701km, 17150m: Cape Epic Launches 2027 Route

• 701km, 17 150m climbing
• 2027 route will include the highest point ever reached in Cape Epic history
• Queen Stage includes the second most climbing in one stage in race’s history
• Final stage finish at Imbuko Wines, Wellington

With over 700 kilometres of racing and 17000m of climbing, the 2027 Absa Cape Epic is set to deliver an event that will again challenge both pros and amateurs alike.

At a gala dinner held in Cape Town on Thursday, organisers unveiled a route that takes riders from Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West to the valleys of Ceres, through the mountains of Tulbagh and into the legendary trails of Wellington. Along the way, riders will tackle the highest point ever reached in Cape Epic history on Waboomsberg, experience some of South Africa’s most celebrated trail networks, and face the iconic Cliffhanger on the Queen Stage.

The Queen Stage takes in a massive 3100m of climbing over 83km, the second-most climbing in a single stage in the event’s history. The most climbing ever done in one stage was on Stage 5 in 2008 when riders climbed 3190m over 146km.

The Route

PROLOGUE
The Decision
Location: Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West
27km | 1050m Climbing
Elite Women: 27km | 1050m
Climbing Rating: ★★
Date: 21 March
A clockwise loop around the Lourensford bowl delivers an early taste of what’s to come. Pinot Stairs and the N4 climb open up sweeping views across False Bay before the route drops through the new Rock Wall berm. The Toyota Tough Section at Schoeman’s demands early focus, then a traverse across the valley leads riders through Big Switch and down to the week’s first finish line.

STAGE 1
The First Question
Location: Ceres to Ceres 127km | 2450m Climbing
Elite Women: 103km | 2150m Climbing
Rating: ★★★★★
Date: 22 March
The 2027 event draws its longest line early: more than 120 kilometres through the heart of Ceres, then turns towards the mountain that will define opening day. Old Theron’s Pass is only the introduction. Then comes Waboomsberg, the highest point ever reached in the history of the Cape Epic. Exposed to the African sun and whatever wind the mountain chooses to deliver, the climb rises relentlessly through changing terrain before opening onto the vast expanse of the Koue Bokkeveld. It is less a climb than a question of resolve. Over the top, the route plunges onto Kaleo’s rugged trails, where sandstone outcrops rise against a vast mountain skyline. The road home runs via historic Old Gydo Pass, where gravity finally takes over, and the valley draws closer once again.

STAGE 2
The Response
Location: Ceres to Ceres 103km | 2050m Climbing
Elite Women: 83km | 1750m Climbing
Rating: ★★★★½
Date: 23 March
Stage 2 heads east from Ceres towards Eselfontein, with three distinct loops giving the day its own character. The opening kilometres are approachable before the first major trail sector arrives. A wide singletrack climb creates an opportunity to move through the field before the route crests above Death Drop. The second loop climbs onto Dead Man Walking and Baboon’s Highway before diving into the famous Pipeline descent, the day’s Toyota Tough section. Rocks litter the surface, lines narrow and hesitation is punished. Momentum becomes everything as riders tackle one of the day’s most demanding trail sectors. The final loop skirts the Eselfontein Dam, where fatigue and momentum work against each other. Eselfontein is one of South Africa’s most respected and time-tested trail networks, and Stage 2 offers it in full: technical, varied and rewarding from start to finish.

STAGE 3
The Rhythm
Location: Ceres to Saronsberg, Tulbagh
87km | 2250m Climbing
Elite Women: 56km | 1100m Climbing
Rating: ★★★★
Date: 24 March
The first transition stage carries riders from Ceres to a new race village at Saronsberg in Tulbagh via the Witzenberg. The route crosses the Ceres Valley before climbing towards Old Gydo Pass, familiar ground from Stage 1, then rises onto the Bokkeveld Plateau and into the Witzenberg Mountains. Then the landscape changes. A fertile valley of orchards and farms opens below, traversed via Slagboom and Welgemeen, home of the Hannekom brothers. Ringed by towering peaks and hidden deep within the Western Cape landscape, it is a side of the region few ever witness and even fewer have the privilege of experiencing from the saddle of a mountain bike. The stage builds towards Die Eike and the Witzenberg Ridge, where the Toyota Tough Section arrives in the form of the Wagon Trail descent. Technical, demanding and steeped in Cape Epic history, it is a fitting finale before the route drops towards Saronsberg.

