The Race Across South Africa (RASA) is a new self-supported bikepacking race that takes on the legendary Freedom Trail over a distance of nearly 2,000 km. While the route detours around the most daunting portage sections, it remains a truly grueling challenge, demanding resilience, stamina, and self-reliance across South Africa’s wild and varied landscapes. Riders navigate by GPS as they traverse dirt roads, farm tracks, remote valleys, and mountain passes, covering vast stretches of terrain where support is scarce and the journey is as much a test of spirit as it is of strength. The sheer scale of the distance ensures that the Race Across South Africa stands as an epic adventure and an endurance race that pushes riders to their limits.
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15 days
2000 km
25 000m
13 April 2026
GPS
There are 3 compulsory checkpoints at which food and bed are available. Apart from those three checkpoints riders are required to be fully self-supported and find their own accommodation en route or camp along the way. Riders will be provided with a full re-supply split sheet showing potential options for accommodation and food re-supply. Riders must carry everything they require including mandatory equipment. Riders may not receive any personal support/seconding whilst in competition. All riders will carry satellite trackers with 2-way communication for live tracking and emergencies but essentially competitors take responsibility for their own safety.
PLEASE NOTE: Full Race Manual, including potential resupply list, will be published 2 months prior to race start.
START:
CP 1:
300 km
CP 2:
630 km
CP 3:
1080 km
FINISH:
Riders need to reach the following checkpoints within the following cut-off’s to remain within the race:
-
CP1 300km 3 days 8am on 16 April 2026
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CP2 630km 7 days 8am on 20 April 2026
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CP3 1080km 10 days 8am on 23 April 2026
-
Finish 1943km 15 days 8am on 28 April 2026
Entry Fee covers
•Live satellite tracking during competition including tracker and batteries •Pre-race dinner •Pre-race breakfast •Food and basic accommodation at 3 interim checkpoints •Race office support whilst in competition •Organization of emergency evacuation •Event T-shirt and Cap •Access to all professional event photos and videos •Finishers trophy
Entry Fee excludes
•Accommodation pre and post event •Food and accommodation during race other than at above-mentioned checkpoints •Evacuation from route whether emergency or elected (Race office will coordinate logistics but not cost thereof)
Payment terms
•Entries must be paid in full within 7 days of receiving your invoice. •Withdrawals before 31 January 2026 will receive 80% refund of total entry fee •Withdrawals before 28 February 2026 will receive 70% refund of total entry fee •Withdrawals before 31 March 2026 will receive 60% refund of total entry fee •Withdrawals after March are non-refundable •Optional extras will be refunded if organisers have not yet incurred cost thereof. •Entrant may elect to rollover refundable amount to entry fee the following year. •If event does not take place due to Force Majeure, pandemic or political unrest then you may chose between rollover to postponed date or following year at no extra cost or refund as per above withdrawals and refund terms.
BOOK PRE RACE
ACCOMMODATION
BOOK POST RACE
ACCOMMODATION
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