Lone Star Gravel/MTB Race

Hard
Date
2026-09-06
Location
North West Province, South Africa
Distance
160 km
Elevation
N/A
Category
Gravel
Region
Africa
Organizer
Gravel Star
Terrain
Gravel, Farm Roads
About

Gravel and MTB race using farm gravel roads in South Africa's North West Province. The event offers a 100-mile main route and a 60 km option, emphasizing open countryside riding rather than technical trail sections.

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TIER 3
~/dossier/lone-star-gravel-mtb-race $ cat briefing.md

Gravel and MTB race using farm gravel roads in South Africa's North West Province

Africa gravel event organized by Gravel Star

EFFORT20/50
EXPER.42/70

12 SCORING DIMENSIONS

LONE STAR GRAVEL/MTB RACE
LENGTH7/10CLIMBING2/10DURABILITY5/10TECHNICALITY2/10RACE PRESSURE4/10ADVENTURE5/10SCENERY6/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY6/10ACCESSIBILITY6/10FIELD DEPTH5/10

EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH07/10
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160 km — long-day effort
CLIMBING02/10
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Elevation not confirmed
DURABILITY05/10
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Plan for 7+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY02/10
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Gravel / Farm Roads
RACE PRESSURE04/10
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Standard race-day intensity

EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE05/10
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Single-day event with strong sense of place
SCENERY06/10
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Gravel, Farm Roads
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE07/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY06/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY06/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]160 km of hard gravel through North West Province
  • [+]Organized by Gravel Star
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel, Farm Roads

RED FLAGS

  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site
  • [!]Elevation profile not confirmed — assume the worst

RIDER FIT

Endurance MuleOK · 5/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberAVOID · 2/10

Limited use for pure climbers

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Single-day event with strong sense of place

BikepackerOK · 4/10

Wrong format for bikepacking specifics

SpeedsterPRIME · 8/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Crit RacerAVOID · 2/10

Single-day pace suits crit-style riders less here

TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
38-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Semi-slick centre w/ light side knobs

Mixed gravel with no extreme demands — go for rolling speed.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[38mm]Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[38mm]Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[38mm]Hard-pack speed

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

North West Province in spring (September): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~40 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~96 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch160 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Pacing mistakes — most issues here are self-inflicted

INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Cycling in Africa is different — the wildlife, the warmth of the welcome, the sheer scale of it. Lone Star Gravel/MTB Race delivers all of that.

Regional cycling forum · Africa gravel scene

RACE LOGISTICS

AID STATIONSStandard food + drink refuel points.

Standard aid stations every 30-50 km with food, water, and basic mechanical help.

▶ FEED ZONES · 3 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~40 km
waterfood
Aid 2~80 km
waterfood
Aid 3~120 km
waterfood
✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
  • +Aid station nutrition + water
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
At Aid
MEDICAL
At Aid
DROP BAGS
No
BAG TRANSPORT
No
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 2 OPTIONS
Hotels in North West Province
0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • Carry at least one tube + plug kit even with tubeless. Mechanical bad luck is the #1 DNF cause.

TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTJNB (Johannesburg) / CPT (Cape Town)
LODGINGBook early in North West Province — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Lone Star Gravel/MTB Race is a quality africa event — great if you're nearby or want to explore the region.

▌ DOSSIER ID: 63_WXVFL56CD · CLASSIFIED: PUBLIC
SOURCES: Official site