The debut edition of the Fedgroup Cradle 100 pedalled into the spotlight on 12 and 13 April 2025, and what an entrance it made! Over 400 spirited mountain bikers saddled up for two days of thigh-burning, trail-taming action across the Fedgroup Trails network. In the end, it was Jan Withaar and Tanja Schutte who emerged as the king and queen of Gauteng’s newest stage race.
Paid partnership with Fedgroup
A week of rain turned the trails into a mud-lover’s paradise (or nightmare, depending on your tyre tread). Race Director Andrew Grobler, channelling his inner trail whisperer, made the wise call to trim Stage 1 from 45km to a slick 37km and Stage 2 from its original 55km, all in the name of keeping things safe but still spicy.
When the sun finally clocked in, riders were treated to two days of rewarding routes through the freshly launched Fedgroup Trails, a network set to become a permanent playground for mountain bikers with year-round, well-marked paths. Every entrant also bagged a complimentary membership and a stylish access band, proof that they’d earned their stripes (and likely a few blisters).
True to Fedgroup’s philosophy of going the extra mile (off the bike and on), the event dished out more than just medals. Riders refuelled with free Vida e Caffè coffees and hearty lunches, while the recovery zone offered everything short of a personal butler: complimentary ice baths, recovery boots, massages, and even a bike valet service, thanks to Squirt Cycling.
The Avianto Clubhouse proved the perfect host: secure parking, manicured lawns, and sparkling clean facilities – ticking every box for race-day comfort and class.
And the reviews? Glowing. “I’ve ridden a truckload of stage races over my 35 years of mountain biking, and the Fedgroup Cradle 100 ranks right up there for rider focus and organisation,” said Sean Badenhorst, Editor of TREAD Media. “Stage 1 was the Beast, Stage 2 was the Beauty, and both were great challenges.”
At the sharp end, Withaar and Brendan Havenga traded paint in Stage 1, but Withaar had the final word on Stage 2, clinching solo victory and the overall crown. In the women’s field, Tanja Schutte’s powerhouse performance on Stage 1 and a solid third on Stage 2 secured her the win by a commanding 12-minute margin.
The Fedgroup Cradle 100 may have debuted with mud on its boots, but it left with a reputation polished to perfection. This sentiment is echoed by Fedgroup’s CEO, Grant Field, “Cycling’s been in our blood for years, from Berg and Bush to PE Plett, 947 (renamed 947 Ride Joburg) and now the Cradle 100. Riding both days was tough, fun, and everything in between – a proper test of grit and spirit. That’s why we back events like this: they reflect the resilience and passion we value as a Group.”
The 2025 Fedgroup Cradle 100 final general classification leading results:
Overall Men
1 Jan Withaar (Insect Science MTB) 03:44:59
2 Brendan Havenga 03:49:46
3 Gustav Venter 04:00:34
Overall Women
1 Tanja Schutte 05:05:19
2 Iliska Verwey-Schutte 05:18:02
3 Yvonne Prinsloo 05:18:06
Overall eBike
1 Richard Couse 03:33:23
2 Erwin Sterne 03:43:36
3 Ryan Browne 04:25:20
One-day Race leading results:
45km Men Overall
1 Jan Withaar (Insect Science MTB) 01:47:27
2 Brandan Havenga 1:47:27
3 Gustav Venter 01:53:43
45km Women Overall
1 Tanja Schutte 02:20:30
2 Edith Volschenk 02:27:57
3 Natasha Mourinho 02:30:31
25km Men Overall
1 Kopano Matsimela 01:16:11
2 Funanani Mudau 01:17:55
3 Oratile Bosch 01:17:57
25km Women Overall
1 Zelia Kusel 01:34:30
2 Moné Hugo 01:36:08
3 Linda Hartog 01:48:22
10km Men Overall
1 Edward Kusel 00:37:08
2 Riley Saether 00:38:02
3 Thomas Saether 00:38:07
10km Overall Women
1 Edline Buitendach 00:37:51
2 Abby Buitendach 00:52:09
3 Julia Botha 01:01:04
For full results, click here.
