We start & finish this Taalmonument 1200km Audax route in Paarl
Celebrating Afrikaans, right here on our doorstep. Why? Because why not. Start at Specialized in Paarl, below the Taalmonument, and next to KNUS coffee shop, with secure parking (to be arranged in advance and don’t take up the prime parking right in front of the shop for 4 days). *Oh and why note have riders pay a larger amount upfront to opt in for accommodation and that makes admin way easier for the organisers. Suggested route below.
When is the Taalmonument 1200km Audax?
Start at 6am on the morning of Saturday 17th May 2025 and continue for 90 hours which gives you a BRM average of 13.33kmh including all stops. Suggested a few sleep stops below to give you an idea of when and where you will be en route. Assumptions are 25kmh average riding speed. 45mins stops at controls. And 6hrs sleep stops. For a rough guide. *PS, with a 90hrs cutoff and a Saturday 17 May 6am start time the finish would be at midnight on the Tuesday 20 May, ie TUE 23:59pm for clarity when it ticks over to Wednesday.
Day 1 to Montagu (315km)
Saturday 17 May 2025
Start at 6am at Specialized Paarl below the Taalmonument and without having to go up to the top (unless you want to), head through Franschhoek and along Theewaterskloofdam to Villiersdorp for the first control at the Spar. Then down to Aan-de-Doorns to connect with the Route 60 to Robertson and stop at the Wimpy or similar. Carry on with the DC route to Swellendam and stop in town at Die Republiek for a bite to eat. More DC route through Buffeljags and Suurbraak via Tradouws pass to Barrydale for a famous milkshake, before going up Op-de-Tradouws and rolling down to Montagu. Taalmonument 1200km Audax suggested sleep stop for day 1 is the Mimosa lodge in Montagu.
Day 2 to Elandsbaai (380km)
Sunday 18 May 2025
Rise and shine early for this is the longest day and starts with a loooong climb up over 1234m above sea level at Rooihigte to the N1 at Karoo1 and then to Touwsrivier for another control. Then pass Aquila to the R46 T-junction and over Theronsbergpas down to Ceres. Down Mitchells pass towards Tulbagh and through Nuwekloof (flat!) pass through Gouda and like with the wind at your back to Porterville, then Piketberg Spur. Go along the mountin and pass Het Kruis and Redelinghuys and Verlorenvlei towards Elandsbaai. Taalmonument 1200km Audax suggested sleep stop for day 2 is the Elandsbaai hotel.
Day 3 to Riebeek (360km)
Monday 19 May 2025
Good morning! Up the climb along the coast towards Leipoldtville, left at the junction towards Lambertsbaai, and then inland through Graafwater and the long climb up and fast sprint down to Clanwilliam. From there we hop on the N7 all the way back, passing Citrusdal and over the baboon rock formation at Piekenierskloofpas down to Piketberg again. This time we head to the west coast in Velddrif (expect some wind). Then directly to Hopefield, and Moorreesburg before rolling up and down and to Riebeek-West. Taalmonument 1200km Audax suggested sleep stop for day 3 is the Riebeek Valley Hotel.
Day 4 to Taalmonument (156km)
Tuesday 20 May 2025
FIN! On the final day we only have 150-odd-kms to complete so that you can get back early and have a couple of well-deserved beers after suck a long ride. Start the day from Riebeek Valley Hotel and head over Bothmaskloofpass to Malmesbury and then do an out and back stint to Darling. Coming back from Malmesbury on the R304 towards Stellenbosch we turn left towards Paarl/Wellington just before the red Kassies padkafee container to Windmeul. Home stretch on the R44 and via Spice Route (passing the notorious ABSA Cape EPIC tented village from the Fairview location two weeks ago). And up the Taalmonument to finish right at the top!
Entries to be opened on https://audaxsa.co.za/ in due course.
