{"id":70529,"date":"2024-12-02T08:00:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T06:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=70529"},"modified":"2024-12-06T12:30:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T10:30:32","slug":"the-wind-at-our-backs-and-plettenberg-bay-ahead-4-days-of-riding-and-glamping-await","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/the-wind-at-our-backs-and-plettenberg-bay-ahead-4-days-of-riding-and-glamping-await\/","title":{"rendered":"The wind at our backs and Plettenberg Bay ahead – 4 days of riding and glamping await."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 2025 M&G Investments PE PLETT<\/a> is all set to embark on its journey towards the West, starting for the first time from Mentorskraal on the 20th of February 2025. This will mark the 12th edition of the ever-growing event, which has become renowned for its landmarks and exciting features. Pulling through from 2024 will see \u201cThe Tour\u201d, moved to 15 minutes after \u201cThe Ride\u201d. This will allow riders to enjoy the days at their own pace, with open start chutes, lunch out on the route and a more relaxed experience without timing constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both \u201cThe Tour\u201d and \u201cThe Ride\u201d will commence from the Mentorskraal Country Estate, covering a spectacular 270 kilometres over four days, traversing the famous Garden Route of South Africa. The journey will culminate in Natures Valley after four days and three nights of thrilling riding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe 2025 race is a milestone for the M&G Investments PE PLETT. Celebrating its 12th year, with the addition of \u2018The Tour,\u2019 now being moved to the same day as \u2018The Ride,\u2019 we believe we have the perfect offering for everyone, from racers to riders. This new edition allows us to expand the event while preserving our values of keeping the event small and intimate, with only 250 riders across the event,\u201d says event Director and Founder, Mike Glover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Stage 1: Mentors Kraal Kick Off<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Start:<\/strong> Mentors Kraal
End:<\/strong> Assegaaibosch Country Lodge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distance<\/strong><\/td>Elevation<\/strong><\/td>Difficulty<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
81 kilometres<\/td>1150 metres<\/td>5\/5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Setting off for the 12th time, we begin the journey a little closer to Plettenberg Bay. Stage 1, the longest day of the event, heading straight into the heart of the Eastern Cape through Humansdorp and towards the Churchill Dam. It\u2019s no free ride on Day 1 as the terrain will fight back as we make up our way towards the Karoo town of Kareedouw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expect to find yourself winding your way through many cattle farms, all of which give the M&G Investments PE PLETT exclusive access to ride through once a year. The first two water points will arrive around the halfway mark, ensure you stock up as you take on the longest day of 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once arriving at Assegaaibosch, our home for just one night, you can expect a vibrant chill zone, a large pool, live music and plenty of places to relax and recover. You have made it through the biggest day of the M&G Investments PE PLETT, it\u2019s not all downhill from here, but you can certainly rest easy knowing the hardest is behind you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Stage 2: Kareedouw Crossing<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Start:<\/strong> Assegaaibosch Country Lodge
End:<\/strong> Tsitsikamma Lodge and Spa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distance<\/strong><\/td>Elevation<\/strong><\/td>Difficulty<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
59 kilometres<\/td>1000 metres<\/td>4\/5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With only one night spent at Assegaaibosch, we are racing back towards the coast. The start is hard and the Pro Riders on \u201cThe Ride\u201d will need a good warm-up as the M&G Investments KOM arrives early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Save your legs as you need to make it up and over the Kareedouw pass before you will catch site of the Indian Ocean again. Stock up at the Illios Travel waterpoint as you will now be venturing into the pristine Tsitsikamma Forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The profile in the middle of the route might seem flat, but that saw tooth profile has been known to catch a few out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to slow down and take in all the sights and sounds of what makes the M&G Investments PE PLETT so special, that being the Tsitsikamma forest. Its undulating forest roads under the canopy of trees are a welcome relief after the exposed stage 1. The M&G Investments Boost Bar awaits towards the end and is a much-needed boost to get you over the last kicker into the finish line at Tsitsikamma Lodge Spa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is our overnight stop for two nights on this journey, so you can unpack your bag fully and make it like home as you will be returning to the same place after stage 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Stage 3: Tranquil Trails<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Start:<\/strong> Tsitsikamma Lodge and Spa
End: <\/strong>Tsitsikamma Lodge and Spa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distance<\/strong><\/td>Elevation<\/strong><\/td>Difficulty<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
64 kilometres<\/td>850 metres<\/td>3\/5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The out-and-back day has arrived. Enjoy more time this morning as you don\u2019t need to pack up your tent and you can take in a few more beers the night before, as you will be returning to the same race village after stage 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here we dive deep into the Tsitsikamma Forest and explore parts of it, that are usually off-limits. We link up a few key dairy farms to create a route that avoids any main roads, while always looking for that path less traveled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was a flat day and a nice reward after what has been a hard start to your journey across the Garden Route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We venture here to the infamous Robber Hoek which overlooks the Indian Ocean. This is also the day when Farmer Jacques and the route team create a network of single tracks inside the Tsitsikamma forest that only get to be ridden by the riders on the M&G Investments PE PLETT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once you have completed the day it\u2019s back to Tsitsikamma Lodge and Spa, where the Food Lovers lunches await and you can indulge in the free beer and wine that is on offer. It\u2019s the last night and always quite a party, don\u2019t go too hard as the final day to Natures Valley is not far away. Be sure to visit the M&G Investments Juice Bar, which is an all-new addition to 2025 and promises to be a serious hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Stage 4: Victory Ride<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Start:<\/strong> Tsitsikamma Lodge and Spa
End: <\/strong>Natures Valley Campsite<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distance<\/strong><\/td>Elevation<\/strong><\/td>Difficulty<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
66.5 kilometres<\/td>1000 metres<\/td>3\/5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The final stage of the M&G Investments PE PLETT. We bid our farewells to the Tsitsikamma Race Village which was our home for two nights and make our way towards the Western Cape to finish up our journey of riding along the Garden Route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are still a few challenges as we head into the Wittelbos Indigenous forest after completing the Storms River pass and going through the tiny tourist town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The riding after Wittelbos is flat and fast, just how you want the final day to be. Rip it along the forest roads and take in the view as you cross the Bloukrans Bridge. There won\u2019t be time to go bunjy jumping as the finish at Natures Valley is just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What better way to finish your journey than to enjoy a fast downhill tar road into the finish, no need to think, just soak it all in as you have completed the 2025 M&G Investments PE PLETT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All told the route includes 270 kilometres of riding, with 4000 meters of climbing. The stats only tell a fraction of the facts, however. Only riding the M&G Investments PE PLETT can do the route justice. To experience it, from the 20th of February 2025, click here<\/a><\/strong> to secure your spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Be sure to secure your spot before the end of December 2024, as merchandise orders close on the 31st. By doing so, you will secure your race pack, worth over R4000 per person! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2025 M&G Investments PE PLETT is all set to embark on its journey towards the West, starting for the first time from Mentorskraal on the 20th of February 2025. This will mark the 12th edition of the ever-growing event, which has become renowned for its landmarks and exciting features. Pulling through from 2024 will […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":70535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[39,5364],"featured_location":[338],"class_list":["post-70529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-pe-plett","tag-red-cherry-events","featured_location-bottom-row"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70529"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70566,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70529\/revisions\/70566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70529"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=70529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}