RACE INFO

UCI GRAVEL WORLD SERIES: THE CEDER GRAN FONDO

  • LOCATION Nuwerust Farm, Cederberg, Western Cape, South Africa
  • DISTANCE 151km
  • ELEVATION 2500m
  • WHEN Saturday 3 May 2025
  • START TIME 07h00
  • CUT-OFF TIME 20h00
  • WATERPOINTS 6

UCI GRAVEL WORLD SERIES: THE CEDER MEDIO FONDO

  • LOCATION Nuwerust Farm, Cederberg, Western Cape, South Africa
  • DISTANCE 68km
  • ELEVATION 850m
  • WHEN Saturday 3 May 2025
  • START TIME 08h00
  • CUT-OFF TIME 20h00
  • WATERPOINTS 3 

CEDER35

  • LOCATION Nuwerust Farm, Cederberg, Western Cape, South Africa
  • DISTANCE 35km
  • ELEVATION 680m
  • WHEN Saturday  3 May 2025
  • START TIME 08h15 onwards
  • CUT-OFF TIME 18h00
  • WATERPOINTS 1 (Kromrivier Restaurant)
  • All bicycles are welcome 
  • Riders to also collect race bags from any registration. 

CEDER TRAIL RUN

  • LOCATION Nuwerust Farm, Cederberg, Western Cape, South Africa
  • DISTANCE 50km Team Relay / 25km / 5km 
  • WHEN Saturday 25 October 2025
  • More info to be announced...

    COMPULSORY KIT & GEAR

    KIT/GEAR GRAN FONDO MEDIO FONDO CEDER35 CEDERRUN
    Bike lights ✘ ✘ ✓ ✘
    Helmet ✓ ✓ ✓ ✘
    Waterproof jacket TBC ✘ ✘ ✘ ✓
    Windbreaker ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
    Thermal layers ✓ ✓ ✘ ✓
    Buff ✘ ✘ ✘ ✓
    Gloves ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
    Space blanket ✘ ✘ ✘ ✓
    Fully charged phone ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Nutrition ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Hydration ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Race number ✓ ✓ ✘ ✓
    GPS device ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
    Cape Nature Day Permit ✓ ✓ ✘ ✘
    Running pack ✘ ✘ ✘ ✓
    Headlamp  ✘ ✘ ✘ ✓
    Emergency rations*minimum of 200 calories ✓ ✓ ✘ ✓

     

    SUPPORT
    We encourage all participants to approach The Ceder as a self-supported race, ride, or run. It is essential to carry sufficient water and nutrition at all times while on the bike or trail. While route markings are provided, please ensure you have the correct GPX file loaded prior to entering the Cederberg, as cell service is very limited in the mountain range.

    Participants will be in remote areas with little to no cell service, where assistance may not be readily available for extended periods, so please prepare accordingly for emergencies.

    Designated feed zones will be marked, providing access to beverages and food managed by the Ceder Crew and volunteers. We kindly ask that you treat them with respect and courtesy, as they are there to assist you.

    Riders may receive bottles and assistance from outside helpers or team support outside of official feed zones, provided the following guidelines are followed:
    • No feeding or handing off bottles from moving vehicles.
    • Helpers and team vehicles must be parked completely off the road while waiting to assist riders.
    • Helpers are responsible for collecting all discarded wrappers and trash.

     

    BIKES
    Riders are welcome to use any type of bike, including road bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes, hybrid bikes, and cross bikes, with the exception of tandem bikes, E-bikes, recumbent bikes, and time trial road bikes. For the UCI Gravel World Championships, all participating bikes must have drop handlebars, and mountain bikes are not permitted.

    MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE 
    All riders are encouraged to bring their own tools and spare tires or tubulars to the race. Tools will be available in the feed zones for riders to address any issues that may arise. Participants can change wheels at any point during the event, but they must use the same bike frame throughout.

