#4: Big 5 Reflections

In Episode 4 of Season 2 the Diverge Podcast we rope in Jason Boulle and Jess Menier to reflect a dramatic day of racing at the Big 5 by Imbuko Wines and Canetsfontein. The men’s and women’s races were won by the defendingchampions, Filipo Colombo and Candice Lill, but those facts tell so little of the story. Tristan Nortje claimed the R20 000 King of the Mountain prize before leading Colombo and Nino Schurter astray, Matt Beers destroyed a rear wheel and did not finish the race after leading in the finale, and in the women’s race there were position changes aplenty behind the dominant leader. The Big 5 also revealed that Hans Becking is not going to be in Absa Cape Epic winning shape come March, so the Buff Megamo man has decided to withdraw from the race. Becking’s withdrawal is the first big piece of news from the teams contesting the twenty first edition, but all the details will be revealed soon – we’re told – as the Ride Guide hits the newsstands on 28 February 2025.  Read the daily news reports featured in the Diverge Podcast, on www.diverge.info:Big 5 MTB Challenge Produces Dramatic Racing and Worthy Winners in 2025Becking's Turmoil: Out of the Epic Before it Begins Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.