Another full events season is underway and Gravel racing continues to become a fortified discipline. The Western Cape is leading the way in Gravel by creating a Gravel Series for 2024, which is being sponsored by Cannondale. Here’s a summary of the series and a list events to count.
Paid partnership with Dryland Event Management
There are five events that will make up the 2024 Cannondale Western Cape Gravel Series and a sixth event that will be the 2024 Western Cape Gravel Championship. They are:
- WC Cup #1: 4 May – Houw Hoek Gravel Race 130km
- WC Cup #2: 18 May – The Gallows 120km
- WC Cup #3: 25 May – The 36ONE Half 189km
- WC Cup #4: 21 Sep – The Pie Run Gravel Grinder 160km
- WC Cup #5: 29 Sep – Bike Fest Paarl 140km
- WC Championship: 5 Oct – The Ceder 140km
The Cannondale WC Series will be open to Elite and Veteran categories as per Cycling South Africa’s age-group categorisation. Age group awards will be given provided there are at least five riders in that category. Only CSA licensed riders will be able to score points and riders must complete four of the five events (any four) to be eligible for series ranking.
“We’re enjoying the growth of the Gravel category and have seen impressive increase in entry numbers from the first to the second editions of the new Prince George Monumental 100 Miler, which we held in 2022 and 2023,” said Carel Herholdt of Dryland Event Management.
“We’re excited that the 36ONE Half has been included as a round of the 2024 Western Cape Gravel Series. The 36ONE has been on the calendar for more than 10 years and is a very established ultra-endurance race. The 36ONE Half has always attracted a moderate field because most of the focus has always been on the full distance. But as a round of the Western Cape Gravel Series this year, we anticipate a larger field, which just adds to the prestige of the event as a whole,” added Herholdt.
Starting and finishing at Kleinplaas Holiday Resort, Oudtshoorn, the 36ONE Half covers 189km with 2900 metres of ascent. It’s the longest of the races in the Western Cape Gravel Series and includes six water points.
There are also the following features at The 36ONE Half:
- Spectator-friendly: Supporters are permitted at the Calitzdorp check point
- Back-up boxes: Two check point boxes are supplied for riders to get access to additional supplies on the route
- Well-stocked water points: A variety of nourishment including Biogen, banana bread, Rhodes Juice, baby potatoes and more
- Hot meals: There are cooked meals at selected check points that includes soup, sosaties, pasta, roosterkoek and pancakes
The men’s 36ONE Half course record is 6:38:20 set by CP van Wyk in 2022, while Lolita van Aardt set the women’s course record of 7:48:39 in 2015. Both records are sure to tumble at the 2024 edition.
For more information, or to enter The 36ONE Half, click here.
Paid partnership with Dryland Event Management