    SAFETY
    The safety and well-being of our runners and riders are our top priorities. A medical support vehicle will be on the route, along with ambulance services for emergencies. Please remember to save the emergency contact numbers provided in the race day information email and during registration. Note that all emergency race support and assistance will end at 20:00 on Saturday, May 3, 2025, and at 18:00 on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

    Cycling will be preceded by a 5-minute motorbike marshal to ensure everything is in place for safe riding, including race officials and marshals positioned at key areas along the route and controlling traffic. Another motorbike marshal will guide the leading group.

    A sweeper vehicle will follow the last rider to ensure everyone is off the course and returns safely to the finish line. Please be aware that all assistance will be withdrawn after the cut-off times, and any participants who continue on the course do so at their own risk, leaving the responsibility with themselves rather than the event or organizers.

     ENVIRONMENT

    The Cederberg is a Wilderness region and we have a strong “leave no trace policy”.

    • Leave no trace and take no souvenirs.
    • Race participants are responsible for anything they discard, which goes into a bin. Any littering on the course is strictly prohibited.
    • Please respect and be aware of other road users, especially on descents and blind corners. Roads are NOT closed.
    • Be respectful of animals and the habitat; the mountain range is wild and home to wildlife.
    • Do not take shortcuts, especially on the trail.

    AID STATIONS & FEED ZONES

    Participants are welcome to take as much food and beverage as needed from each aid station or water point. However, leaving any bottles, cans, or cups at these locations is not permitted, so please ensure you are adequately prepared to carry sufficient nutrition.

    ENTRIES

    • Entries are only available online via Quicket from 6 January 2025
    • Entries are transferrable at an additional cost of R250, no transfers after 21 April 2025
    • There will be no refunds made available.
    • Entries will not be transferred to following year.
    • Should the event be cancelled due to any unforeseen issues, all entries will automatically carry over to the following year.

    RACE ENTRY INCLUDES

    • Race Bag with The Ceder sponsors products and goodies.
    • Race number (excluding CederRun 5km).
    • Full medical support on the route; vehicle and ambulance support.
    • Commissaires for UCI Gravel World Series Races
    • Motorbike Safety Marshals 
    • Photographers
    • Equal prizes for men’s & women’s podiums.

    REGISTRATION

    • TBA

    DNF (DID NOT FINISH) / RETIRING FROM THE RACE

    Should you need to drop out of the race, notify a race official immediately. If you leave the course and fail to notify race officials, you will be banned from participating in the future (unless assisted from the course by the race medic). Please report to the race organiser or race officials when finished. Contacts will be provided on entry and at registration.

    THE FINE PRINT

    Any person participating in The Ceder Event does so at their own risk. The Ceder, organiser/s, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and Cederberg Oasis take no responsibility for any loss, damage, injuries or deaths.

    The Ceder recommends that you arrange your own personal accident insurance, ambulance cover and income protection insurance before participating in the Event to cover any unforeseen personal costs you may incur due to ambulance trips, medical expenses or time off work due to injuries sustained whilst participating in the Event. As a participant of The Ceder, you are responsible for yourself and should know the rules and regulations of the race.

    In entering any of The Ceder events, participants acknowledge and agree to all of the above.

    ACCOMMODATION

    Accommodation at Nuwerust can be booked through the Quicket Entry portal upon registration, with a first-come, first-served approach to prioritize participants for logistical ease. All accommodation options will be available on the portal starting January 7, 2025.

