How about that – KAP sani2c turns 20 next year! There’s something important about that milestone. Not only is it significant for sani2c, but for mountain biking in South Africa. Here’s why…
By Sean Badenhorst
South Africa has the best stage races in the world. Ask anyone that’s ridden stage races in any other country – and here. Why are our stage-race standards so high? Because sani2c set a benchmark from the outset. And the rest followed.
The only stage races that pre-date sani2c are To Hell and Back (1995), Imana Wild Ride (2000) Sabie Xperience (2004) and Absa Cape Epic (2004). Of those, sani2c would become the most popular. According to the event organisers, over 25 000 mountain bikers have started a sani2c. What’s perhaps more fascinating is how many of those have returned to do the iconic race on multiple occasions.
I have done the race four times, twice with my wife, Joanne (2018 and 2020) and twice with mates (Nic Jordan in 2012 and Alisdair Garnett in 2017). It’s an incredible experience, not just the riding, but most of the off-the-bike elements too. Planning it; training for it; driving seven hours from Joburg to get to the race and seven hours home again afterwards. Sleeping in a tent, eating food made by local school committees along with a thousand other people who rode the same trails you did that day. Seeing/hearing/feeling poor, gracious people struggling to survive cheering you on excitedly as you pass them next to the route. And a lot more…
The route has followed a similar course from the very first edition – from Glencairn, Underberg in the shadow of Sani Pass to the Scottburgh Golf Club next to the Indian Ocean. But it’s been refined over the years to provide three days of challenging and rewarding riding.
Day 2 is one of the most revered days on a mountain bike – anywhere on the planet. For most of those 25000, the 35km singletrack descent to the Umkomaas River has been a life-improving highlight. Besides the length and flow of the trail that lowers you into the Umko Valley, the fact that you can hit it while still fairly fresh is what helps make it so compelling.
Most meaningful descents in stage races come after a massive climb, which tends to deplete you. And a depleted rider doesn’t attack a descent with fervour. But Day 2 of sani2c allows you warm up for 30 minutes before you hit one of the most exciting descents you will ever encounter. The cool early morning air on your face, the sun rising in front of you with another promise of light and warmth; and the power of knowing that you are about to experience a slice of mountain biking nirvana.
Two of those four I did were in the rain and we were diverted around the Umko Valley. I’m game to give that incredible singletrack descent a go in the wet, but I fully understand the challenges of sending over a thousand riders down there and the reason for the diversion. That said, it’s quite disappointing that you can’t experience the race’s key feature when you have made the effort to get there. Fortunately, there’s a lot more to the race than the Umko Valley descent.
After the last sani2c I did, which was in December of 2020, I decided that I had done enough editions of this race. Then I saw the marketing recently for the 20th anniversary edition in 2024 and something stirred within me. I spent some time wondering exactly what it was that triggered this interest in doing the 20th edition and I realised that while the event is superb in many aspects, it’s actually my gratitude to the event for how it has helped grow and shape the South African mountain bike market for the past two decades that got me interested in doing a fifth one.
For the past 15 or so years, the South African cycling market has been dominated by mountain biking and races like sani2c are partly responsible for that. Perhaps more than partly… The iconic event has seen many changes in the market since 2005 and in some ways, has had a hand in shaping the market, which has been heavily stage-race bef-, er stage-race mal!
Sani2c has undoubtedly set the benchmark for standard of organisation as well as a strong appreciation for well-made, flowy singletrack. It’s created a demand for a certain type of bike, which has seen importers place orders for models that buck the international trends. Sani2c has undoubtedly helped South Africa to become the stage race capital of the world.
What also gives me a strong connection to this race is how one family has created an event that’s highly compelling for thousands to want to enter and complete. It started as a fund-raiser for the local school and it’s become a globally renowned annual event that helps boost the economy along the race’s route.
You can’t fault the Haw family, Glen, Mandy, Tamika, Bianca and Murray for their passion. You can feel it throughout the event, but perhaps more significantly, you can feel it long afterwards when you’re sitting quietly somewhere in your car or home or office and recall the memories that you created at sani2c.
When the South African government implemented those destructive restrictions in 2020, forcing the cancellation or postponement of many sports events, including KAP sani2c. Many events accepted this fate and now you see on their results lists, no results for 2020. Most of those events didn’t really have a choice. But with characteristic optimism and n boer maak n plan attitude, Glen and his team found a way to make the 2020 edition of sani2c happen.
Yes, it was held in December and was affected by rain (it’s normally held in early May). Yes, it was a smaller field than normal. Yes, the organisers created a Solo category for the first time. Yes, there were some ridiculous rules that the race had to comply with to keep the Department of Health happy. But it went ahead. It was the last edition that I did and I can confirm that pretty much everyone I made contact with at that event was defiant and determined to take back their freedom. And that edition, as toned down as it was, was possibly the most important edition in the past two decades.
No matter how many levels of restrictions the government enforced, for Glen, there was never any doubt that there would be a 2020 edition of sani2c. “sani2c is a privilege for many mountain bikers. But for many who live along the route, it’s their main source of income. Without the race taking place, they face utter desperation. And we can’t do that to them. The race must go ahead,” said Glen at the time.
And that, mountain bikers, is a deep level of compassion and a strong sense of community. It transcends the sport aspect of sani2c and it shows a commitment that I have nothing but huge respect for. It may happen at other mountain bike events, but I’m not as aware of it as I am with sani2c.
Another thing that has happened since my last participation in 2020 is that my son, Cade, has become a very keen mountain biker. Like most youngsters, he’s really skilled and loves the fun that mountain biking brings. Having done scores of South African stage races over the years, including those four sani2c editions, I feel that he should experience an iconic stage race.
Although he is still doing his schooling, Cade helps me with content for our media business and I believe that he needs to understand the value that stage races bring to the South African mountain bike community. He turns 18 in January, which means that he will be of age to participate in a stage race. And because I have such respect for sani2c and its guardians, that’s the one I want to experience with him. What better than the 20thedition, right?
Want to find out more about the 20th edition of KAP sani2c? Click here.
