Nexus Cycling Takes on the Race to the Sea 100 Miler
A club story of grit, gravel, friendship and the long road to Hermanus.
Before sunrise, the bikes were already lined up, tyres checked, bottles filled, and nerves carefully hidden behind jokes and early-morning coffee. For the Nexus Cycling riders gathered at the start of the Race to the Sea 100 miler, the day promised far more than a finish time. It was a point-to-point journey across the Western Cape’s gravel heartland, from the edge of Theewaterskloof Dam near Villiersdorp towards Benguela Cove on the Whale Coast.
The route wasted little time in reminding everyone why this race has earned its reputation. Within the opening kilometres, the riders faced the Rusty Gate Pass, a demanding climb that rose sharply before opening onto wide views across the Overberg. From there, the course rolled through fast gravel roads, wheat and canola country, and the familiar silhouettes of wind turbines standing over the landscape.
For the Nexus group, the race quickly became a shared test of patience, pacing and purpose. Some riders settled into a steady rhythm, measuring the day one climb, one water point and one gravel sector at a time. But the biggest and most unexpected challenge was not a climb or a technical section — it was the massively strong headwind that seemed to meet them at every turn. It stretched riders mentally to their limits, turning open gravel roads into long battles of focus, resilience and stubborn determination. Others found strength in the small moments: a wheel to follow into the wind, a shouted word of encouragement, or the sight of a club jersey up the road.
As the kilometres stretched out, the race became less about speed and more about staying present. Dust clung to shoes and chains, legs began to complain, and the early excitement gave way to the quiet focus that only endurance riding can create. Yet the spirit of the club kept showing through. When one rider needed a lift, another had a word. When the road turned rough, the group reminded itself that hard days are easier when shared.
By the time the route began pointing more decisively towards the sea, the reward was becoming visible. The Overberg opened out, the air changed, and the promise of Benguela Cove drew closer with every pedal stroke. Crossing the finish line near Hermanus was not just the end of 100 miles of gravel; it was the celebration of preparation, perseverance and the kind of camaraderie that defines Nexus Cycling.
For every Nexus rider who pinned on a number, the Race to the Sea became a personal story: of courage on the climbs, patience on the open roads, and pride at the finish. Most of all, it became a reminder that endurance is tested as much in the mind as in the legs, especially when a relentless headwind asks riders to keep going long after comfort has disappeared. Together, they carried the club colours from dam to coast and proved once again that gravel racing is not only about the distance covered, but about the people who make the journey memorable.
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