Im’possible Tour: 2 000km to Go - Grant Lottering's #XtremeSA2020

Ultra-endurance cyclist Grant Lottering starts his 2020 Im’possible Tour on Tuesday evening at 18:00. The route for his #xtremeSA2020 ride will see him cycle, virtually non-stop, from Nottingham Road, in KwaZulu Natal, to Imbuko Wines outside Wellington, in the Western Cape. The plan is for Lottering to complete the 2 000-kilometre journey within 100 hours of riding time. If the distance alone is not challenging enough, the course he has plotted takes in numerous mountain passes and features an astonishing 23 000-metres of accumulated altitude gain.

“It’s going to be tough” Lottering allowed in his characteristically understated manner. “I’ll be riding over Naude’s Neck and the Tiffindell Tenahead Traverse, South Africa’s highest pass, as well as the Swartberg, Rooiberg and Bainskloof passes. The route also takes in the famous Baviaanskloof, which I’ll be riding from the eastern side. I’ll be passing the half-way mark of the Im’possible Tour in the Bavianskloof. With 1 000-kilometres in my legs those rugged roads will be particularly challenging.”

Lottering’s ride is a fund-raising effort for the Laureus Foundation’s Sport for Good programme. He will be supported by a pair of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, with an X-Class 4x4 following throughout the journey while a V-Class leapfrogs ahead to ensure he will well-provided with on-the-bike nutrition. A media team will be following Lottering throughout his ride covering the progress and documenting his trials and tribulations.

Follow the 2020 Im’possible Tour on Facebook, The Im'possible Tour - Grant Lottering, on Instagram, at @glottering, and on Twitter, @MGLottering. Dot watching enthusiasts will be able to track Lottering’s progress across South Africa thanks to the SPOT tracker he will be carrying with him at all times. For more information please visit www.grantlottering.com.

Words: Seamus Allardice

Images: Max Sullivan