Diverge

Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje became the first all-South African team to win the Elite Men’s race at the Absa Cape Epic on Sunday, 22 March 2026. The Specialized Toyota Imbuko team overturned a 13-second deficit on the final stage to become the third team in the history of the race to seize yellow on Stage 7. Wilier Vittoria’s Luca Braidot & Simone Avondetto, who had held the general classification lead since the conclusion of Stage 3, had to be content with second for the second year in a row.2026 Elite Women’s champions, Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi, had the title all but sewn up since Friday’s Queen Stage, when they put 9 and a half minutes into their nearest rivals, the She Sends Foundation. Candice Lill’s victory was her first and broke a sequence of second-place finishes for the South African cross-country champion that dates back to the 2019 race. Upon sealing the victory, Lill’s teammate, Alessandra Keller, became the fifth Swiss woman to win the Absa Cape Epic crown. The absence from the final overall standings of Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald [illness], as well as Vera Looser and Rosa van Doorn [injury], suggests that the women’s race was less fiercely contested than it actually was, but does not detract from the class of Lill and Keller’s near flawless performance.

The penultimate day of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic saw Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje overturn the momentum against them and regain the initiative heading into the final day of the 22nd edition. The Toyota Specialized Imbuko combination may have crossed the Stellenbosch finish line second on the day, but more importantly, they beat the race leaders, Wilier Vittoria, home by 1 minute and 37 seconds. So while Buff BH celebrated the stage win, Beers and Nortje looked to the shift in momentum and looked ahead to the final stage, because Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto’s buffer will only be 13 seconds at the start of Stage 7.In the Elite Women’s race, the withdrawal of Greta Seiwald put a dampener on Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller’s stage victory. Having battled the She Sends Foundation combination for six days, the Italian’s illness left Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi without a reason to race at their highest level. Seiwald had developed a fever overnight and only started, before stopping within 15 metres, to allow Kate Courtney to race the stage with the Elite Women, rather than being forced into C-Batch in the main field, like Vera Looser and Kelsey van Schoor, who lost their teammates earlier in the race. Symbtech.net’s Margot Moschetti and Claudia Peretti were the next best team on the day, finishing ahead of Hayley Preen and Haley Smith. The Chemchamp Honeycomb pair inherited second from She Sends Foundation, while Torpado FSA Kenda now holds third. Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Giorgia Marchet will start the final stage with a 7-minute and 9-second advantage over Moschetti and Peretti, in fourth.

The Queen Stage of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic saw Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller put the hammer down and exert their dominance over the Elite Women’s race. The Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi team won their 90-kilometre stage by 9 minutes and 29 seconds, from Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald to take their general classification lead to a hearty 14 minutes and 19 seconds. The men’s race, despite racing for 134 kilometres and over 5 hours, came down to the fourth sprint finish of the week. For the first time at the 22nd edition Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto crossed the finish line first, adding another 13 seconds to their general classification buffer over the three-time champion, Matt Beers, and his Toyota Specialized Imbuko teammate, Tristan Nortje. David Valero Serrano and Marc Stutzmann finished between the top two teams on the overall standings, to move their Klimatiza Orbea outfit up from fourth to third, after Canyon lost 70 seconds on Stage 5.

Stage 4 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic produced more dramatic racing. Rosa van Doorn, the Buff BH half of Buff BH Efficient Infiniti, crashed out while fighting for third on the general classification, while She Sends Foundation outfoxed Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi to take their first stage win. Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald played a tactical game, which helped them to a sprint victory ahead of the Elite Women's leaders, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller. In the Elite Men's race, Canyon's Luca Schwarzbauer and Sam Gaze became the first team to win two stages of the 22nd edition by outsprinting the general classification leaders, Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto. Toyota Specialized Imbuko's Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje lost 24 seconds to Wilier Vittoria by finishing the day in third. 

Stage 3 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic saw unexpected general classification action, the fourth new stage winners in the Elite Men's race, and the continued class of Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller. Marc Pritzen and Felix Stelhi powered across the gravel roads from Riviersonderend to Greyton to establish an advantage, which they held into Middelplaas to take Honeycomb 266ers' first Absa Cape Epic stage win. Behind them, Tristan Nortje endured a front wheel puncture and was forced to chase for the second time in three days, but unlike on Stage 1, he and Matt Beers were unable to make it back to the favourites group. After 140 kilometres of racing Toyota Specialized Imbuko team ceded 1 minute and 16 seconds to Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto. This meant that Wilier Vittoria led overall, heading into the second half of the race, by 1 minute and 14 seconds over Beers and Nortje. 

Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller won their third stage of the Absa Cape Epic with a well-timed attack 9 kilometres from the Montagu finish line on Stage 2 of the 2026 race. In so doing, Thömus Maxon Sabi Sabi added 38 seconds to their general classification lead over Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald, of the She Sends Foundation. Having started the day in third overall, Vera Looser and Rosa van Doorn endured a day punctuated by punctures and lost 23 minutes, slipping to fifth. In the men's race, Luca Schwarzbauer and Sam Gaze galloped to stage victory, coming good after two days of struggling in the heat. The Canyon team outkicked Wilier-Vittoria's Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto in a three-team sprint finish, which also featured the yellow jersey wearers, Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje. 

Stage 1 of the 2026 Absa Cape Epic saw Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje, of Toyota Specialized Imbuko, fight back from nearly 4 minutes down, after a puncture in the opening 20 kilometres, to sprint for stage victory and avoid any time losses to the day's protagonists, Buff-BH, Willier Vitoria, and Klimatiza Orbea. In the Elite Women's battle for the orange jerseys, Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller capitalised on a feeding error from Kate Courtney and Greta Seiwald to add 1 minute and 56 seconds to their general classification lead. BUFF BH-Efficient Infiniti's Rosa van Doorn and Vera Looser were second on the day, but could not take enough time on the She Sends Foundation team to leapfrog into second overall. 

The 2026 Absa Cape Epic couldn't have started much better for South African MTB fans. There are 3 SAFFAs in the 4 elite 'd the 22nd edition with a stage win. Candice Lill and her Swiss teammate, Alessandra Keller, stormed into the lead on the opening day too, but both races remain finely poised heading into the first marathon day, Stage 1, in Montagu.

The 2026 Absa Cape Epic gets underway on Sunday, 15 March, at Meerendal Wine Estate. Diverge will be there, and with support from Squirt Cycling Products, will be bringing you insights from within the race. Follow @diverge.info on Instagram for real time updates.

