All the info you need

GravDuro will be setting off from Trails End Bike Hotel on the 1st of June 2025.

Read all the info below about the Schedule, Pricing, Categories, Route Markings, Bikes Allowed, FAQs

Schedule

Pricing

Keen on camping out the night before and after the event? We offer a Luxury Tent Package for R1500, which includes a bed and mattress. Please bring your own blanket and pillow. You can also add an extra bed and mattress inside for R450.

Format Explained

The 60km race is the 4 timed stags combined, while the 100km race is your 6 stages combined. You can race the whole route or take a break between the timed segments.  Pick your race strategy wisely.

There are two routes to enter, 4 stages and 6 stages. The route is one big loop with the stages being out in different places along the loop. The 4 stage riders and the 6 stage riders all do the same stages. The 4 stage riders just turn back after they finish the 4th stage and return to Trails End. While the 6-stage riders continue on.

Click here to view the routes.

The overall winners will be drawn from the fastest combined times over the 4 and 6 stages respectively, in all the categories of bikes (Gravel, MTB, Gravel E-Bike and MTB E-Bike) and in a split of male and female.

Prize categories are coming soon…

Timing Explained

As with any new event we are going to be learning how best to achieve this task of timing 6 stages out on route. This is a very complex task and involves a high level of logistics and planning, so please bear with us if there are any issues. We have tried to get RFID timing but the task of power and the variables associated with this system is too risky to run in the field. Wrist tags wont work as riders will be coming together and having timing pods isn’t ideal for multiple people. Thus we will be going with an App based system and have numbers manually ticked off an App. This is the most robust system we could use. We will be using Strava as a back up to solve any issues that might fall through the cracks.

Start and Finish Procedure

The Starting Procedure, when approaching the start of a Stage, you will be funnelled into a start chute and required to stop in front of the Start Board before proceeding onto the stage. This will ensure the safety of those around the start chute as there will be different batches starting at different times. We don’t want later batch riders flying into the start chute and not stopping when there might be stationary riders from earlier batches still waiting around the start chute.

Once you have stopped, seen that its safe to go and passed the start board, your time will be on and its racing through the section. 

The Finishing Procedure, once you have reached the end of the stage you will be funnelled into the finish and required to stop at the end of the section where the time keepers are, to ensure your time has been accurately recorded. Please move along quickly as there will be more riders coming. So once the time keeper has your time, please move off the line to allow for more riders to also get their finish time accurately recorded.

Categories

There will be the below classes available to enter for both the 6 timed stages and the 4 timed stages routes.

Time Slots – *UPDATED*

6 Stages and 4 Stages – Start All Together!

Why different slots?

As it will be an enduro format, meaning you start and stop racing multiple times during the event, this will mean there might be opportunities for bottlenecks to occur if all 450 riders set off at once. Thus having batch starts will assist in easing congestion at these points and allow for a better spread of riders going through the stages. All stages need to be done in the same order so the initial stages would be overwhelmed if riders weren’t spread out.

Route Markings

The route will be entirely GPS based and we will share some tips and tricks on how to follow the route closer to the event. The stages themselves will be marked to assist with navigation, while it’s still advised to keep your GPS on during this time as a double backup – getting lost is never fun!

To learn more about how to load and follow a GPS route, click here to watch some videos on the matter.

Bikes Allowed

The route will be designed with Gravel Bikes in mind, meaning we expect the fastest bike on the day to be a gravel bike. This doesn’t mean that if you don’t have a gravel bike, you can’t join. we will have different classes available for all of the below bikes, please ensure you pick the correct batch when signing up.

Cancellation Policy

By entering the 2025 GravDuro you agree to the following as well as the documents contained in the
Red Cherry Events terms and conditions

Your entry and batch are only secured once full payment has been received

Riders wanting to cancel, need to do so in writing and email Team@redcherryevents.co.za should they wish to cancel

75% of the entry fee amount paid will be refunded if written notice is received before 30 March.
50% of the entry fee amount paid will be refunded if written notice is received before 31 April.

All entries after 1 May will not be eligible for any refunds, although you can transfer your ticket to another rider at a cost of R100. This transfer can be done up until 7 days before the event.

Should the race be cancelled due to weather, riders will receive a 100% carryover to any future Red Cherry Events, event for two years from the cancellation date. No refunds will be given should the organisers need to cancel the event due to adverse weather conditions.