The Lions Karoo to Coast returns on Sunday 27 September 2026, sending up to 4,500 riders from Uniondale over Thomas Bain's Prince Alfred's Pass to the sea in Knysna — and gravel bikes are now a genuine weapon.
Source: Lions Karoo to Coast (official)
The route: Karoo plateau to Garden Route sea level
The race rolls out of Uniondale at 727m above sea level and finishes at just 3m in Knysna, and the centrepiece between the two is Prince Alfred's Pass — the great gravel pass built between 1860 and 1867 by Thomas Bain. From the pass, the route drops towards the coast and picks up the Knysna Forest sections, including Kom se Pad, before the Simola Hill descent delivers riders into the finish and race village in Knysna. The organisers describe it as scenic and challenging off-road terrain throughout, which is exactly why this one race draws mountain bikers, gravel riders and e-bikers in equal numbers.
Race start — Uniondale
Race start
Elevation and difficulty
The official route page lists 1,560m of ascent and 1,815m of descent over 95.95km, dropping from 727m in Uniondale to 3m at the Knysna finish. The 2026 press release quotes slightly different totals (1,521m up, 2,244m down) — either way, budget for roughly 1,500m of climbing with substantially more descending than ascending. The official site pegs an average rider's day at around four and a half hours; the 2025 race was won in under three.
Water points and support
The organisers list nine fully stocked, charity-run water points along the route, with medical and communications support included in the entry. E-bikers get a free battery-swap service on route — a genuinely useful touch on a course with this much climbing. Entry also includes SANParks access for the forest sections, the Wine & Wheels Expo in Uniondale on registration day, and the race village at the Knysna finish. Riders who are not Cycling SA members need to purchase a CSA day licence.
Tyres and setup
Editorial recommendation — the organiser publishes no official tyre spec; this is BikeBuy's advice based on the terrain. The 2025 race was won on a gravel bike, so a strong rider on 40mm+ tubeless gravel tyres can absolutely race this course. For most riders, though, a lightweight XC hardtail on fast-rolling 2.2in tubeless rubber is the comfortable choice: Prince Alfred's Pass is long, loose district-road gravel where punctures end more races than legs do.
Milestones
- 1867 — Prince Alfred's Pass completed. Thomas Bain's pass, built between 1860 and 1867, still carries the race today.
- 2025 — A gravel bike wins outright: Tristan Nortje takes the title in 2:56:21.
- 2026 — Equal prize money for top male and female gravel riders, plus new age-category prizes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I enter the 2026 Lions Karoo to Coast? +
Entries are open at karootocoast.com at R950, limited to 4,500 riders on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do I need a racing licence? +
Yes — riders who are not Cycling SA members must purchase a CSA day licence with their entry.
Can I ride an e-bike or a gravel bike? +
Both. The event welcomes MTB, gravel and e-bike riders, offers a free e-bike battery-swap service, and pays equal prize money to top male and female gravel riders in 2026.
What does the R950 entry include? +
SANParks access, nine water points, Saturday-night dinner in Uniondale on 26 September, medical and communications support, the Wine and Wheels Expo, and the finish-line race village in Knysna.
The bottom line
Karoo to Coast remains one of SA's great point-to-point days out: one big pass, a sea-level finish, and a course that now genuinely rewards both mountain bikes and gravel bikes. The race is owned by the Uniondale and Knysna Lions Clubs, with proceeds donated to people in need. At R950 with a 4,500-rider cap, enter early rather than late.
