STAGE 2

Oct 27

Avontuur to Willowmore

A taste of the stage

Pack and hand in your drop bag with a change of clothes and anything you’ll need in Willowmore for the two-hour transfer to Graaff-Reinet. Stage 2 rolls out of Avontuur on smooth, fast tar that winds through a spectacular gorge to Uniondale — a scenic warm-up before the gravel begins. From there, wide roads and gentle gradients make for a fast, enjoyable ride toward Willowmore, with a few surprises along the way. The Shallot, a short but rocky 500 m stretch, demands focus, while at km 61 the Red Bull KM (the Night Burn qualifier — a flat-out 1 km sprint) offers bragging rights and a chance to race the world's best. The climb to Steenkop reveals vast Karoo views before a descent into Willowmore, where a final technical section tests tired legs. Tonight, riders trade wilderness for the historic charm of Graaff-Reinet before venturing deeper into the Karoo.

Highest Point

1,154m

Distance

1O8km

Climb

1,15Om+

Descent

1,2OOm-

the peaks
and troughs

Towns &
landmarks

town

Avontuur(AH-von-toor)

western-cape

Avontuur sits in the Tsitsikamma foothills and was once the inland terminus of a forest railway that hauled timber to Knysna. Later, it became the end point of the Avontuur Railway, built to connect Langkloof orchards with the port at Port Elizabeth. In the 1960s, it turned into a tourist draw known as the Apple Express. Today, it’s still farming country — fruit, lucerne, sheep — and home to the Zondagh family, 10th-generation apple farmers and your hosts at the first Burn Camp.

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landmark

Willowmore Cemetery

Willowmore, Western Cape

A peaceful, wind-swept resting place that dates back to the 1800s. Riders pass close to its stoic headstones before entering the long road east.

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town

Uniondale(YOO-nyun-dale)

western-cape

Uniondale is a Western Cape town steeped in history and legend. Set along Route 62 and framed by mountains, it offers scenic cycling through the Little Karoo. Known for its Anglo-Boer War past and well-preserved buildings, it’s also infamous for a ghostly hitchhiker said to vanish mid-ride—leaving behind only a chill and an open car door. Today, Uniondale draws travellers with its mix of heritage, mystery, and off-the-beaten-track adventure.

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landmark

Uniondale Poort

Uniondale, Western Cape

A rugged, winding gorge slicing through the mountains near Avontuur. A gravel classic, with crisp air, flowing turns, and echoes of ghost stories.

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town

Willowmore(WILL-oh-more)

eastern-cape

Willowmore was founded in 1874 as a trading post on the farm The Willows. Its name may come from landowner William Joseph Moore or a romantic tale combining a wife’s maiden name with a willow tree. Farming has long sustained the area, with mohair taking centre stage since the late 1900s. Angora goats graze the plains, their silky fibres destined for high-end fashion. The town’s charm is echoed in its finish line: the Royal Hotel, over a century old and rich with stories.

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landmark

Kammanassie Mountains

Uniondale, Western Cape

On your left as you head through Uniondale, the remote, weathered and wild offshoots of the Outeniquas offer views for days and an early taste of the vast Karoo.

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