Event Primer: Grinduro | The global ‘gravel race and festival’ format comes to SA
2025 officially marks the 10th year of the global Grinduro series. It’s also the first year that the unique racing format comes to South Africa. Here’s the what, where, when and how of Grinduro.
Grinduro – The perfect party-to-race ratio!
What is it? | Grinduro is a gravel race where the results are determined by four timed segments, rather than an overall loop time. The race is just one component of the festival-style weekend away that includes camping (or glamping), swimming, great food, a bike expo, art and live music, in one magical location.
Where and when is it? | Grinduro will be hosted by the Oewerzicht Farm in Greyton, Western Cape, from 17 to 19 October 2025. From Cape Town, it’s around a 90-minute drive.
Route and stages | The full Grinduro route is around 100km with a vertical drop of 1500m. There’s climbs, descents, gravel roads and singletrack with a few sections of tarmac. Inside that 100km is four timed segments that are approximately 10-minutes each. The half – known as Grindurito – is just the first part of the full route and totals around 50km without any timing or timed segments.
The weekend riding schedule includes an optional 30km prologue ride on Friday, the 50km Grindurito and 100km Grinduro main race is on Saturday, followed by an option social ride on Sunday morning.
What bike? | The best bike for the route is probably a fully-rigid gravel bike with wide (45mm or more) tyres however an endurance mountain bike will do just fine. eBike riders can enter the shorter event, the 50km Grindurito.
Who is it for? | Expect to see professional riders, age group racers, open categories, paracyclists and eBike riders on the start line. Check out the full list of categories here.
The cost and what does it include? | A solo entry is R5800 and includes two nights of tented accommodation on the farm with a supplied canvas tent and one mattress. There’s also two dinners, two breakfasts, on-route feeding stations, a goodie bag, access to the expo, music festival and more. Click here to learn more and enter. //