    NUWERUST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS INCLUDE:
    • Limited Cottages
    • Pre-set Tents
    • Campsites

    Other nearby accommodation options and their distances from Nuwerust:
    • Cederberg Oasis 3.5 km
    • Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve 10 km
    • Mount Ceder 12 km
    • Cederberg Wines 20 km
    • Sanddrif 20 km
    • Kromrivier Cederberg Park 21 km
    • Driehoek Farm 38 km
    • Algeria 46 km
    • Jamaka 50 km

      OTHER EVENT WEEKEND INFO

      • Food trucks will offer a variety of food options at Nuwerust, with more information to be announced soon. There will also be a bar and entertainment area for race briefings, prize-giving, and festivities.
      • Closest shop and fuel stations: Op-die-berg 65km. (The petrol station is closed on Sundays.)
      • No pets allowed.
      • No 4x4 is needed to reach Nuwerust, although it is recommended due to the condition of gravel roads especially after rains. (We recommend entering the Cederberg from Algeria if you are not travelling with a 4x4.)

       

      RIDE THE CEDER
      UCI Gravel World Series - The Ceder:
      Saturday 3 May 2025

      RUN THE CEDER
      The Ceder Trail:
      Saturday 25 October 2025

      Entry to The Ceder is via our Quicket Entry Portal. Visit Quicket.co.za to enter. A link can also be found top right in the menu bar.

      RIDE THE CEDER
      All online entries strictly close Monday 28 April 20:00

      RUN THE CEDER
      All online entries strictly close Monday 20 Ocotber 20:00

      Riders may use any type of bike (road bike, mountain bike, city bike, hybrid bike, cross bike, etc.) with the exception of tandem, E-bike or recumbent bike. time trial road bikes are also forbidden. During the UCI Gravel World Championships, all bikes should have dropped handlebars. It’s not possible to participate in the UCI Gravel World Championships with a mountain bike. 

      While every route is clearly marked, it's mandatory to have the GPX file loaded before starting any race. You can acquire all route GPX files from our online store. A download link is provided once completing the checkout process.

      Yes. All races, with the exception of the Fun Run and Ceder35, are timed. Your timing chip and race number are provided in your race bag upon Registration. It's mandatory for riders to affix the race number to their bikes and runners to pin numbers to their clothing. Timing chips are affixed to race numbers.

      Please check The Ceder Compulsory Kit & Gear section under 'INFO' to ensure you're prepared.

      We do not need an official medical certificate; kindly review the indemnity and waiver thoroughly.

      You can book all accommodations at Nuwerust through The Ceder Quicket portal. Priority is given to participants, and bookings are on a first-come, first-served basis. Explore options on The Ceder Event Page on Quicket.co.za

      Certainly! Spectators are welcome along all routes.

      Designated feed zones will be marked, providing access to beverages and food managed by the Ceder Crew and volunteers. We kindly ask that you treat them with respect and courtesy, as they are there to assist you.

      Riders may receive bottles and assistance from outside helpers or team support outside of official feed zones, provided the following guidelines are followed:
      • No feeding or handing off bottles from moving vehicles.
      • Helpers and team vehicles must be parked completely off the road while waiting to assist riders.
      • Helpers are responsible for collecting all discarded wrappers and trash.

      The weather in the Cederberg can be unpredictable, but shifting the race dates to May and October should reduce the likelihood of wet and cold conditions. However, early morning starts in the mountains may still be chilly. Please check The Ceder Compulsory Kit & Gear section to ensure you're prepared for any weather.

      Yes, the cutoff time for the the Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo is 20:00, and the Ceder 35 and Trail Races 18:00

      Race Numbers can be collected prior to the event at Race Registration. Registration will be in Cape Town on Tuesday before race weekends (Location TBA) and will continue at Nuewrust in the Race Village on the Friday.

      Race registration will be in Cape Town on Tuesday before race weekend (Location TBA) and will continue at Nuwerust in the Race Village on the Friday.

      Yes. Please provide a form of identification, such as a Driver's License or ID, when collecting your race number.

      Yes, the prize giving is scheduled for Saturday at 18:00 for the Cycling Races and 18:00 for the Trail Running Races. Prize Giving will take place in the Race Village.

      Unfortunately not.

      19 years old or older.

      Unfortunately, no dogs or other pets are allowed at The Ceder venue, Nuwerust.