2026 Lions Karoo to Coast Event Guide
Everything you need to know for race weekend.
The 25th Lions Karoo to Coast takes place on Sunday, 27 September 2026, from Uniondale to Knysna.
Please take a few minutes to read through the information below before travelling to Uniondale. This page contains important information about registration, the Wine & Wheels Expo, food, camping, transport, the 2026 route, start procedures and race-day services.
Race Weekend at a Glance
| Race Day | Sunday, 27 September 2026 |
| Start Venue | Uniondale Showgrounds |
| Start Sequence | Tandems 07:25 • A 07:30 • B 07:35 • C 07:40 • E-Bikes 08:00 |
| Finish Venue | Knysna High School Sports Grounds, Waterfront Drive |
| Prizegiving | 14:00 at the finish venue in Knysna |
| Finish Cut-off | 16:00 |
Before Race Day
Registration
Venue: Uniondale Showgrounds
- Friday, 25 September: 16:00–20:00
- Saturday, 26 September: 13:00–20:00
- Sunday, 27 September: 06:00–07:30 — registration only; no Expo
There are strictly no rider substitutions and no late entries at registration.
Anyone riding under another rider’s number will result in both riders being banned from future events. Accurate medical information is critical for rider safety.
Registration queues are organised by race letter (A–E).
Seeding is managed by the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust. Seeding queries will be handled at registration only; there are no telephonic or email seeding queries.
Merchandise can be collected from the MERCHANDISE stand using your email/SMS confirmation. There are no general merchandise sales at registration, apart from limited additional socks; limited stock may be available at the finish.
Wine & Wheels Expo
Make a weekend of it! The Wine & Wheels Expo takes place alongside registration at the Uniondale Showgrounds.
- Friday, 25 September: 16:00–20:00
- Saturday, 26 September: 13:00–20:00
There will be live music, Safari Braai fires, Escape Wine tasting and sales, the iconic Showgrounds bar supported by SAB, and cocktails and mocktails at the ICan stand.
Food and shopping options include local gifts, biltong, wraps, pancakes, prego rolls, delicious Uniondale lamb jaffles and Gilnokie socks.
Robbie’s Bicycle Concepts and the Sedgefield Cycle Worx team will also be on hand for rider assistance, alongside displays from Titan Racing Bicycles and Ford Motus George, including test-drive bookings.
Food & Hospitality in Uniondale
There will be plenty to eat and drink throughout the weekend.
Friday: Wine & Wheels food and wine will be available from 16:00–20:00. Please support the traders.
Saturday morning: Breakfast wraps will be served at the Showgrounds from 08:30–11:00.
Saturday afternoon & evening: The full Expo food and wine offering and Showgrounds bar will be open from 13:00–20:00.
Saturday Dinner: Riders who selected the dinner option will receive a free pasta meal from the Ladies of Uniondale from 18:00. Supporters and riders who did not select dinner will have plenty of food options available at Wine & Wheels.
Sunday morning: Breakfast and coffee will be available at the Showgrounds from 06:00.
Seattle Coffee will also be trading at the venue.
Self-Camping at the Showgrounds
Self-catering camping is available at the Uniondale Showgrounds and can be booked on arrival over race weekend.
The Showgrounds management does not take bookings prior to the event. There is plenty of camping space available and campers have never previously been turned away.
Camping rates:
R60 per tent + R60 per person
No advance booking is required — simply arrange and pay for your camping on arrival at the Showgrounds.
Travelling to Uniondale
Please travel to Uniondale via George.
Roadworks and stop-and-go controls are currently in place outside Wilderness and after the Outeniqua Pass near the Oudtshoorn turn-off.
Please allow at least an additional 30 minutes for your journey.
Support Vehicles & Spectators
Support vehicles and members of the public may not drive through Die Poort or Prince Alfred’s Pass before or during race day. Only authorised event vehicles, emergency services and approved landowners will have access.
Supporters travelling to Knysna should use the N2.
Prince Alfred’s Pass will be closed to support vehicles from the Uniondale side at 06:15 on Sunday, 27 September. No support-vehicle passage will be permitted after this time.
We strongly encourage supporters not to travel over the damaged Pass on race weekend.
Expect delays between approximately 07:15 and 08:10 while riders leave Uniondale. Supporters should consider leaving earlier or enjoying breakfast locally.
