Ultra-Trail® Drakensberg 2018

The Giant’s Cup Uncut (GCU62) is 62km in length with 2400m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1600m and 2150m. The GCU62 is a non-stop traverse of the entire Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail which is certified as a 5-day hike. The event is entirely on mountain trail and provides the runners with a uniquely pure trail running experience. The Race Start is at the Bushmans Neck Hotel at 07h00 on Saturday morning, 29th April. From the Start at the Bushman’s Nek Hotel the field gets a chance to spread along the short district road section before entering the head of the Giant’s Cup Trail. From here it’s immediately into the big climb up to high point of the day at Langalibalele Pass at 2,150m. It’s then a fast-flowing descent down to the Mzimude River followed by the short climb out of the valley and the gentle drop-down into Swiman Hut at 15km. From Swiman, it’s 15km to Castleburn which includes the gradual climb along the Garden Castle ridge towards Black Eagle Pass and the technical descent of Garden Castle. From the Castleburn Aid Station there are two river crossings in quick succession before the solid climb up to Crane Tarn. This is followed by one of the fastest sections of the course down to the Mzimkulwana Hut at 41km. Cobham follows relatively quickly 9km later and then it’s the final climb around the front of Ndlovini and the exhilarating descent down the Gxalingenwa Gorge to the finish at Sani Pass Hotel.

The Giant’s Cup Uncut (GCU62) is 62km in length with 2400m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1600m and 2150m. The GCU62 is a non-stop traverse of the entire Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail which is certified as a 5-day hike. The event is entirely on mountain trail and provides the runners with a uniquely pure trail running experience. The Race Start is at the Bushmans Neck Hotel at 07h00 on Saturday morning, 29th April. From the Start at the Bushman’s Nek Hotel the field gets a chance to spread along the short district road section before entering the head of the Giant’s Cup Trail. From here it’s immediately into the big climb up to high point of the day at Langalibalele Pass at 2,150m. It’s then a fast-flowing descent down to the Mzimude River followed by the short climb out of the valley and the gentle drop-down into Swiman Hut at 15km. From Swiman, it’s 15km to Castleburn which includes the gradual climb along the Garden Castle ridge towards Black Eagle Pass and the technical descent of Garden Castle. From the Castleburn Aid Station there are two river crossings in quick succession before the solid climb up to Crane Tarn. This is followed by one of the fastest sections of the course down to the Mzimkulwana Hut at 41km. Cobham follows relatively quickly 9km later and then it’s the final climb around the front of Ndlovini and the exhilarating descent down the Gxalingenwa Gorge to the finish at Sani Pass Hotel.