There’s less than three months left until the 2023 edition of one of South Africa’s original mountain bike stage races. The 20th Sabie Xperience will be held from 29 April until 1 May and promises to once again be a long weekend to remember with three days of spectacular trails on the slopes and through the forests of Sabie.
Paid partnership with Sabie Xperience
Just a 4-hour drive from Joburg and Pretoria, Sabie remains one of South Africa’s legendary mountain biking destinations. The trails network has been expanded to offer some of the best riding in the country, which is all part of the 2023 Sabie Xperience, er, experience!
Small-town hospitality is what you can expect because The Sabie Xperience doesn’t have a tented village and instead encourages participants to book accommodation in the town. There’s accommodation to suit all budgets in the area, from campsite to five-star resort luxury. This year the organisers have added all-inclusive entry packages for the ‘light travellers’, which includes accommodation, meals and race entry. Senqu is the apparel sponsor and the race entrant goodie bag includes a Senqu softshell jacket and t-shirt.
The race brings everyone together though and there’s a category to suit all levels of mountain biker.
Team Challenge: 2 riders, 3 days, 165km, 3830m | Categories: Open Men (19-29); Sub-Vet Men (30-39); Master Men (50+); Open Women (19+); Mixed (19+).
Solo Challenge: 1 rider, 3 days, 165km, 3830m | Categories: Men; Women
Team Lite: 2 riders, 3 days, 120km, 1200m | Categories: Men; Women; Mixed
Team Solo: 1 rider, 3 days, 120km, 1200m | Categories: Men; Women
There’s a new eBike category from 2023!
Established in 2004, Sabie Xperience is one of the oldest stage races in the country. It originally ran over four days in December, but summer rain was always a factor, so the organisers moved the event to late April/early May, a dryer time of year.
“The Sabie Xperience is the premier mountain bike stage race in Mpumalanga. The race is an annual highlight for the town of Sabie and for many mountain bikers that return year after year. After the disruptions of the Covid-19-related restrictions, we are eager to regain the momentum the race has enjoyed for two decades,” said event organiser, Denzil Lawrie.
“We have once again prepared some incredible routes for this year’s event and are looking forward to not only seeing our repeat entrants, but newcomers who may be looking for a different mountain biking experience and a family long-weekend getaway at the same time,” he added.
The long weekend dates ensure ideal timing for those looking for a mountain-bike themed escape. The organisers have included the best bits of singletrack in the area – now also including York Timbers iconic singletracks – in the event’s route, which offers a blend of steady climbing, exhilarating descending and spectacular views of the Mpumalanga section of the Drakensberg mountain range, including a number of beautiful waterfalls.
Some of the trails incorporated into what promises to be an incredible race route include:
York Trails: Af en Af, Princess, Blaze of Glory, Lekker man Lekker
Safcol Trails: Bushpig Alley, Nursery Single Track, Single Track Forever, Tiger Spider
There will also be a market that sells goods, food and drinks. Those with kids will be stoked that there is a kids day-care option should both parents want to do the race. There will also be Kiddies Races held every day after the main races.
For more information and to enter, head to the Sabie Xperience website here.
