STAGE 2

A taste of the stage

Stage 2 is a challenging circuit, all on gravel roads. The day starts with a punchy 7km climb up Tafelkop, followed by the Leeukop, an undulating 5km climb with false tops (the Toyota Power Climb covers its final 2.8km from 12km), rewarding riders with stunning summit views. A fast descent then leads into the Sneeuberg Nature Reserve — watch for springbok racing alongside you and blue cranes overhead. The Kom Pass Climb reaches the stage highpoint with breathtaking mountain vistas, followed by a 20km descent with rough sections and dry riverbed crossings. Riders pass through the quaint Nieu-Bethesda village before climbing back into the wilderness up Tafelkop a second time. A final 7km descent brings riders home for their last night in Blaauwater, completing a scenic yet demanding day in the heart of the Karoo.