WHERE IT ALL STARTED
245KM
What began as a two day bikepacking trip became The Ceder 245, a one day gravel race first held in 2021 amid some of the wildest conditions the Cederberg had seen in decades. In 2027, The Ceder returns to its roots: a raw, challenging and unforgettable adventure through one of South Africa’s most remarkable landscapes.
THE STORY OF THE CEDER
The Ceder began with a bikepacking trip through the Cederberg.
The route started in Citrusdal, passed through Cederberg Oasis and followed a 245km loop originally plotted by Cape Cycle Routes. What was meant to be a two day adventure between friends quickly became something more ambitious.
“Let’s ride the entire route in one go.”
Then came the inevitable next question.
“Can we race it?”
And so, The Ceder 245 was born.
The first event took place in 2021, during a weekend that brought the heaviest snowfall the Cederberg and surrounding areas had experienced in 30 years.
Raoul Goetze, founder and organiser of The Ceder, raced alongside the riders that year.
“Going ahead with the race was probably the most irresponsible decision I’ve ever made, but also one of the best.”
The extreme conditions, remote mountain roads and shared experience created the kind of stories that would come to define The Ceder.
Since then, the event has grown into one of South Africa’s most distinctive gravel cycling challenges, combining adventure and competition within the raw landscape of the Cederberg, just three hours from Cape Town.
Surrounded by rugged mountains, indigenous fynbos and rooibos farms, the route moves through an environment that feels completely removed from everyday life. Riders have faced snow, relentless sun and extreme heat, with the Cederberg presenting a different test every year.
The race originally started at the iconic Cederberg Oasis, known for its famous smiley face, before moving to Nuwerust in 2025.
In 2025 and 2026, The Ceder became part of the UCI Gravel World Series, giving riders the opportunity to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships.
From humble beginnings to the global stage.
And in 2027, back to where it began.
Back to adventure.
Back to the raw, uncompromising landscape of the Cederberg.
Back to the original Ceder.
The Ceder is more than a gravel race. It is a celebration of nature, community, resilience and discovering what you are capable of when the road becomes uncertain.
The original 'The Ceder XL' returns in 2027.
If you know, you know.
Join us and become part of the story.
