The FNB Wines2Whales has built a reputation for superb singletrack filled stages. In 2022 the route will revert to the traditional Lourensford to Hermanus direction, taking the teams east, via the mountain biking mecca of Elgin. The route team with Cape Trails have been hard at work establishing new trails to ensure another thrilling edition of The Race with Gees.

After a successful Switchback edition in 2021, FNB Wines2Whales reverts to its traditional direction in 2022. A simple return to the route last used in 2019 would not suffice, however. Especially not after the hard work the Cape Trails team have put in building new singletracks in Lourensford, Elgin, and in the Overberg.

The 2022 route is thus a rejuvenation of the old favourite, though mostly in direction, taking in 208 kilometres from Lourensford to Hermanus, via Oak Valley with 4 400 metres of climbing along the way. The route is complete with countless berms and bridges, a portage up the historic Gantouw Pass, more singletracks than you’ll be able to keep track of, and three Toyota Cruise sections. All told it is sure to provide the terroir for scintillating racing across categories and exciting riding for those not chasing results.

“Hundreds of man hours have gone into building, sculpting and fine-tuning the trails for the 2022 FNB Wines2Whales,” race director Hendrico Burger stated. “We’re looking forward to sharing the refreshed and rejuvenated route with the participants, and feel sure they’ll love the riding experience. There are a few changes to look forward to; including a significantly different Stage 2, as well as new trails in Lourensford and near Botrivier on Stage 3.”

“Our first big job ahead of the 2022 race was helping with the rebuilding in Lourensford,” Burger continued. “The fire which ravaged the estate earlier this year not only damaged many of the trails but also burnt bridges and features. Lourensford has reinvested significantly in the rebuilding, we have contributed both financially and through the manpower of the Cape Trails team. In many ways the fire has provided a blank canvas from which to build, so mountain bikers are in for a treat on the renovated and rebuilt trails.”

“In Elgin we’ll be keeping the Stage 2 route north of the N2 highway throughout ‘Play Day’,” he added. “There’s a new play park on Paul Cluver that has been sponsored by Agrimark and some exciting new trails, as well several existing trails which FNB W2W has never been able to use before. Stage 3 also gets a few interesting new touches, including the Beaumont Wine Estate singletracks which allow us to bypass the tar road sections through Botrivier as well as the Agrimark bridge under the N2 culvert.”

Start: Lourensford Wine Estate

Finish: Oak Valley Estate

Distance: 72km

Climbing: 1 600m

The opening stage of the 2022 FNB Wines2Whales showcases new trails in combination with old favourites as it takes the teams from Lourensford into the Elgin plateau and to the race village at Oak Valley Estate 72 kilometres and 1 600 metres of climbing later. The start of Stage 1 meanders through the estate before climbing to the heights of Lourensford; thereafter the route twists downhill; taking in the African Cruiser, the race’s inaugural Toyota Cruise section, then Formula-E and Tough-ER complete the descent to waterpoint 1, at the Cork Forest. The Cashflow boulders and Vergelegen’s Game Park follow, then new trails lead into Journey’s End.  The climbing resumes in earnest on the approach to the Gantouw Pass, though riders will be well advised to take in the views from the Idiom waterpoint’s lofty perch below the day’s signature feature. After hot-footing it up and over the World Heritage site, hopefully without any cramping, Grabouw’s A-Z trails feature and provide thrills aplenty including a rip around the Eikenhof Dam. The Palmiet, Protea and Waterfall singletracks then lead toward Oak Valley, where Greenhouse Effect completes the stage’s roll call of trails.

Chardonnay: 28 October 2022 | Pinotage: 31 October 2022 | Shiraz: 4 November 2022

Start: Oak Valley Estate

Finish: Oak Valley Estate

Distance: 68km

Climbing: 1 450m

Play Day has never been so much fun! Stage 2 of the 2022 FNB Wines2Whales route measures 68 kilometres in length and includes 1 450 metres of climbing with every centimetre of elevation gain earning teams the right to descend, twisting through trails in fynbos, forests, and fields. In 2022 there are more bridges than ever, with the main feature being the bridge over the Rietvlei Dam, built by the Paul Cluver team with support from Cape Trails and Agrimark, stealing the show as one to remember and adorn many Instagram accounts. The day beings with a loop through the orchards to split the start batches for the Toyota Cruise, down Vissie’s Magic, before JK’s Edge, Sounds of Silence, Indensity lead to waterpoint 1 at Cow Trail. Once refuelled, the climbing recommences across Rietvlei to Witklippies 1 and 2 for the fun of swooping down Rietvlei Magic and across the 300 metre long Agrimark bridge. Pofadder and Jakkals link to the new Tierkop trails, where fast and flowing singletracks link the forestry roads. A traverse across the eastern reaches of the Paul Cluver estate then brings teams to the Amphitheatre were the Swing Bridge leads into the new additions, the Paul Cluver Rollers and the Paul Cluver Play Park, sponsored by Agrimark. The race to the finish starts the journey back to Oak Valley, featuring Snake Catcher, Harrier Hawk, and Homerun with a freshly built bridge, under the culvert, by Agrimark, and the Fairy Forest into the finish!

Chardonnay: 29 October 2022 | Pinotage: 1 November 2022 | Shiraz: 5 November 2022

Start: Oak Valley

Finish: Curo School, Hermanus

Distance: 68km

Climbing: 1 350m

The final stage of the 2022 FNB Wines2Whales takes teams from Oak Valley Estate, in Elgin, to the Atlantic coast where the finish at Curro School in Hermanus awaits. At 68 kilometres long with 1 350 metres of climbing it is statistically the easiest day of the race, through it is not all downhill to the ocean. The stage begins with dual tracks to spread the batches before the new Korteshoven singletracks thrill and delight ahead of dropping through the Houw Hoek singletracks and the Kat Pas. Near the bottom of the historic pass the new additions to the route, the Beaumont River Trail and the Rail Trail, divert the race around Botrivier and to Water Point 1, at Beaumont. Dipping under the N2 via the Agrimark bridge into Wildekrans, the fun continues on even more singletracks. Then its onwards to Harlow’s Run and the Steel Bridge before the Karwyders Contour takes riders to waterpoint 2, at the Arthouse, and on to Gaf se Bos. The Karwyders Gravel provides an opportunity to jockey for places ahead of the final singletrack dash, down the Onrus Gorge, the final stage’s Toyota Cruise section, and into the Onrus River Trail to the finish line at the Curro School in Hermanus.

Chardonnay: 30 October 2022 | Pinotage: 2 November 2022 | Shiraz: 6 November 2022