Ultra-Trail® Drakensberg 2019

Ultra-Trail® Drakensberg 100 (UTD100) is 100km in length with 4,158m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1600m and 2865m. The Race Start is at the South African Border Post on the Sani Pass road at 05h00 on Saturday morning, 29th April. The first 13km of the race is on the dirt road of Sani Pass which allows the field to spread out before the athletes drop into the first long 25km section of mountain trail. The climb to the summit of the Sani Pass includes just over 1,000m of vertical climb in the first 8km and the runners top out on the escarpment with the sunrise at 2,865m. Runners then plunge back down the Sani Pass and into the trail which traverses the Twelve Apostles for 6km. This section is followed by a long and fast 19km descent down the Khanti Ridge to the waterfall below Premier Resort Sani Pass, where runners will have the option of picking up their pacers. From the waterfall, it’s the short and sharp climb up the Stromness before the runners turn inland into some of South Africa’s most beautiful farming country. For the next 28km there is a wide variety of terrain including forests, fast flat trail, rolling hills and lakeside running. At 65km there is the final cut-off at the Olde Duck where runners can swap pacers and enjoy the relative civilisation of the Olde Duck and its facilities. It’s then a fast and flat section along the Mzimkulu river with some gradual climbs before the tar crossing at the Goschen entrance. Here, runners must say goodbye to their pacers and prepare for the final 25km which takes them back into the heart of the mountains. The last 25km re-connects with the Giant’s Cup trail deep in the World Heritage Site and passes through Mzimkulwana Hut and Cobham which will feature the last two Aid Stations. The final descent is down the spectacular Gxalingenwa Gorge before emerging onto the Sani Pass Hotel golf course and the last few hundred meters into the Finish.

Ultra-Trail® Drakensberg 100 (UTD100) is 100km in length with 4,158m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1600m and 2865m. The Race Start is at the South African Border Post on the Sani Pass road at 05h00 on Saturday morning, 29th April. The first 13km of the race is on the dirt road of Sani Pass which allows the field to spread out before the athletes drop into the first long 25km section of mountain trail. The climb to the summit of the Sani Pass includes just over 1,000m of vertical climb in the first 8km and the runners top out on the escarpment with the sunrise at 2,865m. Runners then plunge back down the Sani Pass and into the trail which traverses the Twelve Apostles for 6km. This section is followed by a long and fast 19km descent down the Khanti Ridge to the waterfall below Premier Resort Sani Pass, where runners will have the option of picking up their pacers. From the waterfall, it’s the short and sharp climb up the Stromness before the runners turn inland into some of South Africa’s most beautiful farming country. For the next 28km there is a wide variety of terrain including forests, fast flat trail, rolling hills and lakeside running. At 65km there is the final cut-off at the Olde Duck where runners can swap pacers and enjoy the relative civilisation of the Olde Duck and its facilities. It’s then a fast and flat section along the Mzimkulu river with some gradual climbs before the tar crossing at the Goschen entrance. Here, runners must say goodbye to their pacers and prepare for the final 25km which takes them back into the heart of the mountains. The last 25km re-connects with the Giant’s Cup trail deep in the World Heritage Site and passes through Mzimkulwana Hut and Cobham which will feature the last two Aid Stations. The final descent is down the spectacular Gxalingenwa Gorge before emerging onto the Sani Pass Hotel golf course and the last few hundred meters into the Finish.