ENTRIES
Race or Explore. Choose your road.
What’s Included
Add-Ons & optional Extras
Shuttle services for local participants from Cape Town and Johannesburg, and an international athlete shuttle from Gqeberha (PLZ) Airport.
Need accommodation help? We’ve got several options. And if you’re after more than just race weekend, take a look at our 10-day South African gravel road trip, The Great Karoo Escape
Good to Know
How do I enter and when?
Registration opens on 1 December 2025 through our ticket shop. Spots are extremely limited.
Anyone, with one condition: you must be 18 or older on 26 September 2026.
What Categories are there?
What categories are there? The 2026 Road to Desolation has separate starts for the 180km and 130km. Riders are automatically assigned to an age-group category based on date of birth and gender. To compete for prize money, riders must select the Elite category — Elite applies to the 180km route only.
Will there be a prize money purse?
The 130KM route will have a prize money purse. More information coming soon.
Start times & cut-offs
Te Water House, Graaff-Reinet: 6:30 AM
Cut-off 4:00 PM at the entry to the Valley gate KM 120 on the 130km route).
How do I get back to Graaff-Reinet?
You roll back down. The Valley of Desolation is the top of the hill, and from there it’s a quick spin into Graafies on tar. Hard to mess up.
You’ll get a drink and a bit of food at the summit before heading down, so you’re not coasting back on empty. We also offer a drop bag at the start in the morning if you want to stash a warm jacket for the ride down — the wind off the top can bite, and most riders are happy to have something with sleeves once they’ve stopped climbing.
How do I qualify for South African pricing?
Based on your location and ID number you qualify for the reduced local ticket option. This happens automatically. In the process of registration you will be asked to provide your South African ID. Please note: International riders who do not qualify to enter as South African riders may have their entries canceled.
THE BORING STUFF
If you are unable to participate in the Road to Desolation, you may request a substitution by contacting us. Please note that a R300 administration fee will apply for each substitution.
We strongly recommend private travel insurance to protect against unexpected cancellation costs.
Transfers into the following year are at our discretion and attract an admin fee. No transfers or carry-overs to 2027 will be granted after 1 May 2026.
No refunds will be issued if an entry is cancelled by the race organisers due to ineligibility under the race rules (e.g. a doping offence).
Please note that if ROAD TO DESOLATION is canceled, rescheduled, or modified due to unforeseen circumstances, we cannot offer refunds for entry fees or other payments.
