The proper gravel of the Garden Route Giro set the scene for a stellar first edition and will provide the base for the 2027 race, too. Photo by Shift Media Co. “The Garden Route Giro route will remain challenging, but balance distance and difficulty with fast tar road sections and breathtaking views. For every mountain pass ascent, there will, of course, be a thrilling descent, and we’ve seen that the strength of the groups makes traversing undulating roads fun, fast, and efficient. We will be launching the 2027 route at the end of August 2026, but gravel enthusiasts can bank on six days of proper gravel, with about 600 kilometres of racing and 11 000 metres of accumulated ascent,” Rademeyer confirmed.

The ever-changing landscapes of the Hessequa, Klein, and Great Karoos, and the Garden Route provide stunning backdrops for bike racing. Photo by Shift Media Co. A buzz was created around the inaugural edition. The vibe in the peloton was one of insiders sharing a love of a band yet to make it mainstream. Of intrepid adventurers being rewarded for opting not to wait and see, but to dive in and experience something truly remarkable.

Competitive racing in the elite men’s and women’s categories, as well as in the age categories, created excitement throughout the field. Photo by Shift Media Co. “I loved the intimate setting and the routes. The family feeling and small towns,” former South African road, mountain bike marathon, and gravel champion Cherise Willeit praised. “The shorter routes with enough time to relax and connect are a big plus,” industry stalwart Charl Neethling added. “That, plus community inclusion at every race village, a comfortable race village setup in each town, and effective organisation, all came together to make it a special week.”

The semi-arid Klein Karoo is the heartland of Dryland Event Management and home to many of the welcoming communities that provide much of the hospitality for the participants. Photo by Shift Media Co. Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team’s Douglas Ryder is no stranger to bike races. Ryder was among a select group who made use of the Platinum accommodation packages and enjoyed some of the Garden Route’s most luxurious boutique hotels while racing his gravel bike. “I loved the gravel, the routes, the premium package accommodation, and the people in the organisation,” Ryder smiled.

2026 participants returning for 2027 will be rewarded with exclusive early access, allowing them to enter 24 hours before general entries open and they will also be sent a limited-edition Garden Route Giro Founders’ cycling jersey, custom-made by First Ascent. This jersey will be shipped free of charge to the riders, regardless of where they are in the world.

On the bike, the success of the first Garden Route Giro was the diversity of the route. Starting among the pastures of the Hessequa, an undulating opening day was followed by four mountainous days as the race crossed into and out of the Klein Karoo en route to Knysna, in the Garden Route. A final indigenous forest fill stage took the race to Wilderness, and a similar theme will be followed in 2027. Green fields will give way to semi-arid plains, valleys of surprising floral diversity, and high mountains dotted with flowering proteas.

11 months out from the 2027 edition, it is too early to predict road conditions. Though it is safe to expect proper gravel, long smooth and fast hard-packed segments, some rutted and rough sections, and the odd rocky corner on a technical descent. Weather, in the build-up to the event, will play a role in determining the exact state of the roads, but that is part of the adventure of gravel.

Off the bike, the highlights are easier to predict. Dryland Event Management will once again be calling upon the local communities to showcase their hospitality and to provide much of the catering, under the expert guidance of Chef Gerbie van Deventer. Biogen’s world-class sports nutrition will power water points and post-stage recovery. In the afternoons, a chill zone will provide snacks and drinks to aid in further recovery.

All race entries include lunch, which will be served in the various race villages, but for 2027, breakfasts and dinners have been included in the tented accommodation packages too. Participants opting to stay in the race village will enjoy a simple breakfast on-site, as well as a hearty dinner filled with local favourites, only small-town South Africa can prepare to perfection.

The Gold and Platinum packages also include breakfast but do not include dinner, giving riders the flexibility to enjoy the wide variety of local restaurants at their own pace. However, the hotels and restaurant chefs are well aware of the nutritional demands of a stage race and will ensure that meals available to riders are both high quality and suited to endurance fuelling needs.

2027 participants will receive an official race garment, a First Ascent race bag, as well as gravel gifts from other partners to fill a jam-packed registration bag. The ride-only entry structure allows for the creation of a bespoke Garden Route Giro experience, where everyone can select the accommodation level and extras they desire to enhance their six days of gravel racing.

To share in the stories from the 2026 race and gain inspiration for the stories that will continue in 2027, follow @gardenroutegiro on Instagram and like the Garden Route Giro Facebook page.

Entries to the 2027 event, which is set to take place from 19 to 24 April next year, open on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 12:00 [South African Time | GMT +2]. South African based gravel riders can visit www.gardenroutegiro.co.za for more information and to enter online, while international participants can click through to entries.dryland.co.za to discover all the key details and for online entries.

2027 Garden Route Giro

Date:

19-24 April 2027

Details:

6-Day, Solo, Gravel Stage Race

Distance:

600km with 11 000m of climbing

Race Entry Fee:

R32 950 per rider until 31 December 2026 (thereafter R35 900)

Campsite Only:

R7 500 (Single and Double Occupation)*

Standard Tent:

R7 950 (Single Occupation)*

Luxury Tent:

R13 500 (Single Occupation) or R22 500 (Double)*

Gold:

R22 900 (Single Occupation) or R34 900 (Double)

Premium:

R49 900 (Single Occupation) or R79 900 (Double)

Supporter Meal Package:

R6 000 (All Meals from Lunch on 19 April to Lunch on 24 April 2027)

Entries:

entries.dryland.co.za

Facebook:

Garden Route Giro

Instagram:

@gardenroutegiro

Website:

www.gardenroutegiro.co.za | entries.dryland.co.za

*Tented accommodation packages include breakfast and dinner. Lunches are included with the Race Entry.

Dryland Event Management

Dryland Event Management hosts thirteen events annually across three of South Africa’s nine provinces. These include single-day mountain- and gravel bike races, mountain bike stage races, and multi-day trail runs. Famed for their hospitality and attention to detail, as well as their superb relationships with private land owners, Dryland welcomes 10,000 participants across their various events each year. To find out more, visit www.dryland.co.za.