After having been hit hard by the South African government’s Covid-19-related lockdown restrictions in 2020 and the early part of 2021, mountain bike events are (almost) back to normal again. Here’s a list of events you can (should) enter.
With the movement of South Africa from Lockdown Level 3 to Level 1 from 1 March 2021, regular mountain bike events were able to resume, but with compliance regulations and a limit of 250 people at outdoor events. Then, from 1 April 2021, the government relaxed the outdoor event limit to 500 persons.
According to the South African government, Alert Level 1 ‘indicates a low Covid-19 spread with a high health system readiness – most normal activity can resume, with precautions and health guidelines observed at all times’. This has allowed mountain bike event organisers to extend entry limits on upcoming events.
In our 2020 South African Mountain Bike Survey, presented by Garmin a total of 69.31% of South African mountain bikers participate in at least three mountain bike events a year, with the three most popular racing disciplines being Marathons (50-90km) at 48.82%, Half-marathons (30-45km) at 41.59% and Short Stage Races (2-4 days) at 37.21% full survey results here.
Popular stage races KAP Sani2c (13-16 May) and Grindrod Bank Berg and Bush (15-27 June); popular one-day events King Price Trailseeker Rounds 1 and 2; and popular ultra-endurance events King Price Cullinan to Tonteldoos and The 36ONE MTB Challenge are all on track to take place in April, May and June.
There are also some new events launching, including the Val de Vie Expedition , a new three-day stage race in Paarl and the Specialized Paarl MTB Challenge, a marathon event that will double as the South African marathon championships this year.
Here’s a list of upcoming events until the end of June 2021:
GAUTENG
April
16-17 April 2021: King Price Cullinan 2 Tonteldoos | Ultra-endurance | Cullinan (nearest city: Pretoria)
16-18 April 2021: Bridgestone Route 66 Experience | Stage race| Kloofzicht Lodge (nearest city: Joburg)
23-25 April 2021: Pursuit Challenge #7 | Marathon, Half-marathon | Legends MX (nearest city: Pretoria)
May
2 May 2021: Midvaal 100 Miler | Ulta-marathon, Marathon, Half-marathon | Café du Cirque (nearest city: Joburg)
22 May 2021: King Price Trailseeker Series #1 | Marathon, Half-marathon | Buffelsdrift (nearest city: Pretoria)
June
5-6 June 2021: Cool Ideas Cradle Mountain Trophy | Stage race, Marathon, Half-marathon | Magaliesburg (nearest city: Johannesburg)
20 June 2021: Berge en Dale MTB | Marathon, Half-marathon | Kingskloof (nearest city: Joburg)
26 June 2021: King Price Trailseeker Series #2 | Marathon, Half-marathon | Legends MX (nearest city: Pretoria)
NORTH WEST
May
8 May 2021: King Price Race to the Sun | Ultra-marathon | Hartebeespoort Dam (nearest city: Pretoria)
June
5 June 2021: Fedhealth Magalies Monster | Marathon, Half-marathon | Buffelspoort (nearest city: Pretoria/Joburg)
LIMPOPO
March
27 March 2021: Sondela Extreme MTB | Marathon, Half-marathon | Sondela Nature Reserve (nearest city: Pretoria)
April
23-26 April 2021: Goudrivier MTB Challenge | Stage race, Marathon, Half-marathon | Bosveld, Waterberg (nearest city: Polokwane)
MPUMALANGA
April
2-5 April 2021: Pursuit Challenge #6 | Stage Race | White River (nearest city: Nelspruit)
23-25 April 2021: Recce Race | Ultra-endurance, Ultra-marathon, Marathon | Dullstroom (nearest city: Nelspruit)
May
8 May 2021: Barberton MTB Challenge | Ultra-marathon, Marathon, Half-marathon | Barberton (nearest city: Nelpsruit).
KWAZULU-NATAL
May
1-2 May 2021: Ride the Berg | Stage race | Northern Drakensburg (nearest city: Joburg/Durban)
13-16 May 2021: KAP Sani2c | Stage race | Underberg/Scottburgh (nearest city: Durban)
June
15-25 June 2021: Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush | Stage race | Bergville (nearest city: Pietermaritzburg)
FREE STATE
April
24-25 April 2021: Amohela Classic | Stage race, Marathon, Half-marathon | Clarens (nearest city: Bloemfontein, Joburg, Durban)
EASTERN CAPE
April
22-24 April 2021: Transkei Trek | Stage race | Coffee Bay (nearest city: East London)
30 April-2 May: Investec Great Kei Trek | Stage race | Morgan Bay (nearest city: East London)
June
5 June 2021: Trans Elands |Ultra-marathon, Marathon, Half-marathon | Jeffreys Bay (nearest city: Port Elizabeth)
WESTERN CAPE
April
3 April 2021: Ostrich Crawl MTB | Marathon, Half-marathon | Oudtshoorn (nearest city: George)
5 April 2021: Windpomp Sjerrie Challenge | Ultra-marathon, Marathon, Half-marathon | Stillbaai (nearest city: George)
10 April 2021: The Greyt Middelplaas Escape | Marathon, Half-marathon | Greyton (nearest city: Cape Town)
23-25 April 2021: Trek2Teebus | Stage race | Steynsburg (nearest city: Port Elizabeth/Bloemfontein)
May
1 May 2021: Paarl MTB Challenge (incorporating SA Marathon Champs) | Marathon | Paarl (nearest city: Cape Town)
1 May 2021: Tour de Farm | Marathon, Half-marathon | George (nearest city: George)
1-2 May 2021: Houwhoek MTB Tour | Stage race | Grabouw (nearest city: Cape Town)
7-8 May 2021: Red Stone MTB Weekend | Marathon, Half-marathon | Calitzdorp (nearest city: George)
14-16 May 2021: The 36ONE MTB Challenge | Ultra-endurance | Oudtshoorn (nearest city: George)
14-16 May 2021: Val de Vie MTB Expedition | Stage race | Paarl (nearest city: Cape Town)
29 May 2021: Gamka Heritage Challenge | Marathon, Half-marathon| Calitzdorp (nearest city: George)
June
4-6 June 2021: Sylvester MTB | Stage race, Ultra-marathon, Marathon | Beaufort West (nearest city: George)
Note: We have only listed mountain bike events until 30 June 2021. If we have not got your MTB event listed here and it’s happening before July 2021, please email the relevant information to Sean Badenhorst: sean@treadmtb.co.za
