​​​​​​​​​​​​​WHATS INCLUDED 

• 5 nights accommodation at luxury *4 star hotel including breakfast

• Saturday social ride and welcome at local wine farm

• Sunday evening prologue

• 4 days guided routes with ride captains, including lunch

• Bike facilities at the hotel, including a bike park and washing area

• Mechanic and support vehicles

• Motorbike outriders

• Medical support

• South African braai on Wednesday evening, our final night in Franschhoek

• Celebration drinks on arrival in Cape Town

• Guaranteed entry and seeding to the Cape Town Cycle Tour

• Event photographer

 

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

• Single room supplement

• Bring your non riding partner - it's the perfect place to not ride your bike and relax too!

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NOT INCLUDED​

• Flights

• Airport transfers 

• Dinners in the evening are at leisure

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PRICES

Entry starts at £1750 which doesn't include accommodation, this will suit any local participants and those who would like to organise their own accommodation.  To stay at our event HQ at L'Ermitage there are various accommodation options below.  Entry can be paid in full or in instalments​​​

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ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Our Event HQ for the week is L'Ermitage Chateau & Villas, nestled at the foothills of the Franschhoek Pass and a short walk to the main strip where you are spoilt for choice with excellent restaurants and watering holes. 

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At entry you can select your preferred room location:

• Cascade. Located at the top of the venue with views of 3 small dams that cascade into the lake below. 

• Mountain View. Facing away from the dams toward the majestic mountain view. 

• Lake View. Located at the lower end of the venue, facing the large dam and it's wildlife.

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• Sharing a twin or double room with another rider, from £300 per person

• Sharing a double room with your non riding partner, from £1000 per couple

• Single room supplement, from £800 per person

 

 

ITINERARY

• Saturday 28 February 2026 - Mid afternoon social ride to a local wine farm.

• Sunday 1 March 2026 - Morning social ride, Franschhoek Pass.  Early evening fun 7m prologue.

• Monday 2 March 2026 - Lady Loch, 121km / 850m.

• Tuesday 3 March 2026 - Hellshoogte, 118km / 1030m.

• Wednesday 4 March 2026 - Bainskloof, 101km / 970m.  This evening we host a celebration braai.

• Thursday 5 March 2026 - Cape Town, 128km / 1090m.  Arrival celebration drinks and nibbles.

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For those not ready to go home yet, why not stay and ride the world famous Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday 8 March.  Leadout have guaranteed entry and group seeding available for Cape Discovery riders.

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ROUTES

Provisional routes currently are as follows:

 

LADY LOCH 121KM / 850M

​The route heads out past the Drakenstein Prison where Nelson Mandela spent the last few years of his sentence under “house arrest” in a home on the banks of the Berg River. We then continue past the iconic Pearl Valley, the back roads of Paarl towards Wellington. Crosses the historic Lady Loch Bridge, after which it meanders along the back roads of the farmlands via the Perdeberg Cellars and Windmeul. We stop for coffee and cake at Fairview Wine Farm at 92km, and then continue back along the R45 to our host town of Franschhoek. 

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HELLSHOOGTE 118KM / 1030M

We head out on the R45 towards Simondium passing the Franschhoek Motor Museum, continuing past Val de Vie Estate and through the historic town of Paarl along Main Road. The route then completes a full circle around the iconic Paarl Rock Mountain before joining up with the R301 for a brief section turning onto the Simondium Road taking you to Vrede en Lust Wine Farm at 64km where we will stop for coffee and cake. Then on to Babelanstoring and into Stellenbosch where you will face the biggest climb of the day - Hellshoogte Pass, through Kylemore and Pneil and then back onto the R45 into Franschhoek.​

 

BAINSKLOOF 101KM / 970M

We start in the historic town of Tulbagh which is about 100km north of Franschhoek. Riders will take a transfer via coach, leaving early to avoid the heat. This stage will start in Tulbagh at The Parsonage taking a short tour of the town along Church Street and back onto Van Der Stel Street out of town. A short section on the R46 before turning off to the town of Wolsely after which you will be taking on the historic Bains Kloof Pass. We stop for a well earnt coffee at the bottom of the descent at 53km before continuing on to Wellington and then winding back to Franschhoek following the beginning of Day 1 in reverse.

