Go Gravel at the King Price Race to the Sun in 2026

For 8 years, the King Price Race to the Sun has been synonymous with gravel racing. The fast rolling and relatively flat route is ideal for high-speed racing, but also provides newcomers to the growing discipline with a manageable first 100-miler. In 2026, these key features will continue to be front and centre, with additional attention being shown to rider experience touch points, when the race takes place on the 30^th of May next year.

Entries to the 2026 King Price Race to the Sun open on Tuesday, 25 November, and there are reasons aplenty to enter. The primary reason remains the route. 4 kilometres of winding tracks through Sediba Kwêle have been replaced by a shorter, but still scenic loop through the reserve, where wildlife sightings are highly likely. This reduces the total distance to 158 kilometres, while the accumulated elevation gain remains under the 1 000 metre psychological barrier.

“The 2026 King Price Race to the Sun will take place two weeks later than this year’s,” Race Director JP Nortje noted. “This date ensures that the canals the route follows in the first half will be full after their annual clean, which makes for a more scenic ride. The road conditions are also generally good at that time of the year, and the weather should be crisp in the morning but warm to perfect cycling temperatures as the day progresses.”

“Our plan when we launched the event, 8 years ago, was to create a gravel race which was suitable for all levels of gravel riders,” Nortje continued. “Gravel has grown and matured over that time, and the emergence of gravel stage races is certainly exciting. I believe that the King Price Race to the Sun is the ideal first step up in distance for newcomers, but it is also the perfect event for the competitive cyclists who want to push their personal limits. The fast and flat course lends itself to road style tactics in places, but the climbs in the second half also allow a solo attacker to get away and stay away.”

“We knew if we got the route and the rider experience offerings right that we could create a successful event, but one thing we never anticipated was the support we would receive from the communities along the route. The Beestekraal Church congregation and the Magalies Citrus farmers have taken the water points and the vibe along the course to the next level. Their support and enthusiasm makes the event special in a way that isn’t quantifiable. Every year we get praise for the standard of the King Price Race to the Sun water points, and every year we have to defer all praise to the volunteers from the congregation and the farming community.”

The 2026 King Price Race to the Sun takes place the week after the 2026 South African Mountain Bike Marathon Championships, in Kwa-Zulu Natal, and two weeks before next year’s National Gravel Championships. It is thus perfectly positioned to provide the riders who split their time between the two off-road disciplines with the opportunity to build form on their drop bar bike. While for road racers who race gravel in the winter months, it is a great first foray off-road for the season.

Age groupers will also find reasons to flex their competitive spirits as the race boasts Seniors, Sub Vets, Vest, Masters, and Grand Masters age categories alongside the elite races. “The ‘subs’ are a participant favourite too,” Nortje explained. “Really fast riders, in and around the Top 20, can target a Sub-5 finishing time, while a more realistic target for competitive gravel racers is a Sub-6. A good time for the 100-Miler is anything Sub-7, and a Sub-8 will likely secure you a top-half finish. All those times will be rewarded again in 2026, so make sure you train through the early winter months.”

“Speaking from personal experience, a big goal is often necessary to keep me on my bike and training through the winter months. King Price Race to the Sun is relatively early in the winter, but those cold, dark mornings have already started to bite by late May. Having the target of a Sub-7 or 8 attempt to motivate you will hopefully keep you on your bike outdoors, or get you on the turbo trainer at the very least,” Nortje concluded.

Entries to the 2026 King Price Race to the Sun open on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. Entry fees for next year’s race are R1650.00 for a 100-Miler entry or R950.00 for a 50-Miler entry, and can be secured by visiting www.racetothesun.co.za. Participants and cycling fans alike are encouraged to follow @race2thesun on Instagram and to like the RACE2THESUN Facebook page to stay updated about news from the event. There will once again be an outride on sections of the route in the build-up to the event, to allow riders with entries to the 2026 edition to fine-tune their race-day bike setups.