ROAD TO DESOLATION

Road to Desolation returns on Saturday, 26 September 2026. A one-day gravel race in the Karoo, run out of Graaff-Reinet. Two ways to take part. Same grassroots crew, same finish at the top of the Valley of Desolation.

Because the route runs through the Camdeboo National Park, entries are capped. When you enter, you're also contributing to conservation work in the Camdeboo. The race wouldn't exist without the park, and the park benefits from the race.

The 130km Race. A real day in the Karoo. 2,000m of climbing, five to six hours for an averagely fit rider, technical climbs, a stretch of single track, and a finish at the top of the Valley of Desolation. It's the headline race for 2026.

The 66km Taste of Desolation. Not a race, but a ride. There's no clock. No podium. No cut-off. Just a day in the Karoo at your own pace, with whoever you want to ride with. Same finish at the top of the Valley of Desolation as the racers earn.

Race day is the centre of the weekend, but not the whole of it. Friday brings a community shake-out ride to settle the legs and meet the people you'll be riding with on Saturday. Your entry includes a dinner after the race, followed by the prize-giving. It's the part of the weekend most riders end up remembering.

Road to Desolation is organised by Community Connect.