The 36ONE MTB Challenge route has been updated for 2018 to make the riding experience more pleasureable by removing the dust kicked up by the 1 000 odd vehicles making their way along the route to Checkpoint 1 at Scheeperskraal. The Checkpoint 1 has been brought forward to the 64km mark at Dysselsdorp, while Scheeperskraal becomes a standard waterpoint.
START TO CHECKPOINT 1
The race starts with 15 km of farm roads taking riders in a northerly direction towards the Swartberg Mountains. A short section of tarred road makes way for arguably the second hardest climb of the race up to water point 1 at Spitskop, around 36 km into the race. A tricky fast descent takes riders towards De Rust and Dysselsdorp to Checkpoint 1.
| Start elevation | 330m |
| Finish elevation | 375m |
| Ascent | 887m |
| Descent | 850m |
| Min elevation | 344m |
| Max elevation | 863m |
| Distance | 63km |
| Water points | Spitskop and Dysselsdorp |
| Water point 1 | Spitskop 36km – No spectator point and no back up vehicles allowed |
| Water point 2 | Dysselsdorp 63 km – Spectator point (Checkpoint 1) |
All riders race through the night at The 36ONE MTB Challenge which sets it apart from the other ultra-endurance events in South Africa. Photo by Oakpics.com.
CHECKPOINT 1 TO CHECKPOINT 2
The longest stage of the race, but in relation to the distance, it is the stage with the least amount of climbing. From Checkpoint 1, undulating gravel roads pass water point 3 at Scheeperskraal and Daskop onto Mount Hope where water point 5 awaits. This stage has no major climbs, only the open roads and darkness. From Waterpoint 5, the riders traverse the northern slopes of the Outeniqua mountains heading past Highgate and eventually onto Volmoed at Checkpoint 2.
| Start elevation | 375m |
| Finish elevation | 273m |
| Ascent | 1668m |
| Descent | 1771m |
| Min elevation | 270m |
| Max elevation | 669m |
| Distance | 120km |
| Water points | Scheeperskraal, Volstruivlakte, Zebra and Volmoed |
| Water point 3 | Scheeperskraal 90km – No spectator point and no back up vehicles |
| Water point 4 | Volstruisvlakte 126km – No spectator point and no back up vehicles |
| Water point 5 | Mount Hope 152km – No spectator point and no back up vehicles allowed |
| Water point 6 | Volmoed 183km (checkpoint 2) |
Riders are threated to three check points, where they’ll receive proper meals, in addition to the seven water points in the 361km long route. Photo by Oakpics.com.
CHECKPOINT 2 TO CHECKPOINT 3
Probably the hardest stage of the race judged on proximity into the event and more serious climbs. With Volmoed behind, the riders head in a westerly direction towards the northern sections of the great Gouritz River. Sharper steeper sections find its way to the southerly slopes of the Rooiberg Mountain – with around 270 km in the legs, this bump in the road feels quite severe. The descent usually coincides with sunrise over Calitzdorp, the port capital of South Africa.
| Start Elevation | 273 m |
| Finish Elevation | 228 m |
| Ascent | 1 680 m |
| Descent | 1 720 m |
| Min. Elevation | 117 m |
| Max. Elevation | 770 m |
| Distance | 97 km |
| Waterpoints | Paardebont, Rooiberg, Calitzdorp |
| Waterpoint 7: | Paardebont 216 km |
| Waterpoint 8: | Rooiberg 252 km |
| Waterpoint 9: | Calitzdorp 280 km (Checkpoint 3) |
The rolling roads of the Klein Karoo are both beautiful and cumulatively extremely challenging as the distance covered ticks up towards 361km. Photo by Oakpics.com.
CHECKPOINT 3 TO FINISH
Sun on the back and home sweet home in sight makes the narrow farm roads past Groenfontein and Kruisrivier seem easier – undulations and fast downhills bring riders ever closer to Oudtshoorn past Lategansvlei and onto Kleinplaas Holiday Resort – 361 kilometres done and dusted!
| Start Elevation | 224 m |
| Finish Elevation | 330 m |
| Ascent | 1 050 m |
| Descent | 942 m |
| Min. Elevation | 224 m |
| Max. Elevation | 745 m |
| Distance | 81 km |
| Waterpoints | Kruisrivier, Lategansvlei, Kleinplaas |
| Waterpoint 10 | Kruisrivier 310 km |
| Waterpoint 11 | Lategansvlei 338 km |
| Waterpoint 12 | Kleinplaas 361km (Finish) |
For more information on The 36ONE MTB Challenge and for online entries please visit www.the36one.co.za.