This week, on the Diverge Podcast, we look at the 2026 Absa Cape Epic route, which was launched on the 9th of October, and the 2025 Prince George Monumental 100-Miler. The 692-kilometre-long course is the longest since 2015, when the route last topped the 700-kilometre mark. 15 900 metres of climbing across that distance equates to 22.98 metres of climbing per kilometre, which is the least since 2018. It also features the first visit to Montagu, in the Klein Karoo, since 2007. In short, the stages are as follows:
PROLOGUE
- Sunday, 15 March 2026
- Meerendal Wine Estate
- 20km with 650m of climbing
STAGE 1
- Monday, 16 March 2026
- Montagu
- 90km with 2 150m of climbing
STAGE 2
- Tuesday, 17 March 2026
- Montagu
- 102km with 2 250m of climbing
STAGE 3
- Wednesday, 18 March 2026
- Montagu to Greyton
- 134km with 1 750m of climbing
STAGE 4
- Thursday, 19 March 2026
- Greyton
- 84km with 1 950m of climbing
STAGE 5
- Friday, 20 March 2026
- Greyton to Stellenbosch
- 128km with 2 700m of climbing
STAGE 6
- Saturday, 21 March 2026
- Stellenbosch
- 76km with 2 450m of climbing
STAGE 7
- Sunday, 22 March 2026
- Stellenbosch
- 58km with 2 000m of climbing
The 2026 route harkens back to 2005 and 2007 when Montagu in the Klein Karoo last hosted stages.
See where you can pre-ride on the Cape Epic routes by visiting www.montagutrails.co.za, www.greytonmtb.co.za, and www.stellenboschtrailfund.co.za. To read the full and official route descriptions, as well as more news from the broader South African endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:
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