Organiser
MTB Adventures
The HOUW HOEK GRAVEL RACE is a one day, timed event and part of the Western Cape Gravel Series. It’s scheduled for Saturday 4 May 2024 and offers a choice between 2 distances: 132km and 78.2km. The Gravel Race starts before the first stage of the HH MTB Tour on Saturday morning. See the route descriptions below.
Check out 2024 Houwhoek Gravel Route on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/vr63QrZVKdv
Event Date 4 May 2024
Start times 7h45 start from the lawn at the back of the Hotel
Registration 14h00 – 19h00 on 3 May at the Houwhoek Hotel & 6h30 – 7h30 on 4 May at the Houwhoek Hotel
On the day entries will only be allowed on Friday afternoon, 3 May and NOT ON Saturday morning, 4 May 2024.
Start venue The Houw Hoek Hotel
Finish venue The Houw Hoek Hotel
Please note that E-Bikes are allowed.
Distance Price (pp)
133 km with 1912m climbing R 800.00 (Water points on 26km, 63km, 103km and 123km)
78,2 km with 1280m climbing R700 (Water points 26km, 48km, 68km)
Entry fee (individual entries) includes a Hamburger and chips on Saturday, at the Hotel, when returning your bike board. It excludes accommodation.
HOUW HOEK GRAVEL RACE LONG DISTANCE 133KM & 1912M CLIMBING
Route description:
- The start and finish are at the Houw Hoek Hotel
- First 5,5km down the historic Katpass. The road surface on the pass is intermediate; 80% of the surface is in good condition, but for 20% you need to navigate the right line. This is the only section where a mountain bike will be able to go faster than a gravel bike.
- Exit Katpass and onto a short stretch of the VD Stel pass, crossing the Botriver after 10km. Following the farm river crossing there is a steep short section (300m), which you might consider walking.
- From 10km to 125km you can enjoy a combination of beautiful farm and public gravel roads, with scenic views of the Overberg.
- At 35km on Rietfontein farm, the route turns upwards and staight to heaven. Hold your breath and check your heartbeat, for one of the most iconic gravel climbs in SA. Within 3 kms the route shoots 244m upwards. The surface is pristine, hard smooth gravel, a unique privilege to experience and a "knakker" of a climb. At the top, take a glimpse backwards to contemplate your achievement and relish the moment. If you’ve managed to climb the Rietfontein Riet to the top, you can consider yourself King or Queen of the Greyton Mountains.
- Be extra careful when going downhill after the climb, the road surface is good, but it is exceptionally fast with a difficult water crossing towards the end of the downhill. You will need to reduce speed to cross safely.
- AT 44km the route runs onto the Helderstroom tar and gravel road, with a long fast section along the Riviersonderend river and at 58km, it turns left towards the Voorstekraal and Bereaville hamlets.
- At 68km, next to Genadendal you will start to journey back via the Middelplaas and Donkerhoek gravel roads.
- At 98km the route heads back on a 15km bi-directional section via Langhoogte farm, one of the best gravel sections in the Cape considering the surface, gradient and views.
- After WP 3 at Wildekrans, the route heads back via Botriver Town and a short single-track section (500m) onto Katpass, climbing back to the Houw Hoek Hotel.
HOUW HOEK GRAVEL RACE SHORTER DISTANCE; 78,2KM & 1280M CLIMBING.
Route description:
- The start and finish are at the Houw Hoek Hotel
- First 5,5km down the historic Katpass. The road surface on the pass is intermediate; 80% of the surface is in good condition, but for 20% you need to navigate the right line. This is the only section where a mountain bike will be able to go faster than a gravel bike.
- Exit Katpass and onto a short stretch of the VD Stel pass, crossing the Botriver after 10km. Following the farm river crossing there is a steep short section (300m), which you might consider walking.
- From 10km until 70km you can enjoy a combination of beautiful farm and public gravel roads, with scenic views of the Overberg with a loop through Rietfontein, Middel plaas- and Donker hoek roads.
- The route then heads back on a 15km bi-directional section via Langhoogte farm, one of the best gravel sections in the Cape considering surface, gradient and views.
- After WP 3 at Wildekrans, the route heads back via Botriver Town and a short single-track section (500m) onto Katpass, climbing back to the Houw Hoek Hotel.
MASSAGE RECOVERY ZONE
EPT THE ULTIMATE SPORTS RECOVERY EXPERIENCE
Young or old, a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, our full range of services and products will help you recover and ultimately perform at your peak.
All athletes universally need recovery for sports performance, so recovery must be treated with the same respect and effort as the principles of training. Maximizing the recovery processes after sporting events is important as it maximizes performance, accelerates training efforts, minimises fatigue and reduces the risk of injury.
Play Hard + Recover Well = Best Performance
BOOK A RECOVERY MASSAGE FORSATURDAY 4 MAY, AT THE HOUW HOEK HOTEL
Book a 30-minute massage: https://bit.ly/HouwHoekMTB-2024-30min
Book a 60-minute massage: https://bit.ly/HouwHoekMTB-2024-60min
EVENT RULES:
https://www.mtb-adventures.co.za/rules
The Houw Hoek Gravel Rave is sanctioned by Cycling SA
Event location
Houw Hoek Hotel, Elgin
| Route information | |
| Coordinates | -34.205644, 19.151144 |
| Address | Houw Hoek Hotel, Greater Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa |
| City | Elgin |
| Province | Western Cape |
Registration Number: 2008/263467/23