In 2026’s third episode of the Diverge Podcast, we look back at victories on their season debuts by Matt Beers and Candice Lill at the Banhoek leg of the Ford Trailseeker Series. Lill dominated the women’s race, capitalising on herCape Epic partner, Alessandra Keller, suffering a puncture to go solo and win by over 3 minutes. Beers was more patient, biding his time until the final kilometre before attacking the final member of the race-defining five-man breakaway.Marc Pritzen was second behind Beers, extending his wait for his first win of the year, but in this form, that cannot be far off. Elsewhere, Dryland Event Management announced a R700 000 prize purse for the inaugural Garden Route Giro, FNB Wines2Whales opened entries to the 2026 Chardonnay, Pinotage, and Shiraz events, and the UCI line-ups for the Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, were announced.  To read the news articles about those events, and more, visit www.diverge.info. Or click through here: Beers and Lill Win the Opening Round of the Ford Trailseeker Series at BanhoekR700 000 On the Line at the Inaugural Garden Route GiroThe Pros and Pros of the Original and Switchback Routes at FNB Wines2WhalesSouthern Africans to Shine at the 2026 Tankwa Trek And remember to follow Diverge on social media… @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In episode 2 of 2026, we look back at a mild and fast edition of the Attakwas Extreme, speculate on how the change to time parity with the men’s race will affect the women’s category at the Cape Epic, and discuss the announcement of the Burn Camps for the second edition of the Gravel Burn. To read the new articles about those events, and more, visit www.diverge.info. To click through here:Hatherly and Preen Open their 2026 Seasons with Hell of the South Victories Time Parity: Unlocking a Faster and More Competitive Cape Epic Women’s Race A Route to Inspire Fierce Women’s Racing at the 2026 Cape EpicStart Town, Burn Camps, and Route Format for 2026 Gravel Burn Confirmed  And remember to follow Diverge on social media… @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In the first episode of the new year, we look ahead at what’s to come on the bike in 2026. From the Attakwas Extreme, which kicks off the South African racing season through the Tankwa Trek, Cape Epic, Garden Route Giro, and on into the World Series calendar, which gets underway in South Korea in May. Then it’s home again for the off-road SA Champs, be it XCM, Gravel, or XCO, before stage racing gets back underway and the Trailseeker battle for R100 000, or maybe even 1 Million Rand, hots up. Tune in to hear when our favourite eventsare happening and where.  To view Diverge’s South African Cycling Calendar and the 2026 UCI MTB World Series Calendar, visit www.diverge.info. And remember to follow Diverge on social media… diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In a special episode from Ride Joburg, the Diverge Podcast recaps on a thrilling and at times chaotic 28th edition of the world’s second-largest timed bicycle race. While thousands of fun riders enjoyed a beautiful day out on the roads of Johannesburg, the elite men and women raced for R200 000 winners' cheques. Kim le Court returned from European racing to dominate the women’s battle, beating her nearest rival, Lucy Young, by 79 seconds. Magda Nieuwoudt was third, after animating the women’s racing in the second half of the 97km long course. Jaedon Terlouw won the men’s race after coming to the line with two former winners, Ryan Gibbons and Marc Pritzen. The PYGA Euro Steel man dove down the inside in a self-described “dodgy” move to seize the advantage going into the final straight, and with all the momentum, could sit up and enjoy the moment as he secured the biggest win of his young career. To read full stories of how the men’s and women’s races were won, plus more from the world of South African endurance sport, visit Diverge.info:Terlouw Puts MTB Skills to Use to Win 2025 Ride JoburgLe Court Underlines Stellar 2025 Season with the Ride Joburg Title Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In a busy week for endurance sport, the Diverge Podcast dives into the build-up to the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn and reflects on the cancellation of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. In happier, positive news, the first edition of what has been marketed as the world’s premier gravel stage race gets underway on Sunday, 26 October. The elite line-ups have been announced, and the route will certainly challenge both the elite and amateur riders alike. Sadly, the Cape Town Marathon had to be called off in the early hours of Sunday morning, when gale-force winds destroyed the Greenpoint race village, making the start/finish precinct unsafe. Sanlam has stepped in to guarantee the entries of the 2025 entrants for the 2026 or 2027 race, but the status of the event’s application for Abbott World Marathon Major status remains uncertain. To read about the full men’s and women’s elite line-ups for the Nedbank Gravel Burn and all the Cape Town Marathon communiques, visit Diverge.info:Meet the Men Contesting the Inaugural Nedbank Gravel BurnWomen to Watch at the 2025 Nedbank Gravel BurnRecord Runs and Emotional Scenes at Cape Town Trail Marathon RacesImpressive Repeat Wins for Hendricks and Kavanagh in 10km Peace Run2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Cancelled Due to Adverse Wind ConditionsCancellation Timeline of the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town MarathonSanlam to Sponsor 2026 or 2027 Entries for Cancelled 2025 Marathon EntrantsFollow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

This week, on the Diverge Podcast, we look at the 2026Absa Cape Epic route, which was launched on the 9th of October, and the 2025 Prince George Monumental 100-Miler. The 692-kilometre-long course is the longest since 2015, when the route last topped the 700-kilometre mark. 15 900metres of climbing across that distance equates to 22.98 metres of climbing per kilometre, which is the least since 2018. It also features the first visit to Montagu, in the Klein Karoo, since 2007. In short, the stages are as follows: PROLOGUE Sunday, 15 March 2026Meerendal Wine Estate20km with 650m of climbing STAGE 1 Monday, 16 March 2026Montagu90km with 2 150m of climbing STAGE 2 Tuesday, 17 March 2026Montagu102km with 2 250m of climbing  STAGE 3 Wednesday, 18 March 2026Montagu to Greyton134km with 1 750m of climbing  STAGE 4 Thursday, 19 March 2026Greyton84km with 1 950m of climbing  STAGE 5 Friday, 20 March 2026Greyton to Stellenbosch128km with 2 700m of climbing  STAGE 6 Saturday, 21 March 2026Stellenbosch76km with 2 450m of climbing  STAGE 7 Sunday, 22 March 2026Stellenbosch58km with 2 000m of climbing  See where you can pre-ride on the Cape Epic routes byvisiting www.montagutrails.co.za, www.greytonmtb.co.za, and www.stellenboschtrailfund.co.za. To read the full and official route descriptions, as well as more news from thebroader South African endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:2026 Cape Epic Route – A return to the Roots Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

