1,494m. The Twin Peaks are a signature peak of the Stellenbosch region.

INTERESTING FACT

”It’s a new route to Lourensford, but its not any easier”


Route guide epic

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