The Old Mutual Wealth Double Century is set for 21 November 2026: 202km around the Overberg in teams of up to 12, starting and finishing in Swellendam, with the entry process still to open.
One team, one clock, 202 kilometres
Most races reward the strongest rider. The Double Century punishes any team that has one. South Africa's grand old endurance event is a 202km team time trial around the Overberg in which teams of up to 12 must manage pace, wind, nutrition and each other for the better part of a day — and it returns on 21 November 2026, once again based in Swellendam.
For club riders it is the natural graduation from the Cape Town Cycle Tour: same region, twice the distance, and a format where your result belongs to the group rather than the individual. Team dynamics are the whole game — the race is famous for being won and lost on how well a squad shelters its weakest legs through the final climbs.
Source: Old Mutual Wealth Double Century
The route: Swellendam's big loop
From Swellendam the route heads out along the N2 before turning through Suurbraak and up the Tradouw Pass onto the R62. It then runs via Op de Tradouw to Montagu, drops through the Cogmanskloof Pass to Ashton, and swings back through Robertson and Bonnievale. The sting is at the end: the final feeding station at Drew leads into the ‘Three Stooges’ — three consecutive climbs — before a 500m rise up Van Eeden Street delivers teams to the finish in Swellendam.
Start and finish — Swellendam
Race start/finish
Checkpoints, support zones and pauses
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Double Century? +
Saturday 21 November 2026, starting and finishing in Swellendam. The date was confirmed on the official site in January 2026.
How big is a Double Century team? +
Teams ride as a unit of up to 12 riders in a team time trial format over the 202km route.
What are the time pauses? +
The clock pauses twice: 40 minutes at the Ashton team support zone at 115km, and 30 minutes at the second support zone at 160km — built-in regrouping and refuelling stops for the whole team.
Are entries open? +
Not yet — the official site lists the entry process as ‘coming soon’. Keep an eye on doublecentury.co.za for the announcement.