Last week, the Diverge Podcast was at the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. We tried to do daily podcasts, but fell off the wagon after Stage 2. So here are the final 3 days all in one long pod. The headline, of course, is that Tristan Nortje and Travis Stedman won the men’s race overall, after winning atop Swartberg Pass on Friday’s Queen Stage. Vera Looser and Samantha Sanders dominated the women’s race, winning all 5 stages and the overall by 42 minutes. Stage 3 was a transition stage from Louvain to Oudtshoorn. Traditionally, it had been a longer but less intense stage, thanks to long gravel road sections in the route. In 2025, that was not the case! Dryland took the riders across the Klein Karoo on a course consisting of 85% rocky dual track, with just a few short gravel sections. Arno du Toit punctured and spent the day chasing with Keagan Bontekoning to defend Insect Science’s third position on the general classification. There was further drama in the UCI Women’s race when Steph Wohlters crashed, which later caused her and Sarah Hill to lose time in their battle for second in the overall standings.Stage 4 was the Swartberg Showdown, the Queen Stage of the Cape Pioneer. Victories for Toyota Imbuko Specialized ChemChamp, and Efficient Infiniti Insure all but guaranteed that they would take home the titles. But there was still action aplenty on the trails, too.The final stage offered another opportunity for Jaedon Terlouw and Michael Foster to race to stage-winning redemption after their puncture problems on Stages 1 and 4. Behind the leaders on the day, Nortje and Stedman countered the moves of Marc Pritzen and Wessel Botha to take home the 2025 title. While in the UCI Women’s race, Looser and Sanders put the hammer down and stretched their legs, securing a fifth stage win and the overall crown in style.To read more news from the Race with Soul and beyond in the broader South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Honeycomb 226ers Sprint to Stage 3 Victory at the Cape PioneerVictories in Yellow and Pink atop the Swartberg at the Cape PioneerChampions Crowned at the Cape Pioneer Grand FinaleFollow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

This week, the Diverge Podcast is at the Momentum MedicalScheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Tune in for daily reports and interviews from the race. After losing time with a catastrophic rear wheel puncture on Stage 1, the PYGA Euro Steel Team of Jaedon Terlouw and Michael Foster earned a redemption of sorts by winning Stage 2. In the general classification battle, the Honeycomb 226ers, Marc Pritzen and Wessel Botha, gained back 30 seconds to reduce Toyota Imbuko Specialized ChemChamp’s advantage to 3 minutes and 36 seconds overall. Tristan Nortje and Travis Stedman will wear the yellow First Ascent leaders’ jerseys on Stage 3. In the UCI Women’s race, Vera Looser and Samantha Sandersnotched up their second stage victory, while Safari Essence Titan Racing and Efficient Infiniti Insure battled it out for second. Bianca Haw and Danielle du Toit gained back 69 seconds on the day, but remain 1 minute and 57 seconds behind Sarah Hill and Steph Wohlters. To read more news from the Race with Soul and beyond inthe broader South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Redemption for PYGA Euro Steel and Efficient Infiniti Double Up at the Cape Pioneer Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