STAGE 4
The Turning Point
Location: Saronsberg, Tulbagh to Saronsberg, Tulbagh
96km | 2550m Climbing
Elite Women: 64km | 1650m Climbing
Rating: ★★★★½
Date: 25 March
Framed by the Groot Winterhoek and Witzenbrangesange, the Tulbagh Valley is one of the race’s most beautiful settings. Stage 4 builds its character through accumulation: five climbs, five descents, and a constantly changing succession of terrain. The Oakhurst climb opens the day before a newly built switchback descent. From there, the route keeps north into the Groot Winterhoek Mountains, where the climb to God’s Window trades elevation for a view that can make the effort worthwhile. The race then crosses the valley to the Witzenberg Range and the flowing Kilprivier trails before rising towards Schoonderzicht and the famed Bone Trail, built by local legend Deon Wilkins.

STAGE 5
The Crossing
Location: Saronsberg, Tulbagh to Imbuko Wines, Wellington
114km | 2350m Climbing
Elite Women: 114km | 2350m Climbing
Rating: ★★★½
Date: 26 March 2027
A sharp ascent out of the Tulbagh Valley spills onto the open roads of the Swartland, and the race’s character changes completely. Long gravel roads stretch towards the horizon. The wind is almost always present; riders take turns on the front, and partnerships become more important with every kilometre. Riebeek Kasteel offers a brief glimpse of civilisation before the route turns back towards the mountains. The climb onto Kasteelberg and Eight Feet leads into Riebeekberg’s Toyota Tough Section, rewarding the effort with expansive views before dropping back towards the valley. Then comes the long drag towards Wellington. Open roads, subtle gradients and the persistent wind steadily turn kilometres into minutes. Patatskloof adds one final sting before the vineyards around Wellington finally appear and riders roll into Imbuko Wines, owned by the Van Zijl and Zenzen families.

STAGE 6
The Cliffhanger
Location: Imbuko Wines, Wellington to Imbuko Wines, Wellington
83km | 3100m Climbing
Elite Women: 65km | 2500m Climbing
Rating: ★★★★★
Date: 27 March
Stage 6 is the Queen Stage, and at its heart stands one defining feature: The Cliffhanger. The route leaves Imbuko Wines and climbs almost immediately. Hawequa stretches the field, and a descent through the Scout Trails offers a brief chance to recover. Seven Peaks follows, spilling onto the flowing Cool Runnings trail before the route turns up again. One after another, the climbs carry riders towards the day’s centrepiece. The Cliffhanger, built on Canetsfontein Wine Estate, traces the mountainside through a dizzying series of switchbacks cut into the hillside. Carved into the slopes high above the valley floor, it is one of the most iconic sections of trail in the Cape Epic. From there, the route finally turns downhill, but the work is not yet done. Full Monty, Route 66, Unhappy Hog and the Golden Mile thread together some of Wellington’s finest trail riding before the return to Imbuko Wines. For many teams, this will be the defining day of their race.

STAGE 7
Grand Finale
The Final Line
Location: Imbuko Wines, Wellington to Imbuko Wines, Wellington
64km | 1350m Climbing
Elite Women: 64km | 1350m Climbing
Rating: ★★★
Date: 28 March
On paper, the Grand Finale is the week’s gentlest stretch. After seven days of racing, however, nothing feels quite as simple as it looks. The route climbs towards Groenberg, where Luislang delivers the day’s last real test. From Groenberg, the route drops into Welvanpas, fast and flowing, with Bull Run and True Grit providing one final reminder that the Cape Epic demands focus right to the very end. The route passes through Doolhof Wine Estate, where every cheer, every cowbell, and every familiar friend reminds you how close the finish line has become. One last climb. One last descent. Blazing Saddles. Then the route turns for home. The finish line waits.

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