STAGE 3

Oct 27

Blaauwater to Merino

A taste of the stage

Stage 3 leaves Blaauwater with a 10km gravel descent — narrow and uneven in places, so stay alert before the roads open up. Riders then enjoy a fast, long tar section, keep to the left at all times. The Wapadsberg Pass offers beautiful Karoo views before a thrilling 12km downhill — again, stay left and watch for traffic. Around 80km, the route passes through Spekboom Game Farm, before moving through farm and tar roads to the final climb up Swaershoek Pass — the Toyota Power Climb section on the final 5km. The stage finishes at the summit with stunning views of the Merino Burn Camp below, then riders roll down the liaison section to Merino Burn Camp. Liaison: 5km | 0m climbing | 300m descending

Highest Point

1,73Om

Distance

137km

Climb

1,55Om+

Descent

1,45Om-

the peaks
and troughs

Towns &
landmarks

town

Cradock(CRAD-uck)

eastern-cape

Cradock is a historic town on the Great Fish River, deeply rooted in South Africa’s colonial and frontier past. It played a key role in the 19th-century Frontier Wars and later became a major centre of the wool industry. The town’s wide streets and preserved Karoo architecture speak to its colonial legacy, while its role in the anti-apartheid struggle — most notably through the story of the Cradock Four — adds a powerful layer to its identity. Cradock remains a place where South Africa’s complex history is keenly felt.

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landmark

Merino Burn Camp

Cradock, Eastern Cape

Merino lies under the Swaershoek pass, where riders will wind their way down to rest after a long day out on stage 5.

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landmark

Merino Wool Farms

Eastern Cape

Between Blaauwater and Merino Burn Camp, riders move through sheep-farming country — hills, windmills, and flocks on fields like foam on a stormy sea.

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