This week, the Diverge Podcast is at the Momentum MedicalScheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Tune in for daily reports and interviews from the race. In the opening show, we recap a thrilling and challenging Stage 1, which was won by Toyota Imbuko Specialized ChemChamp and Efficient Infiniti Insure. Tristan Nortje and Travis Stedman were thrown together by circumstance, but with three wins and two more podium places between them in September, they were the form pairing coming into the race. Vera Looser and Samantha Sanders started less sure of their fitness, as Sanders had been off the bike for nearly three months with a serious injury. Nonetheless, the African and South African champion pairing was able to dominate the opening day.  To read more news from the Race with Soul and beyond inthe broader South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Nortje and Stedman Draw First Blood in Race with Soul Showdown Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 14 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast recaps a thrilling fifth edition of the King Price Race to the Sea, discusses the reasons to ride the Glacier Storms River Traverse in 2026, and looks at the Pedal Project’s 2025 Dream Bike raffle prize. At the Race to the Sea, the men’s race was a closely contested affair with Tavis Stedman launching his sprint 200 metres from the line to outbox Tristan Nortje, having whittled down the final selection from four to three and then just the Toyota Specialized and Imbuko ChemChamp pair. Hayley Preen, meanwhile, had used her superior technical skills to out-descend Catherine Colyn 20 kilometres from the Benguela Cove finish line before soloing to her second Race to the Sea title. Looking ahead, the Storms River Traverse is always one of our favourite events. It is not particularly racy, but that adds to its charm. If three days of fun in the Tsitsikamma Forests, with a bit of mountain biking thrown in, sounds like your idea of a good time – check it out.  And finally, it’s that time of year again when the Pedal Project stages its Dream Bike raffle. With all the proceeds going to the charity’s Trail Therapy programme for historically disadvantaged young people from Khayelitsha and Nomzamo. For every two R150 raffle tickets sold, the charity can present a child with an hour of trail therapy. The bike in question is a custom-painted painted, by Hasie and the Robots, Titan Racing Cypher DC Carbon Version 2 with FOX suspension, Shimano XTR drivetrain, South Industries carbon wheels, and Lyne Components cockpit and dropper seatpost. To read more news from South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Stedman and Preen Crowned King Price Race to the Sea ChampionsBook Your Spot for Forest Fun at the 2026 Glacier Storms River Traverse Enter the Pedal Project Dream Bike Raffle  Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 13 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast reflects on a busy news week. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon announced the athletes who will be headlining the 2025 edition in October, Imbuko ChemChamp launched a junior team, while Squirt Cycling Products and Titan Racing launched new products, entries to the 2026 36ONE MTB Challenge opened, and we look ahead to the King Price Race to the Sea this Saturday. Last week, the Cape Town Marathon kick-started the build-up to race day with a press conference focusing on the event’s drive towards becoming Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major. Alongside the golden girl of South African distance running, Gerda Steyn, there are several speedy East Africans on the start list, including Ronald Korit, whose personal best is 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 22 seconds. New South African marathon record holder, Elroy Geland, is also set to race in Cape Town on 19 October.  This week, Squirt Cycling Products released its Squirt Performance Hot Wax, Titan Racing introduced its first full suspension E-MTB, the Volt, and Imbuko ChemChamp launched a junior team. Of the three launches, the Imbuko Junior Racing squad garnered the most interest, understandably, as there appears to be a real issue with progression from school racing to the under-23 category. Hopefully, the mentorship of the senior squad and the support of a team set-up will help the young men and women in the Imbuko Junior team make that step up when the time comes. The 36ONE MTB Challenge opened entries for its 2026 edition this week, too, with the promise of R36 100 for breaking the course records back on the line. In 2025, Dan Loubser shattered the men’s record by nearly 40 minutes, while Yolande de Villiers took 11 off her record but was unaware that she was close to breaking the 15-hour mark. It will require perfect conditions to challenge Loubser’s mark of 12 hours, 34 minutes, and 57 seconds. Beating De Villiers’ time of 15 hours and 23 seconds will surely see the first woman to go under 15 hours on the 361-kilometre-long circumnavigation of the Klein Karoo basin. The show concludes, looking ahead to the Race to the Sea, which takes place on Saturday, 6 September. In the absence of Matt Beers, the race is wide open with Tristan Nortje, Marc Pritzen, Arno du Toit, and Dan Loubser arguably the favourites from a stacked men’s field. The women’s race sees 2022 winner and current SA and African gravel champion Hayley Preen up against the defending Race to the Sea title holder, Danielle du Toit, Sarah Hill, and Catherine Colyn.  To read more about the news covered in this episode, visit Diverge.info:The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Celebrates 50 Days to Race Day with Elite Athlete AnnouncementsIntroducing Performance Chain Lubrication with Squirt Performance Hot WaxTitan Racing Announces the Volt, A Dual-Suspension Alloy E-MTB Imbuko Pro Cycling Launches Junior Team to Develop Next Generation of MTB TalentChallenge Yourself and The 36ONE Course Records in 2026Will Team Tactics or Individual Brilliance Win Out at the King Price Race to the Sea? Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 12 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast is back after an extended winter break. The mountain biking action has continued through the depths of winter, with the Ford Trailseeker series. On the 1st of August, the racing truly resumed in earnest, though with the Glacier Storms River Traverse, followed by the Trans Baviaans, and the SPAR Swiss Epic over the subsequent 17 days. In this episode, we’ll look back at August’s racing thus far and feature interviews from the 2025 Trans Baviaans winners. In June, Marco Joubert punctured at the Bosveld leg of the Trailseeker series, losing out on contesting for victory and thereby falling out of contention for a Million Rand performance bonus. With his perfect streak over, Imbuko ChemChamp skipped the Van Gaalen race in July, where Marc Pritzen emerged victorious. The final event of the 2025 series takes place in Wellington on the 13th of September and should see a stacked field of South African talent on the start line. Also in July, Klimatiza Orbea won their first Epic Series event at the Andorra Epic, where Marc Stutzmann and Sebastian Gesche claimed victory over Singer KTM’s Simon Stiebjahn and Martin Frey. In the UCI Women’s race, Buff Megamo dominated, winning three of the four stages en route to victory. More recently, the Storms River Traverse mixed socialriding and competitive racing for three days in the Tsitsikamma forests. As ever, there was mud to be avoided and water points that lured riders into remaining for far too long. Travis Rademan-Ludeke and Jordan Boshoff were the speediest of the racers, winning the men’s team event, while Sarah Hill and Steph Wohlters tested their Cape Pioneer partnership in Storms River.  The following weekend, the Trans Baviaans saw Hill on thestart line again, returning to the Baviaanskloof for the first time since 2019. She was able to win the 2025 title alongside Stacey Paul and Ricci-Lee Brookstone, but they could not challenge Hill’s own course record, which she set with Theresa Ralph in 2018. Insect Science did, however, better their own record, which Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning had set in 2024. Racing aboard gravel bikes, with 2.3-inch mountain bike tyres, they took 3:44 off the previous best. A busy three weeks of non-stop action wrapped up in Davoson Sunday, 17 August, when the twelfth Swiss Epic reached its conclusion. For Southern African fans, the success of Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda was the highlight of the race. The Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM team won four of the five stages and the overall title. In the men’s race, Swiss XCM Champion Casey South won his first Swiss Epic title and helped Fabian Rabensteiner join Lukas Flückiger on three victories after two stage wins and a mature management of the racing situation.To read more about the news covered in this episode by Diverge.info:Sondela Shakes Up the Series as Ford Trailseeker Enters Final StretchPritzen and Jacobs Top the Podium at Ford Trailseeker Van GaalenBuff Megamo and Klimatiza Orbea Wrap Up the 2025 Andorra Epic TitlesAnniversaries Aplenty at the Glacier Storms River TraverseInsect Science Better Their Own Trans Baviaans Field Course RecordCelebrations on the Final Stage of the SPAR Swiss Epic Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In this week’s episode of the Diverge Podcast we look back at the 4Islands Epic on the Kvarner Islands, in the Adriatic off Croatia. The race was won by the Buff Megamo and Cannondale ISB Sport teams, both of whom notched up a perfect five-from-five stage victories. Then, we look ahead at the Tankwa Trail, a three-day trail run hosted by Dryland Event Management in the Koue Bokkeveld near Op-Die-Berg. Last week, we covered the first three stages of 4IslandsEpic and discussed how Monica Calderon and Tessa Kortekaas’s lead of 1 minute and 29 seconds, in the women’s race, over Bianca Haw and Vera Looser appeared in danger. That proved to be completely false, though Kortekaas had struggled on Stage 2, she found her legs in emphatic fashion, on Stages 3 and 4 to secure the overall victory by a dominant margin. The Safari Essence Efficient Insure pair had to settle for second with Cannondale ISB Sport 2 in third. Buff Megamo continued their perfect performance from thePrologue through Stage 2 with two more wins over the weekend to take the title ahead of Nicholas Pettinà and Ramon Vantaggiato, of KTM Spada Powered by Brenta Brakes 2. HEXATRI’s Pierre Billaud andThéo Dupras were third. But the excitement as all in Hans Becking and Wout Alleman’s battle with the two Italian, KTM Spada Powered by Brenta Brakes, teams.  