We recently caught up with one of the co-founders of joberg2c and go2berg, Craig Wapnick aka ‘Wappo’. We wanted to give our readers (and ourselves) some insight into this valuable mountain bike stage event that’s undergone some significant changes.
Paid partnership with Old Mutual go2berg
So Wappo tell us, what is go2berg?
The Old Mutual go2berg is a six-and-a-half day (ok call it a seven-day) mountain bike stage ride through a wonderful part of South Africa. It starts two hours south of Johannesburg in the north eastern Free State and finishes in the foothills of the almighty Drakensberg Mountains – a World Heritage site.
We have chosen 13 to 19 September 2025 because the trails and weather are most stable statistically. But as you know 99% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Expand on the route a little bit more for riders who know nothing about it.
For sure. It goes south through Frankfort, Reitz and Clarens – the charming Eastern Free State tourist town – then heads east to the Sterkfontein Dam – which has the world’s largest earth dam wall. We then drop down the escarpment from the Free State to Kwazulu-Natal – a breathtaking part of the world. We end up at Emseni Camp on the banks of the Tugela River for two nights. Emseni is home of the three-day stage ride in June – Berg and Bush. From Esmeni we do a phenomenal singletrack stage back to Emseni. We then pedal towards the Drakensberg on the last day and finish in the foothills of the Berg.
Is it a race or a ride?
For some it is a race and for most it is tough rewarding ride. We want to make the racing more compelling, and we are working on that to attract those love a good dice. But at the same time we want to get those riders who are prepared to put lots of good work in to enjoy the ride but who are not racing snakes.
On the note of training – how hard is go2berg? Who is it for?
It is for the avid mountain biker/adventurer/cyclist who wants a proper challenge. go2berg is the perfect step-up for those riders who do marathons or three-day stage rides and are keen on setting their next goal. It is not a ride in the park. It is demanding and the fitter you are and better prepared you are, the better the beer tastes in the afternoon. It is demanding on a physical level but on a skill level, it is not difficult.
The age limit is 19 or over and in 2024, we had five riders all over 70 and not on eBikes – they formed our Diamond Category! So it is for everyone who loves riding a mountain bike, to see large parts of a country.
So what kind of riding is it and can you use a gravel bike?
We have a mix of rural roads, farm roads and trails. Our aim is always to surprise and 2025 will be no different. We will always try make sure we have a bit of everything and never too much of one thing.
We do have lots of fast gravel sections to ensure we can cover distance. However, it is not a gravel-bike friendly route at all. In 2024 we had some brave gravel bike guinea pigs doing a tour version of go2berg. They all had to visit the dentist to get dentures put in after they rattled their teeth right out! Gravel bikes are brilliant for smooth roads (on and off) and smooth singletrack – there is nothing smooth about the Eastern Free State. Personally I would buy a gravel bike for manicured smooth trails, tar roads, and smooth forest roads. Gravel riding is still special – riding in the middle of nowhere is special. Just do it on a mountain bike for comfort. So to answer your question, go2berg is mountain bike only.
Ok let’s chat about eBikes – the love of eBikes is growing all over the world…
Yes and we are going to be an even more eBike-friendly event for eBikers that are friendly.
We won’t have a racing category as eBikes are just too different. Many riders know how to doctor their motors and make their bikes faster. It would not be fair. Battery and motor sizes differ too.
In 2025 we will make riding an eBike a fun challenge – we will have a one-battery per stage rule, so that eBikers can have a sense of achievement as well as seeing this great country.
For our international riders we will have an eBike-hiring option. eBikes are very restrictive for international travel as you cannot fly with the battery.
You mention that the ride is uplifting for riders and communities on the route – what does that mean exactly?
Schools and communities are given the opportunity to host race villages and water points to raise much-needed funds. In the 11 years of joberg2c the event put back over R35 million into these communities. For most of our schools joberg2c was their biggest fundraiser of the year. go2berg continues this legacy of uplifting schools and communities along our route.
You mention on your website that go2berg evolved out of joberg2c?
Yip. When joberg2c came to end in 2022, Gary Green (another of the joberg2c founders) and I decided to continue with a shorter version called go2berg – still the same ethos and community spirit of joberg2c. Instead of finishing at the sea we decided to finish at one of Southern Africa’s treasures – the Drakensberg. The community ethos and passion for South Africa is carried over from joberg2c.
You also say that go2berg is probably best value long-stage ride in the world?
go2berg is by far the best priced long stage ride in the world when compared to other stage rides of a similar duration – but it is not just about price, it is about value. And value will always be our focus.
Unfortunately many people cannot afford to ride go2berg. We are very mindful of this, and we will always try to support a number of riders each year to experience this special journey. All we try do is make go2berg great value for those who can afford it. My dream would be to have the biggest sponsors ever so we can make it almost free for anyone who loves riding.
You seem to have great sponsors – why do you think they sponsor go2berg?
Sponsorship is all about return on objectives – each sponsor has an agreed set of objectives with us. The Old Mutual go2berg is about community upliftment and client/potential client engagement. Media exposure is important but secondary. go2berg offers Old Mutual clients who love riding a wonderful experience and an investment in their health and lifestyle. It is all about creating memories for life.
Our vehicle sponsor, CMH Ballito, sponsor to create awareness and generate sales.
Our logistics partner, The Courier Guy, operate in rural South Africa as well as cities and they want to be associated with this uplifting event to highlight their incredible service and for awareness.
Go2berg is now in its third year – for those who have ridden it, what will change and what will stay the same?
We will continue to tweak and improve the route and make it varied – we love innovating as we are riders ourselves. We will have a few surprises to keep riders inspired. What won’t change is the passion from our schools who host our race villages. They are remarkable people.
Last question: Why would you ride go2berg?
To escape normal life and have a proper break – yes you need to be fit and yes you will be physically tired but there is nothing like getting away from it all properly. When you do a seven-day mountain bike ride, you really switch off from the world. Think about it – even a holiday can be a little stressful: what restaurant? what beach? Family- and people-pleasing; people in queues for shops; decisions, decisions… At go2berg you don’t need to think about a thing except ride, eat, drink, sleep and ride.
You make friends for life. You experience a stunning part of an incredible country. And the beer tastes even better when you have earned it.
Entries for the 2025 Old Mutual go2berg are open and currently at a Most Festive price until 13 January 2025! Find out more or enter here.
