Join the Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge, a scenic yet challenging race via Prince Alfred’s Pass – MTB, gravel, and e-bikes welcome!
Your favourite mountain bike race is returning to the Garden Route this Spring! This world-renowned annual bike race is scheduled to take place on 21 September 2025, from Uniondale to Knysna via Prince Alfred’s Pass.
This route is known to be scenic though challenging, and riders are encouraged to train sufficiently for this event in order to maximise their enjoyment of the experience.
Prince Alfred’s Pass is a hidden gem of the Garden Route that offers a combination of a thrilling drive, stunning scenery and adventure all in one. This gravel pass has amazing views and historical value that attracts tourists, cyclists and nature lovers.
This pass, that connects the Garden Route with the Klein Karoo, is one of the most iconic and scenic routes in the region. It meanders through the green Garden Route timberlines (Knysna) to semi-desert Klein Karoo (Uniondale), showcasing incredible landscape changes along the way.
The Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Race has been selected as an Official Premier Seeding Event of the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour. This solo 100km mountain bike and gravel event is not for the faint-hearted, as this terrain requires significant climbing with fast descents and varied surfaces, including loose, rocky and rutted dirt roads and a steep, averaged 10% climb.
The 2025 entry fee is R 800 which includes a dinner pre-race in Uniondale. All proceeds go to the Lions Clubs of Knysna and Uniondale. Only 4500 entries will be available for the 2025 event. Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is taking place on Friday 19 September from 16h00 to 20h00, and on Saturday 20 September from 13h00 to 20h00.
Choose your mode of transport: The Lions Karoo to Coast race welcomes MTB, Gravel as well as E-bikes. With E-bike entries tripling in 2023, the event now offers a complimentary battery swap service. Gravel bikes will start in the usual seeded bunches, however, there will be a separate generous prize money and podium places for the top three Gravel Bikes.
No matter what you’re riding, the Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge is much more than just a race. This is an experience of a lifetime that shows participants the best of South Africa’s natural beauty combined with the cycling spirit. With limited entries available and proceeds going to a worthy cause, sign up to be part of this world-renowned event.
Don’t miss out on this spectacular opportunity! CONTACT US today to book your Garden Route accommodation pre and post your race.