This coming weekend, trail runners will gather at Kaleo, in the Bokveld, for the Tankwa Trail. The sister event of the Tankwa Trek, it boasts two 21 kilometre stages on Saturday and Sunday after an optional 5 kilometre evening fun-run on Friday. The event is always a fun one with fast and runnable trails forming the majority of the mileage. To read more about 4Islands Epic and all the othermountain biking news covered by Diverge, visit Diverge.info:4Islands Epic: Cannondale ISB Sport Win a Windy Prologue4Islands Epic: Becking and Alleman complete the Lošinj Double 4Islands Epic: A Perfect 3 from 3, Thus Far, for Buff Megamo and Cannondale ISB Sport4Islands Epic: Presents are for Christmas Say Buff Megamo 4Islands Epic: Cannondale ISB Sport and Buff Megamo Secure the 2025 TitlesTankwa Trek: Fuelling Your Fire to Conquer the Merino Monster Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 10 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast looks back at Luke Moir’s breakthrough performance at the UCI MTB World Series. During the second race in Araxá, Brazil, the 22-year-old notched up his first top 5 placing and heralded his arrival as a force to be reckoned with on the biggest stage. Candice Lill had a rare off day, finishing 17th, while Tyler Jacobs showed remarkable consistency with an 11th and a 6th place finish in the XCC and XCO. Alongside the cross-country and cross-country eliminator coverage, we also reflected on the first three days of the 4Islands Epic racing in Croatia. The UCI MTB World Series now takes a hiatus from XCC andXCO racing for nearly 6 weeks before reconvening in Nové Město na Moravě on the 23rd to the 25th of May. The Czech Republic will see the return of World Champion Alan Hatherly to mountain bike racing, after an early season on the road. Before switching to wider tyres, the South African time trial champion will start at the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, 20 April, and the Tour de Romandie from 29 April to 4 May. Off-road stage racing has already been taking place this week, too. The 10th edition of 4Islands Epic got underway on Tuesday, 15 April. Starting with a Prologue time trial on the island of Lošinj, after the initial Prologue on Unije had to be replanned due to adverse weather. Stayed on Lošinj for Stage 1 before travelling to Cres for Stage 2. Going into the weekend, on Krk, Buff Megamo and Cannondale ISB Sport lead the UCI Men’s and Women’s categories, respectively. Hans Becking and Wout Alleman hold a 6 minute and 37 second advantage over Nicholas Pettinà and Ramon Vantaggiato, of KTM Spada Powered by Brenta Brakes 2. HEXATRI are 3rd, a further 1 minute and 49 seconds back. Monica Calderon and Tessa Kortekaas’s lead is 1 minute and 29 seconds in the women’s race over Bianca Haw and Vera Looser of Safari Essence Efficient Insure. Cannondale ISB Sport 2 are 3rd, 5 minutes behind their teammates.To read more about 4Islands Epic and all the other mountain biking news covered by Diverge, visit Diverge.info:5th in Brazil for South African Privateer Luke Moir 4Islands Epic: A 5-Day Celebration to Commemorate a Decade of Conquering the Rocks4Islands Epic: Cannondale ISB Sport Win a Windy Prologue4Islands Epic: Becking and Alleman complete the Lošinj Double 4Islands Epic: A Perfect 3 from 3, Thus Far, for Buff Megamo and Cannondale ISB Sport Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 9 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast looks backon the stellar performances of Candice Lill, Tyler Jacobs, and Luke Moir inRound 1 of the UCI MTB World Series. The trio collected 5th, 6th,and 19th, respectively, in Araxá, Brazil. And will go again thisweekend at the same venue. Back home, Marco Joubert and Hayley Preen werecrowned the King and Queen of South African gravel racing in 2025 when they wonthe national titles in a muddy Karkloof.  The opening round of the UCI MTB World Series saw victories for Chris Blevins and Evie Richards in the short-track XCC on Saturday, and for Victor Koretzky and Samara Maxwell in Sunday’s cross country. The win was Maxwell’s first at elite level; while in the men’s race, Specialized Factory Racing swept the top 3 places as Blevins and Martin Vidaurre flanked Koretzky. The best placed South African for the weekend was Lill. She secured a front row start for the XCO with 7th in the XCC before racing for victory for 7 of the 8 laps. Jacobs had an impressive first outing for Liv Factory Racing, notching up two 6th place finishes, in the XCC and then the XCO. Moir made his elite debut in Brazil and raced with the same aggression that has seen him collect stellar results in the South African early season. 17th in the XCC and 19th in the XCO sets him up well for a second shot at the Top 10 this coming weekend. Once again, the U23 racing will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel and the Elite Women’s and Men’s races will be on SuperSport in South Africa. The XCC events will take place on Friday, 11 April, and the XCO on Saturday the 12th. You can view the full schedule below.  XCC: Friday 11 April 202511:15 Local Time | 16:15 South African Time: Women U23 (YouTube)11:55 Local Time | 16:55 South African Time: Men U23 (YouTube)13:00 Local Time | 18:00 South African Time: Women Elite (SuperSport 199)13:40 Local Time | 18:40 South African Time: Men Elite (SuperSport 199) XCO: Saturday 12 April 20259:00 Local Time | 14:00 South African Time: Women U23 (YouTube)10:45 Local Time | 15:45 South African Time: Men U23 (YouTube)12:45 Local Time | 17:45 South African Time:  Women Elite (SuperSport 10)14:45 Local Time | 19:45 South African Time: Men Elite (SuperSport 10) Joubert and Preen’s South African gravel championships titles were won in wetter conditions than the Brazilian cross-country events were raced in. The mud did not stifle the racing action, though, as event director Kevin Benkenstein explained in his report from the race. Joubert was joined on the podium by his Imbuko ChemChamp teammate Tristan Nortje and Honeycomb 226ers’ Jaco van Dyk. Preen’s nearest rival on the day was Samantha Sanders, while Cherise Willeit fought off Sarah Hill to claim third. For all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast and more, visit Diverge.info. Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 8 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast looks aheadto the UCI MTB World Series, which gets underway in Brazil on the 5th of April. South Africans Candice Lill, Tyler Jacobs, and Luke Moir will be in action. Then on the gravel front, Nedbank Gravel Burn continues to release information on new partners, which augurs well for the first edition in October this year.  The first event of the 2025 UCI MTB World Series takesplace in Araxá, which is inland and to the north of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It rained heavily on the track on Thursday, and more rain is predicted for Friday as well as for Saturday afternoon. The short track XCC races could take place during a gap in the rain, on Saturday, and it looks like it could dry up for Sunday’s XCO. How the weather affects the racing remains to be seen, but hopefully the track holds up better than the Banyoles track did in February.  South African can watch the Elite Men’s and Women’sracing on SuperSport, while the U23 events, featuring Jacobs and Moir, will be broadcast on the  WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel.  XCC: Saturday 5 April 202510:45 Local Time | 15:45 South African Time: Women U2311:25 Local Time | 16:25 South African Time: Men U2312:45 Local Time | 17:45 South African Time: Women Elite (SuperSport 6)13:25 Local Time | 18:25 South African Time: Men Elite (SuperSport 6) XCO: Sunday 6 April 20259:00 Local Time | 14:00 South African Time: Women U2311:00 Local Time | 16:00 South African Time: Men U2313:30 Local Time | 18:30 South African Time:  Women Elite (SuperSport 10)15:30 Local Time | 20:30 South African Time: Men Elite (SuperSport 10) In the Eastern Cape the building of Burn Camps isunderway as the Grave Burn team work to prepare the remote race villages for 800 gravelistas taking on the inaugural event. Behind the scenes the sponsorship announcement press releases keep rolling out as Vida e Caffé, Disc-O-Bed, and Meerendal Wine Estate have all been announced as partners this week, joining Nedbank, Assos, and Amacx in the event’s sponsorship portfolio. This might not be the most interesting of news for riders, but it shows two things to the industry: the first being the general interest in gravel events from businesses, even those not affiliated directly with cycling; and secondly, the power of Gravel Burn founder, Kevin Vermaark, to seal deals.  For all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast and more, visit Diverge.info: Vida e caffe Set to Power Gravel BurnGravel Burn Elevates Rider Experience with Meerendal Wine Estate Partnership Disc-O-Bed Joins Gravel Burn to Redefine Event Sleep in the Karoo Amacx to Fuel Gravel Burn Riders as Official Nutrition Partner Gravel Burn Welcomes Assos as Official Cycling Apparel Partner  Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and, Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 7 of Season 2 the Diverge Podcast is back toregular weekly programming after super micro daily pods from the Absa Cape Epic. And as you can expect we are looking back at the 21st edition of the race, chatting about how Scott SRAM and Toyota Specialized secured their victories. Then we dive into the cold waters of Table Bay to discuss the 2025 Groot Swem, a 7.5 kilometre Robben Island crossing to raise funds for the StartWell Foundation’s bid to prevent childhood stunting. Starting with the Cape Epic the race was the closest ever in the UCI Men’s category with just 92 seconds separating Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo, of Scott SRAM, from their Wilier-Vittoria rivals, Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto. In the UCI Women’s race Toyota Specialized victory was achieved at a canter, despite a dramatic crash for Annika Langvad on Stage 3. The great Dane and her Argentinian partner, Sofia Gomez Villafane won by 22:32 over Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda, of Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM. In both the men’s and women’s races all-South African teams secured the 3rd podium position. Tristan Nortje and Marco Joubert won a stage en route to third and the red Absa African jerseys for Imbuko ChemChamp, while Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen had to dig deep to hold of Cannondale ISB Sport on the final stage to secure red for Titan Racing SE Honeycomb. In the ocean, Seamus Allardice joined the StartWell Foundation’s Groot Swem on Monday, 24 March. This 20 swimmer strong group set out to cross from Robben Island to Big Bay and if you’ve ever wondered about undertaking a crossing then tune in for the story. Or read more about the experience on Diverge.info. Daily Stories & Podcasts from the Absa Cape Epic:Prologue: News Report | Diverge PodcastCandice Lill Interview at the Cape EpicStage 1: News Report | Diverge PodcastStage 2: News Report | Diverge PodcastStage 3: News Report | Diverge PodcastStage 4: News Report | Diverge PodcastStage 5: News Report | Diverge PodcastStage 6: News Report | Diverge PodcastStage 7: News Report | Diverge PodcastDie Groot Swem:Just Keep Swimming – A Robben Island Crossing Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with the Diverge Podcast's vlogs. In the Stage 7 episode Seamus Allardice looks ahead at the Grand Finale, with at the time of recording was still set to start at 08:00. Within moments of recording the start had been postponed to 10:30 and the route amended to a 40 kilometre course in Lourensford. The absence of the climb to The Neck and the circumnavigation of the Helderberg will certainly limit the likes of Willier Vittoria and Cannondale ISB Sport’s ability to change the general classification outcome. The updated stage features just 1 150 metres of climbing.This means that Nino Schurter and Filipo Colombo’s 32 second advantage will be easier, but not easy to defend. The muddy roads of Lourensford will be treacherous and the risk of punctures, dropped chains, and mechanicals will induce significant stress. In the UCI Women’s race the victory is all-but assured forToyota Specialized. Langvad and Gomez Villafane lead by 23 minutes and 26 seconds going into the final day. