The Ford Trailseeker Series got off to a thrilling start on Saturday, 25 January 2025, with its first event of the series at Plaisir Wine Estate. The stellar elite lineup was the largest the series has seen to date, with top international riders and the cream of our South African mountain bikers competing at the breathtaking Banhoek Valley. The race featured Ford Trailseeker’s largest marathon field in the Western Cape, further solidifying the event’s status as a must-attend in the cycling calendar.
The breathtaking terrain of the valley provided a spectacular backdrop, making this a race to remember for all involved. The 60km marathon route, shortened due to the scorching heat, proved to be a true test of endurance as well as an exhilarating dash on the stunning trails of the Banhoek Conservancy. South African riders, no doubt buoyed by the possibility of landing a one million Rand bonus for winning all six races in the Series, dominated the elite men’s race!
The men’s race began with a tightly packed group, driven by an aggressive pace set by Pyga Eurosteel, who were determined to control the early dynamics. The intensity of their efforts kept the riders together until the 38 km mark, where three South African talents — Marco Joubert, Tristan Nortje, and Marc Pritzen — made decisive moves to break away from the group. Demonstrating exceptional strength and strategy, the trio established a commanding lead, leaving the chasers unable to bridge the gap.
The front group approached the finish line in a daring sprint as the race entered its final moments. Pritzen, riding for Team Honeycomb 226ERS, was well aware that he was a few bike lengths behind Joubert and made the bold decision to go all or nothing into the final corner, hoping to be in contention for the R1 million performance bonus. Unfortunately, a fall in that last stretch dashed his chances, allowing Joubert and Nortje to secure a dominant one-two finish for Imbuko ChemChamp, with Joubert claiming victory in 2:24:33, closely followed by Nortje in 2:24:40. Pritzen recovered admirably to cross the line in 2:24:42, completing an all-South African podium.
The action unfolded from the gun in the women’s race as Bianca Haw and Jolanda Neff set a blistering pace. By the first water point, the group had split into two distinct packs, with Team Cannondale Factory Racing taking control at the front. Neff, supported by teammate Ana Santos, maintained a relentless pace that saw the field fragmenting further. Despite a strong start, Haw could not stay with the leaders, leaving a group of four riders to battle it out in the closing stages.
Neff’s world-class form shone through as she powered across the finish line to claim a decisive victory for Cannondale Factory Racing in 2:53:56. Sara Cortinovis, representing Ghost Factory Racing, crossed the line in second with a time of 2:56:31. Ana Santos demonstrated impressive strength and determination to sprint her way to third, finishing in 2:56:46 and securing another podium spot for Cannondale Factory Racing.
In the half marathon race, the overall results saw Benjamin Fourie taking first place in a time of 1:28:56, followed by Van Zyl Steyn in second at 1:30:09, and Neil Van Der Vyver securing third in 1:32:01. On the women’s side, Nika Nortje finished in first place with a time of 1:54:41, with Janke Van Zyl in second at 2:04:38 and Angeliq Coetzer finishing third in 2:05:35.
For the half marathon-short (20km) race, Dylan Van De Langenberg took first place with a time of 0:50:21, followed by Steffan Moolman in second at 0:50:37 and Nicolai Hansen in third at 0:59:37. In the women’s race, Vivienne Dockter finished first with a time of 1:01:22, Skyler Blom secured second at 1:03:42, and Sune Calitz placed third in 1:12:09.
In the 10km race, Roan Vorster claimed victory with a time of 0:32:50, followed by Shawn Redmond in second at 0:35:33, and Noah Smith in third at 0:41:03. For the women, Emily Redmond took the win in 0:35:23, Rae Pearson finished second in 0:46:23, and Zoe Cole placed third in 0:58:55.
The 2025 Ford Trailseeker Series promises an exciting season ahead, with a groundbreaking R1 million bonus up for grabs for any elite rider who can win all six marathon distance races, as well as an additional R100 000 for the Series win on points, calculated from the best four results out of six, at the end of the year!
The local teams are stepping up their game, with Team Imbuko ChemChamp emerging as the only team in contention for the R1 million performance bonus after this weekend’s racing. Pyga Euro Steel has also confirmed its commitment to race all six events in 2025, with the team now focused on chasing the R100 000 Series prize money and attempting to knock Imbuko off the top spot. Things are certainly going to get interesting as the season unfolds.
The next event in the Ford Trailseeker Series is #2 Cradle, taking place at Cradle Moon on 1 March 2025. Cradle Moon was a sell-out event in 2024, so make sure to secure your spot early. Entries will close on 25 February at midnight. To enter, visit https://trailseeker.co.za/mtb/events/2-cradle/.
For more information on the Ford Trailseeker Series, please visit www.trailseeker.co.za. Follow the series on social media for updates, results, and behind-the-scenes insights.
Source: Ford Trailseeker Series
