With the reputation of being the most laid back and relaxed of the three events, The Pinotage sees the highest number of FNB Wines2Whales first-timers. The Pinotage also hosts the FNB Wines2Whales E-bike Race and Tour for riders who want to experience the FNB W2W with a little assistance.
Being a mid-week race, The Pinotage is perfect for international tourists and riders from different provinces as it offers the chance to participate in the event and plan an enjoyable weekend on either side.
The FNB Wines2Whales was born out of the desire to create a world-class 3-day stage race in the Western Cape of South Africa. Since inception in 2009, the three events, aptly named after the wines of the area, have become a must-do event on the mountain bike calendar with riders from the farthest reaches of the country and the world.
The spirit of the FNB Wines2Whales is “gees†– truly South African phrase that is only understood once experienced.
The race's biggest drawcard is undoubtedly the route, which has been perfected over the past 13 years. In 2022, the race followed the traditional route and took teams from the wines of Lourensford to the whales of Hermanus. It was only traditional in direction as Cape Trails, Agrimark, and many landowners poured countless hours into uplifting the route and building new features, thus ensuring it was #SeriousGEES throughout.