Stage 7 | Pilgrims Rest - Mariepskop

Notable climbs | Mariepskop (9.8km, 8%)

The first mountain stage, as we're heading for the Blde River Canyon Nature Reserve - with the Mariepskop (1,944m) as the first summit finish in the race. A true test for all GC-contenders, the climb features 8% slopes over almost 10kms (with maximum slopes up to 12%).

It's a long stage as well and we're also visiting one of South Africa's popular vantage points: God's Window - where sheer cliffs plunge over 700 metres to the lowveld (see the first picture). Definitely a spectacular view.

Stage 8 | Nelspruit - Mbabane (Swaziland)

Notable climbs | Highlands (7.2km, 9%), Bulembu Wall (2.7km, 9%), Malolotja National Park (9.2km, 8%)

Second consecutive mountain stage and the Tour is heading for Swaziland. Mbabane featuring a flat finish with the longest climb kicking off the final third of the stage. It will be interesting to see, if the GC-contenders try to break clear and manage to hold on to possible gaps til the finish.

39km climbing in total and three steep ascents should make for a challenging day. A little highlight may be the "Bulembu Wall" - short, but featuring a straight steep ascending road.

Stage 9 | Mbabane (SWA) - Piet Retief (RSA)

Notable climbs | Grand Valley Estate (6km, 7%)

Stage 10 | Vryheid - Estcourt

Notable climbs | None

After two key stages, the GC action will settle down for the next two days. We're going back to South Africa for two more flat stages. A rather challenging 9th stage is followed by a long 200km parcours.

Both days should see a bunch sprint deciding over the stage win, but it will be interesting to see, whether a pure sprinter may struggle on those less steep climbs. Of course we shouldn't rule out breakaways going for line honours.

sammyt93 wrote:
Is that the only visit to Swaziland? and is Lesotho only 1 stage finish aswell?

Is that hill near the end of stage 10 very hard, looks like there's one near the end then the finish looks like it is on a bit of a climb aswell.

sammyt93 wrote:
It doesn't look it on the stage finish picture but the profile makes it look like an uphill sprint, that with the hill near the end makes me think it would go to a hardman sprinter rather than a pure sprinter or are they not that hard hills?

[url=https://www.mediafire.com/download/sjsgb6z20t3s9vz/Tour_du_Maurice.rar]|1.Grand Baie Prologue
|2.Grand Baie - Poste de Flacq
|3.Post de Flacq - Port Louis
|4.Grand Baie - Black River Gorges[/url]
Full Pack: https://www.mediafire.com/download/sjs...aurice.rar

Stage 11 | Pietermaritzburg - Sani Pass

Notable climbs | Sani Pass #1 (12km, 8%), Sani Pass #2 (4km, 10%)

Next key stage on the menu, second mountaintop finish ahead: the Sani Pass, located in the West of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The route up Sani Pass starts at 1544m and climbs 1332 vertical metres to an altitude of 2876m. The dirt road is notoriously dangerous. The South African/Lesotho border is at the summit of the pass.

We're also visiting the highest pub of Africa, located at the top of the (first) pass - while the actual stage will follow the road for a few more kilometres (we're officially in Lesotho at this point), to finish the stage off with another short, but steep climb.

Stage 12 | Maseru (Lesotho) - AfriSki (LES)

Notable climbs | Moteng Pass (10.6km, 8%), Mahlasela Pass (9km, 7%)

AfriSki is the only skiing resort in Lesotho, located 3050 m above sea-level (just below Mahlasela Pass, 3222 m) in the Maluti Mountains, operating in Southern Africa near the northern border of Lesotho and South Africa. The resort is a 4.5-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria via the steep tarred Moteng pass and the Mahlasela pass.

This second consecutive mountain stage may be less challenging than the previous stage, but those two passes in the final quarter of the stage definitely should make another difference here. Some unique landscape and an entertaining short downhill to a fast finish add some thrill. 34km climbing in total speak for itself.

Stage 13 | Cape St Francis - Plettenberg Bay

Notable climbs | Nature's Valley (2.3km, 8%), Plettenberg (2km, 5%)

Stage 14 | Plettenberg Bay - George

Notable climbs | Wilderness Heights (2km, 10%)

A transfer from Lesotho back to South Africa, as we're heading for the south-western part of the country: the Western Cape. Two hilly stages next, both following the coastline.

We get some Ardennes classic feeling with short, but steep climbs. An uphill finish in Plettenberg Bay should be fascinating to watch, while the next stage goes with a flat finish in George. Possible crosswinds and some picturesque views make for two hopefully entertaining days.