Day 1 - Friday 3rd Oct

104km | 2,011m ascent

Sabie - Nelspruit - White River - Sabie

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Day 1 is the easiest day of the tour where cyclist’s will ease into their journey taking them over two passes - Hendriksdal Pass (1,499m) and Skitzkop Pass (1,484m). Hendriks Pass is a gradual 9.5km ascent out of Sabie and named after the original farm in the area. This is followed by a 34km a fast undulated decent in Brondal and then a gradual climb towards White River 16km away. The final climb is to the top of Spitzkop is relatively steep with an average gradient of 6.5% but riders will be rewarded with spectacular views along the entire route to the top. Once you are over the top of the pass, its a fast 15km downhill return to Sabie and to the finish to unwind and talk about your first day in the saddle.

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Day 2 - Saturday 4th Oct

148km | 3,068 ascent

Sabie - Graskop - Pilgrims Rest - Lydenberg - Sabie

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Day 2 is the toughest day of the tour where riders will start off early and cross over some of Mpumalanga’s top mountain passes. The initial climb it up Mac Mas Pass (1,348m) with its sweeping curves and grand views with magnificent scenery in a picture-perfect Lowveld setting and continuing to the top of Bonnet Pass (1,620m). Riders enjoy a respite with a windy 9km downhill into Pilgrims Rest but followed by the steep climb up Robers Pass (1,789m). This pass offers diverse scenery through an area steeped in history and is a long pass of 20,6 km which includes 68 bends. After making your way their way through Lydenberg, riders will conquer Long Tom Pass (2,114m). This is undoubtedly the most famous pass in Mpumalanga. It is 26,2 km long and has an altitude variance of 671 vertical meters through a complex network of curves as it ascends up the Drakensberg escarpment between Ludenburg and Sabie. The last 13km is another fast decent back to Sabie and the end of day 2.

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Day 3 - Sunday 5th Oct

112km | 2,353 ascent

Sabie - Graskop - Hazyview - Sabie

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Day 3 takes riders back up Mac Mac Pass (1,348m), through the small town of Graskop and to the top of Kowyns Pass (1,448m). Another famous Mpumalanga pass with stunning views and an altitude drop of 512m through the Drakensberg escarpment with truly 'out of this world' views. The 41km route into Hazyview is a fast and long decent and time for riders to enjoy themselves before the final climb back to Sabie via Bergvliet Pass (937m). Bergvliet Pass lies between Hazyview and Sabie and is named after the Bergvliet plantation through which it traverses. This pass forms the most curvy and scenic part of the “Infamous 22”, a stretch of road that is 22 km long (hence the name). Its not all smooth riding from there as the return trip is a slow gradual climb back into Sabie and the end of your Sabie Cycle Tour.