 

FRANSCHHOEK TO CAPE TOWN 128KM / 1090M

Today we leave our host town and head towards the Mother City.  Heading out along the R45 in reverse of Day 2 allowing you to experience Hellshoogte from a different angle, and into the town of Stellenbosch. Once through Stellenbosch we head out on Baden Powell Drive past Spier Wine Estate and continuing along the coastal route into Muizenberg, towards Fish Hoek which is now part of the Cape Town Cycle Tour route.  We stop for lunch at a local township cycling academy. Then a “short cut” between Fish Hoek and Noordhoek gets us back on the CTCT route over Chapmans Peak, through Hout Bay and over the infamous Suiker Bossie hugging the Atlantic Coast Line all the way into Cape Town. We then arrive into the hustle and bustle of central Cape Town and finish near the Waterfront where a glass of fizz and some nibbles await you.​​

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FAQ

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE EVENT?

​There will be a min of two ability groups. All participants ride in their seeded group. Riders are not permitted to ride on their own.

 

Each group rides as a peloton with motorbike outriders, mechanic’s van and rolling road closures with the ride captains in radio contact with the support vehicles to help ensure the safety of each group at all times.

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You will be given a day bag which will be accessible at all stops during the ride.  Here you can carry any extra clothing and food you may need.

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On our return there is lunch waiting for all riders (and non riding partners) at L'Ermitage.  Then the rest of the afternoon is for you to relax by our own pool and bar area.  

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HOW DO I GET TO/FROM FRANSCHHOEK AND FROM/TO CAPE TOWN?

​Franschhoek is a 45 minute drive from Cape Town.  Transfers for you and your bike are easy to arrange and not expensive.  On the final day when we cycle from Franschhoek to Cape Town, we will transfer your luggage and bike box for you.  

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WHEN DO I NEED TO ARRIVE?

Accommodation is included from Saturday 28th February.  We have a social ride and welcome drinks at a local wine farm mid afternoon.  If your flight doesn't arrive until a bit later don't stress, we will have another social ride on Sunday 1st March if you still need to check your bike is working properly and stretch your legs. 

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CAN I BRING MY NON RIDING PARTNER?

Yes!  Franschhoek is the perfect location for your non riding partner to relax whilst you are out on your bike.  The routes are designed for riders to be back by early afternoon, with lunch organised for both riders and non riders.  Franschhoek is a beautiful town with a large choice of amazing restaurants, cafes, galleries and shops to browse.  There is also the famous wine tram and an abundance of wine farms to visit.  At the L'Ermitage, we have our own pool area and bar where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and beautiful views.  The evenings are at leisure.  We will organise a transfer for all non riding partners from Franschhoek to Cape Town on the final day, where they can meet you at the Waterfront for celebratory drinks and nibbles.

 

If you decide to stay on in Cape Town after the event, then once again you will be spoilt for choice of things to do and see.  

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WHERE CAN I STAY IN CAPE TOWN?

We will be able to offer a preferential rate at a hotel on the Waterfront and where we will be finishing the event.  More information on this coming soon!

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HOW DO I GET A GUARANTEED SEEDED ENTRY TO THE CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR?Leadout Events will advise all participants when these are available to purchase.  As a group we will get special seeding times.  On the day (Sunday 8 March) we will all meet post ride in the beer tent, to share our experiences, get some group photos and of course have some beer!

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WHAT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?

UK nationals don't need a visa to travel to South Africa, but do check if your passport is valid for travel. Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the 'date of issue') and valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended date of exit from South Africa.

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DO I NEED INSURANCE?

You will need to organise your own travel insurance for the event as it may NOT be covered under your general holiday insurance. Please make sure your insurance covers cycling activities. In case of a medical emergency non SA riders must carry a credit card with them to ensure treatment if hospitalised. SA riders should carry their Medical Aid card with them.

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