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen will be thankful for the shortened route as their buffer to Cannondale ISB Sport’s Monica Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas had been cut tojust 5:27 on Stage 6. Titan Racing SE Honeycomb will still need to race to their limits on Stage 7 to maintain their spot on the final general classification podium. Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with the Diverge Podcast's vlogs. In the Stage 6 episode Seamus Allardice on the Queen Stage and looks ahead at what could be a very exciting penultimate stage. Going into the 88 kilometre, 2 550 metres of climbing, Stage 6 the general classification battles might be crystalised – but there are opportunities for stage honours. In the UCI Men’s race Scott SRAM’s stage win, by 1 minute 10,more than doubled their general classification advantage over Willier Vittoria after Stage 5. Having distanced Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto on the final climb, Nino Schurter and Filipo Colombo rode to their biggest victory of the race to seemingly secure the 2025 title. Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje were aggressive throughout the stage and went all in, hunting for stage honours. Sadly, the Imbuko ChemChamp pair came up short, on The Neck climb, but they hung on to finish the day in 3rd and gain time on their rivals for that finalpodium position. Going into the penultimate day, then, Scott SRAM leadWillier Vittoria by 1:52, with Imbuko ChemChamp at 12:55 in 3rd. Joubert and Nortje’s buffer on Klimatiza ORBEA, in 4th, expanded to 7 minutes and 14 seconds. Buff Megamo are 5th at 22:16.In the UCI Women’s race the stage saw crashes and implosions, on the final climb which became too muddy to ride as it was churned up by hundreds of tyres. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM were the team who struggled the most there, when Alexis Skarda’s Santa Cruz bicycle got clogged with mud and her chain repeated got stuck. She and Looser went from fighting for second and chasing Toyota Specialized to losing the sprint for third against Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen. Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane won the day by just 13 seconds over Cannondale ISB Sport’s Monica Calderon Martinez and Tessa Kortekaas.On the general classification Langvad and Gomez Villafane now lead Looser and Skarda by 22 minutes and 30 seconds. Haw and Preen are 3rd with a 16:57 advantage over Calderon Martinez and Kortekaas. Torpado Kenda FSA are 5 minutes further back. Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with the Diverge Podcast's vlogs. In the Stage 5 episode Seamus Allardice reflects on a day when the race reset, paused, and prepared for the Queen Stage. Stage 4 followed the searing heat of Stage 3 and preceded the 2 850 metres of climbing in 98 kilometres on Stage 5. As such there was a little lull in the action. For the UCI Men this allowed 4 teams to head into the finalewith chances of a stage victory, but as on Stage 3 Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje were outboxed by Scott SRAM and Willier Vittoria. Nino Schurter, Filipo Colombo, Luca Braidot, and Simone Avondetto charged to the line head-to-head with Wout Alleman and Martin Stošek also in the mix. The Italians won it in a photo finish, but Schurter was content with 2nd and not ceding any time on the general classification. Buff Megamo and Imbuko ChemChamp will have to try again on Stage 5 to secure that coveted stage win, though Alleman and Stošek did of course notch up a win on the Stage 2 time trial. Going into the Queen Stage, then, Scott SRAM lead WillierVittoria by 42 seconds, with Imbuko ChemChamp at 9:52 in third. Joubert and Nortje’s buffer on Klimatiza ORBEA, in 4th, is 3 minutes and 38 seconds. Buff Megamo are 5th at 15:24. In the UCI Women’s race the stage was closer than any other,since the Prologue. Efficient Infiniti SCB SRAM went on the offensive on the early singletrack climb, but when the route widened to gravel roads on the Paarl Mountain Toyota Specialized surged back and into the lead. By the end of the day Annika Langvad and Sofia Gomez Villafane added 50 seconds to their general classification lead, taking it to 14:49 over Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen finished 3rd on the day to further cement their 3rd spot on the overall standings, they are at 27:30 and hold a 19 minute advantage over Torpado Kenda FSA and 24 minutes over Cannondale ISB Sport. Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with the Diverge Podcast's vlogs. In the Stage 4 episode Seamus Allardice reflects on a day when the sun blazed down and the heat affected the event. At the sharp end; even the UCI Men, who started at 06:45 on Stage 3, were exposed to extreme heat. The stage winners, Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto held off Nino Schurter and Filipo Colombo in a sprint finish, but the tale of the day for the South Africans was the 3rd place and stellar performance of Imbuko ChemChamp. This made up for the difficulties Matt Beers continued tohave as his teammate Keegan Swenson. The Outride Toyota songo team lost 14 minutes on the day, while ORBEA Leatt Speed Company lost 15. The South African former winner is now 23 minutes back on the general classification while the Germans are 20 minutes down in 8th. Both teams will have to pivot to stage hunting now. At the sharp end Scott SRAM lead Willier Vittoria by 43seconds, with Nortje and Joubert in 3rd, at 9:49. Klimatiza ORBEA are 4th, at 12:38, with Torpado x Singer 5th, at 12:58. In the UCI Women’s race Annika Langvad Sofia and GomezVillafane, of Toyota Specialized, won their fourth successive stage. But were less assured on Stage 3, due to two crashes for Langvad. The second was particularly hard and thereafter the Dane’s confidence in the trails was shaken. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda ceded 4:37 on the day, and start Stage 4 13:59 down. As in the men’s race the highlight of the day for local fans was the Absa African jersey team’s performance. Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen of Titan Racing SE Honeycomb had their best day of the race, finishing 3rd on the stage and gaining a general classification position. A tough day for Cannondale ISB Sport means that Haw and Preen’s nearest rivals are the Torpado Kenda FSA team of Katazina Sosna-Pinele and Claudia Peretti.Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with the Diverge Podcast's vlogs. In the Stage 3 episode Seamus Allardice looks back at the Stage 2 time trial and looks ahead at a shortened route for the first day on the Paarl Trails. With the mercury set to rise into the high 30s in Paarl the temperatures on the mountain could hit 45 degrees centigrade. As such the race organisation shortened the route from 90 to 78 kilometres and reduced the climbing from 2 600 metres to 2450. Going into Stage 3 Scott SRAM lead the generalclassification by 44 seconds over WILIER-VITTORIA. This is a result of Nino Schurter and Filipo Colombo finishing 2nd on Stage 2, 33 seconds ahead of Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto. ORBEA Leatt Speed Company are at 4:32, with Outride Toyota songo in 5th at 9:17. The Stage 2 stage winners, Buff Megamo are the men with the momentum going into the days in Paarl, but find themselves in 8th 10 minutes down. In the UCI Women’s race Annika Langvad Sofia and GomezVillafane, of Toyota Specialized, won their third successive stage. After their great performance on Stage 1 Buff Megamo had a difficult day and lost three general classification positions. Cannondale ISB Sport rode to 2nd on the day and into the overall podium places, with Bianca Haw and Hayley Preen of Titan Racing SE Honeycomb also moving up a place to 4th. Vera Looser and Alexis Skarda remain 2nd, at 9:22.Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with the Diverge Podcast's vlogs. In the Stage 2 episode Seamus Allardice looks back at Stage 1 and reflects on what may unfold on the longest time trial in the race’s 21 edition history. On Stage 1 we were somewhat surprised to see how Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto took the fight to Nino Schurter and Filipo Colombo right to the line, but Scott SRAM emerged victorious and seized the yellow jerseys with a stage win by 31 seconds. It will not be the last we see of WILIER-VITTORIA as a force in the race. For South African fans the performances of Marco Joubert, Tristan Nortje, Matt Beers and Keegan Swenson will all be a concern, but there is no reason for concern just yet… In the women’s race Annika Langvad Sofia and Gomez Villafane, of Toyota Specialized, dominated Stage 1 and that is ominous for the other teams and the competitiveness of the rest of the race. Though further back there is a nice battle building for 3rd, 4th, and 5th between the Buff Megamo, Cannondale ISB Sport, Titan Racing SE Honeycomb, and e-FORT ChemChamp teams. Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the2025 Absa Cape Epic with daily the Diverge Podcast's daily vlogs. In the Stage 1 episode Seamus Allardice looks back on a dramatic Prologue with saw WILIER-VITTORIA’s Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto win the first yellow jerseys of the race. Annika Langvad Sofia and Gomez Villafane, of Toyota Specialized, won the opening stage by just 3 seconds in the UCI Women’s race; which bodes well for a competitive edition, after fears of a Langvad domination dominated the pre-race speculation. Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

