There are so many roads to explore. The 2027 Garden Route Giro does just that as it takes on an entirely different course to the inaugural edition, promising returning and new participants alike a unique riding experience while building on the successes of the 2026 race. Taking place from the 19th to the 24th of April next year, the second Garden Route Giro will visit George, De Rust, Prince Albert, Volmoed near Oudtshoorn, Riversdale, and Hartenbos before returning to George. In total, the 2027 race will take in 593 kilometres of racing, 78% of which will be proper gravel, with 8 725 metres of accumulated elevation gain.
Meiringspoort (pictured) and Montagu Pass make their first appearances in the Garden Route Giro in the race’s second edition. Photo by Shift Media Co.
“We took what we learnt from the first edition of the Garden Route Giro in April 2026 and used the most successful elements to guide our creation of the 2027 route,” Henco Rademeyer, of the Garden Route Giro organisers Dryland Event Management, said. “The Rooiberg and Swartberg Passes became icons in year one, and we’ve kept the Swartberg and the remote Klein Rooiberg section of the Rooiberg Pass. Repairs to the historic Montagu Pass have made it possible to include George next year, and I’m looking forward to sharing that beautiful pass with our participants. It’s South Africa’s oldest unaltered mountain pass still in use, and dates back to 1848. Meiringspoort will be another highlight of the 2027 route. Riding between the towering sandstone cliffs will be a special experience.”
Swartberg Pass’ northern ascent, from Price Albert, will take riders to the highest point of the 2027 race. Photo by Shift Media Co.
2027 Garden Route Giro Route
Stage 1: The Crossing
Monday, 19 April 2027
Blanco in George to De Rust
79km with 1 350m of climbing | 85% Gravel | 15% Tarmac
The second Garden Route Giro begins in Blanco, in the shade of the mighty Outeniqua Mountains, and starts uphill. The first test, highlight, and stunning mountain pass is the recently repaired Montagu Pass. Completed in 1848, it is the oldest unaltered pass in the country still in use today, and as it was nearly 180 years ago, it serves as a vital tether between the coast and the Klein Karoo hinterland. 15 kilometres of climbing will spread the field and make finding groups to cruise across the rolling Karoo roads in the primary challenge of Stage 1.
Stage 2: The Open Road
Tuesday, 20 April 2027
De Rust to Prince Albert
112km with 1 100m of climbing | 67% Gravel | 33% Tarmac
For the second day in a row, the 2027 Garden Route Giro heads north, crossing out of the semi-arid Klein Karoo into the arid Great Karoo. Meiringspoort is the key to the transition and begins a day through a landscape which has inspired South African poetry and literature. Authors with vastly different worldviews, such as C.J. Langenhoven and Thomas Hardy, drew inspiration from the terrain covered by Stage 2. Likewise, riders with different strengths could thrive on a day that may conclude in a sprint or see a long-range attack win out.
Stage 3: The Mountain
Wednesday, 21 April 2027
Prince Albert to Volmoed near Oudtshoorn
92km with 1 650m of climbing | Gravel 75% | Tarmac 25%
An early intermediate sprint, for all-important points in the Protea Velo Jersey competition, will ensure a high-speed start to the biggest climb of the 2027 race. Swartberg Pass from the northern side is steep, with pitches that exceed 12%, and long at nearly 14 kilometres. Coming early in the stage, it presents the opportunity to attack early and then solo for 70 kilometres across the rolling roads of the Klein Karoo basin, or to gain King/Queen of the Mountain points before settling in for a tactical day out to Volmoed. Beyond the racers, the vistas across the folds of the Swartberg and the poorts of the Lategansvlei Road offer insights into the geological diversity of a region which was shaped by floodwaters 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
Stage 4: The Queen
Thursday, 22 April 2027
Volmoed near Oudtshoorn to Riversdale
141km with 2 200m of climbing | Gravel 84% | Tarmac 16%
The Queen Stage flirts with the mighty Rooiberg, rather than confronting it directly, but that should not lull anyone into thinking it will be an easy day. Rougher surfaces, truly remote back roads, and a harshly beautiful landscape await on Stage 4. It is a route littered with climbs, where the power of each rider’s pedal stroke will determine their result rather than their ability to surf the wheels and benefit from the group. It will be an honest day, likely decisive in the general classification battles, and one which will live long in the memories of those who conquer it.
Stage 5: To The Sea
Friday, 23 April 2027
Riversdale to Hartenbos
119km with 1 600m of climbing | Gravel 61% | Tarmac 39%
Fast and undulating, the penultimate stage of the 2027 Garden Route Giro will balance the need to dig deep to remain in contact with efficient pelotons on the deceptively tough climbs of the Hessequa farmlands with the glory of being sucked along at high speed by a large group. Pastures of grazing dairy cattle will gradually be replaced by vineyards, and then brief interludes of fynbos, as the route heads east. To the north, the Langeberg merges into the Outeniqua as the race nears Hartenbos, while the Indian Ocean glistens ahead.
Stage 6: Full Circle
Saturday, 24 April 2027
Hartenbos to Blanco in George
50km with 850m of climbing | Gravel 62% | Tarmac 38%
Stage 6 is a celebration, a short and enjoyable day out devised for type one fun, after moments of type two, in the mountains earlier in the week. A climb off the coastal flats onto the plateau at the foot of the Outeniqua means it is not all fun and games in the opening kilometres, but once up to speed, the 62/38 mix of gravel and asphalt means the distance will be ticked off in double quick time. Perfect for a long afternoon of relaxation before the finisher’s function at the Olympia Equestrian Estate.
Diving into the Details
To explore the 2027 Garden Route Giro route in more detail, visit www.gardenroutegiro.co.za/giro-route. Entries to the second edition are open and can be secured by visiting www.gardenroutegiro.co.za or entries.dryland.co.za. Inspiration to join the adventure can be gained by following @gardenroutegiro on Instagram and by liking the Garden Route Giro Facebook page.
Proper gravel awaits at the second Garden Route Giro. Photo by Shift Media Co.
| 2027 Garden Route Giro | |
| Date: | 19-24 April 2027 |
| Distance: | 593km with 8 725m of climbing | 78% Gravel | 22% Tarmac |
| Stage 1: | George to De Rust: 79km with 1 325m | 85% Gravel | 15% Tarmac |
| Stage 2: | De Rust to Prince Albert: 112km with 1 100m | 67% Gravel | 33% Tarmac |
| Stage 3: | Prince Albert to Volmoed: 92km with 1 650m | Gravel 75% | Tarmac 25% |
| Stage 4: | Volmoed to Riversdale: 141km with 2 200m | Gravel 84% | Tarmac 16% |
| Stage 5: | Riversdale to Hartenbos: 119km with 1 600m | Gravel 61% | Tarmac 39% |
| Stage 6: | Hartenbos to George: 50km with 850m | Gravel 62% | Tarmac 38% |
| Race Entry Fee: | R32 950 per rider until 31 December 2026 (thereafter R35 900) |
| Accommodation: | Campsite Only * | Standard Tent * | Luxury Tent * | Gold | Premium |
| Supporter Package: | R6 000 (All Meals from Lunch on 19 April to Lunch on 24 April 2027) |
| Entries: | entries.dryland.co.za |
| Facebook: | Garden Route Giro |
| Instagram: | @gardenroutegiro |
| Website: | www.gardenroutegiro.co.za | entries.dryland.co.za |
*Tented accommodation packages include breakfast and dinner. Lunches are included with the Race Entry.
The rolling roads could see a tactical penultimate stage playing out en route from Riversdale to Hartenbos. Photo by Shift Media Co.