DAY ONE: Friday
The Dirt-Breath Express
This is quintessential rural Lesotho at its best: cattle tracks, villages, rivers and streams, sheep flocks and mielie plantations make up the first half of the ride. Expect a 25% technical single track [Dirt Breath 1] down to Muela Dam and tough climbing to Muela Power Station, followed by a 50%, single track [Dirt Breath 2] down to the Khukune River, approximately 10km of district road through villages and massive sandstone formations in the form of Dragon’s Back. This is Lesotho’s version of Moab! The day ends with a 10km ride up the river back to Mamohase B&B.
Marshals will be in place for all the route changes, so you’ll always know that you’re on the right track.
• Distance: 50 km – similar in effort to a Day 1 Sani
• Duration:
o Intermediate: 6 hours
o Advanced: 4.5 hours
o Expert: 3.5 hours
• Exertion Level: 9/10
• Technical Difficulty: 7/10
• Scenery: 8/10
Start/Finish – Mamohase B&B (Butha Buthe, 20km from the Caledon’s Poort border post).
Look out for event signage.
Co-Ordinates: 28°44’13.7″S 28°27’14.7″E
Turn off at: 28°44’39.6″S 28°26’59.6″E
DAY TWO: Sunday, 21 March 2021
Black Mountain Pass
Day 2’s ride starts from Afriski and is split into two individual rides. The first ride starts from Afriski, climbing up the old gravel road to the top of the ski slope, over the national road and to the highest point in Lesotho: 3222m. From there it follows a flowing, 10km long single track (90% downhill) known as Black Mountain Pass that winds its way down to the Malibamatso River at 2525m. The first technical downhill in this section is the REAL “Black Mountain Pass”, a rocky single track which advanced riders will find very challenging (most will walk the rocky first 100m, it is rideable (just) if the correct line is chosen. Expect great mountain vistas. From the Mali Bridge the ride continues 3km to Club Maluti where the second water point is located as well as the shuttle pick up for those not up for the challenge and long climb back up to Afriski. This is an essential stop in preparation for the brutal climb – 2830m to 3200m, riding Sunday’s Avalanche section backwards. Regular stops to catch one’s breath is essential as the air is very thin at this altitude. There is another water point 1km from the top of the ski lift. From here its free wheeling adrenaline all the way to the finish. A cold one or two await at the river finish (weather permitting).
• Distance: 35 km
• Duration:
o Intermediate: 6 hours
o Advanced: 4 hours
o Expert: 3 hours
• Exertion Level: 9/10
• Technical Difficulty: 6/10
• Scenery: 11/10
Start/Finish – Afriski Mountain Resort
DAY TWO CONTINUED: Sunday,
Goldilocks
After catching your breath at Club Maluti, hop onto the shuttle and head back up to the start of the second leg starting from Afriski. The ride starts from the top of the ski lift and up a 1,5km ride along the ridge that takes you to the start of Goldilocks (3200m to 2525m). This challenging single track takes you down the Fanana River valley with a few stream crossings and a beautiful mountain feel. It’s an avalanche trail similar to European MTB experiences. Awesome enduro sections make up 25% of the ride, with minimal climbing and the remainder is mostly technical single track. Intermediates will ride it, but advanced riders will own it! The finish is 3km from the end of Goldilocks where a bike shuttle will bring you back to the top of the resort.
• Duration:
o Intermediate: 2.5 hours
o Advanced: 2 hours
o Expert: 1.5 hours
• Exertion Level: 6/10
• Technical Difficulty: 8/10 riding rock gardens and switchbacks
• Scenery: 9/10
Start – Afriski Mountain Resort
Finish – Club Maluti