Candice Lill might not be riding the Absa Cape Epic this year but she popped in to commentate on the Prologue, sharing her insights with the fans around the world. After her commentary session we has a chat about her plans for 2025, her thoughts on the stellar performance of Margot Moschetti and Samara Sheppard, and manifesting goals by speaking them out loud. Read all about the 2025 Absa Cape Epic on www.diverge.info.

Tune in for daily insights from inside the media team at the 2025 Absa Cape Epic with daily the Diverge Podcast's daily vlogs. This is the pre-race preview as the Prologue, on 16 March, gets underway in Meerendal. Read the daily stories from the race on www.diverge.info.

In Episode 6 of Season 2 the Diverge Podcast we look backat trilling editions of Cape Town Cycle Tour and the songo.info Champions Race, presented by fibertime. The world’s largest timed bicycle race played out in near perfect weather conditions on Sunday, 9 March, and this helped both the elite men and women to new course records. Pia Grünewald went on a 53 kilometre solo break to win the 78 kilometre women’s race in an entirely new way. In so doing she knocked over 2 minutes off Cherise Willeit’s 2020 previous best time. Tyler Lange followed in his father, Malcolm’s, footsteps in the men’s race sprinting to a historic victory. The elder Lange is a three-time CTCT winner, and at 22 Tyler Lange put in a mature performance to power to victory from a chase group which made contact with the leaders within the final kilometre.  The songo.info Champions Race, presented by fibertime, then brought the mountain biking world’s attention to Kayamandi, just outside Stellenbosch. The charity’s annual invitational event saw Samara Sheppard add her name to the illustrious list of women’s winners, as she held of Alexis Skarda and Vera Looser. South Africa’s Luke Moir, who had been fifth in the CTCT on Sunday, raced to the win aboard his brand-new Mondraker F-Podium on just his third ride on the machine. Moir held off the New Zealand brothers, Craig and Ben Oliver, as well as Matt Beers and Arno du Toit. Read the news reports featured in the Diverge Podcast, on www.diverge.info:Grünewald Stuns with a Successful Long-Range Attack at the Cape Town Cycle TourLange Follows in his Father’s Footsteps at the Cape Town Cycle TourMoir and Sheppard Win the 2025 songo.info Champions Race, presented by fibertime™️Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 5 of Season 2 the Diverge Podcast we look ahead at the 2025 Absa Cape Epic and Cape Town Cycle Tour. March is silly season in South African cycling with the country’s biggest mountain bike and road events taking place within 7 days of each other. The CTCT might kick the racing off on Sunday, 9 March, but we start with the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race and its UCI fields. In the men’s race Matt Beers, starts alongside Keegen Swenson and takes on Scott SRAM, ORBEA Leatt Speed Company, and 46 other UCI teams, which include the big all-South African hopes Tristan Nortje and Marco Joubert. For the women the only name which truly matters is Annika Langvad. The great Dane is back after a 6-year hiatus and will race alongside Sofia Gomez Villafane, will any of their rivals be able to take the challenge to the Toyota Specialized combination? Later in the episode we pre-view the 47th Cape Town Cycle Tour. For the men the race is a blank slate from which one of nearly ten riders could win. While for the women it is shaping up to be a rematch of the Tiffany Keep/ S'annara Grove showdown, with Vera Looser, Hayley Preen and potentially Emma Pallant on hand to exploit any moments of lapsed concentration. Read the news reports featured in the Diverge Podcast, onwww.diverge.info:⁠Can Anyone Trump Langvad at the 2025 Absa Cape Epic?⁠ The Hard Men and Tough Battles of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic Will Sunday’s Cape Town Cycle Tour See a Double Champ or a New Winner?   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