We expect faster finish times in 2026 due to the route change — please let your supporters know.
Race Day
Start Times
Please make sure you are at the Uniondale Showgrounds and ready to enter your designated start area in good time.
| Tandems | 07:25 |
| A Group | 07:30 |
| B Group | 07:35 |
| C Group | 07:40 |
| E-Bikes / Group E | 08:00 |
New Start Chutes
Tandems (07:25) and A Group (07:30)
Down Victoria Street between Taylor and Aberdeen Streets, with entrance from Voortrekker Street down Aberdeen Street.
B Group (07:35)
Down Victoria Street between Aberdeen and Gerdener Streets, with entrance from Voortrekker Street down Gerdener Street.
C Group (07:40)
Down Van Riebeeck Street between Gerdener and Hease Streets, with entrance from Voortrekker Street down Hease Street.
E-Bike Group (08:00)
Down Van Riebeeck Street between Hease and Voortrekker Streets, with entrance directly from Voortrekker Street at the point of the old start.
Please familiarise yourself with the new start-chute layout before race morning.
Important: 2026 Route Change
The 2026 route has changed.
Please familiarise yourself with the revised route, Neutral Zones, safety information and water-point locations before race day.
Safety & Emergencies
If you see a serious accident, report it using the emergency number shown on your race-number board. Tell the VOC where the person is located and, if possible, provide the rider’s race number.
The route is not closed to residents or landowner traffic. Stay left and obey traffic officers and race officials.
Timing & Your Race Number Board
Timing is done via your permanent MTB board using your race number and timing chip.
Bring your existing board, or purchase one at registration.
Your race pack includes an MTB board if purchased, an event sticker, a seeding sticker and 3 cable ties.
Water Points & Nutrition
There are 7 water points on the route, plus a final water point at the finish. Coca-Cola and water are available from the first water point through to the finish.
Food and drinks are available from Buffelsnek through to Blaricum Heights (WP7).
Please carry your own nutrition and hydration as well.
The locations of water points in the first half of the route have changed for 2026. Please familiarise yourself with the updated locations before starting.
E-Bike Riders — Important
E-Bike riders must start in the designated E-Bike start at 08:00.
Marshals will identify E-Bikes starting in non-E-Bike categories; riders will be penalised and moved back to the E-Bike start.
FREE E-BIKE BATTERY SWAP
A FREE battery-swap service is available this year.
Spare batteries must be dropped at registration by 06:00 on Sunday, 27 September at the latest, clearly marked with your name.
Battery swaps take place at the Buffelsnek Squirt E-Bike Gazebos.
Don’t forget your battery key.
Organisers are not responsible for loss or damage.
E-Bikes and batteries can be collected at the finish under the Squirt E-Bike Battery Gazebo.
Free Tog-Bag Transfer
A FREE tog-bag truck will be parked at the Uniondale Showgrounds bottom field from 06:00 on Sunday morning.
Leave your tog bag there before your start and it will be transported to Knysna.
Bags can be collected under the Tru-Cape tent at Knysna High School Sports Grounds.
At the Finish
Finish Venue
Knysna High School Sports Grounds
Waterfront Drive, Knysna
Prizegiving: 14:00
Final race cut-off: 16:00
Cut-off Times
- Kom se Pad / Knysna turn-off: 14:30
- Finish line at Knysna High School Sports Grounds: 16:00
Post-Ride Sports Massage
Ariel Wellness will offer post-ride sports massages at the K2C finish line.
| 10 minutes | R150 |
| 20 minutes | R250 |
| 30 minutes | R300 |
Pre-book: +27 64 946 2282
Email: arielwellnesshouse@gmail.com
Finish Line Bicycle Wash
After 89km from Uniondale to Knysna, let someone else take care of the clean-up.
A Finish Line Bicycle Wash will be available after your ride at the Lions Clubhouse in Trotter Street, Knysna.
Cost: R100 per bike
Location: Lions Clubhouse, Trotter Street, Knysna
Payment: Card payments only
Get your bike cleaned while you enjoy the post-race celebrations.
Venue Locations
START: Uniondale Showgrounds
-33.655098, 23.137234
FINISH: Knysna High School Sports Grounds, Waterfront Drive
-34.038166, 23.042861
Ready to Ride?
Sunday, 27 September 2026
89km | Uniondale → Knysna
Please check this Event Guide again before travelling to Uniondale for any final race-week updates.