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.

In Episode 3 of Season 2 the Diverge Podcast we feature apreview of the Big 5 by Imbuko Wines and Canetsfontein, as well as the Groot Swem from Robben Island to Big Bay. The Big 5 MTB Challenge has grown into one of the country’s premier one-day mountain bike events, and this year it boasts not only a stellar elite field by R25 000 for the winning man and woman, plus R20 000 for the King and Queen of the Mountain winners. The race to the summit of the Cliffhanger will thus be as exciting as the race to the finish line on Imbuko Wine Estate. Then, looking a bit further ahead, I’ve signed up for the Groot Swem – or Big Swim. It is a 7.5 kilometre open ocean swim, across Table Bay, to raise money for the Start Well Foundation’s battle against childhood stunting. Read the daily news reports featured in the Diverge Podcast, on www.diverge.info:Big 5 MTB Challenge: Deep Field Of International and Locals Locked InThe Groot SwemStart Well Foundation Support my Fundraiser on GivenGainFollow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 2 of Season 2 the Diverge Podcast dives deepinto the 2025 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen. The twelfth edition proved a dramatic one with punctures, crashes and illness all taking their toll. While there was plenty misfortune to go around, it did notaffect the victors at all as Imbuko ChemChamp and She Sends stormed to commanding wins in the UCI Men’s and Women’s categories respectively. Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje controlled from the front and avoided any issues ontheir way to the yellow jerseys, while Candice Lill and Kate Courtney won all four stages and the Queen of the Mountain hotspot prize for a perfect clean sweep of the available honours. This interview heavy episode dives deep intothe riders’ thoughts on the race, so tune in for the full 1 hour and 40 minutes.Apologies for the squawking of Paul Valstar in the background. Our interview location needs to be further from the finish line in future.Read the daily news reports from the Tankwa Trek, asfeatured in the Diverge Podcast, onwww.diverge.info:Stage 1: First Blood to PYGA Euro Steel 2 and She SendsStage2: Imbuko ChemChamp Seize Yellow as Honeycomb 226ers Win the StageStage 3: She Sends and Imbuko ChemChamp Queens and Kings of the Merino MonsterStage 4: Imbuko ChemChamp and She Sends Crowned Kings and Queens of the Tankwa TrekFollow Diverge on social media:@diverge.info on Instagram,Diverge on Facebook,@Diverge_info on X andDiverge on YouTube. Andsubscribe onSpotify.

2025 is already 30 days young and so much has happened. Join the Diverge Podcast as Seamus Allardice looks back on how the mountain biking season started at the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, on the 18th of January and at what happened at the first Ford Trailseeker of the year on the 25th of January. Plus there’s some chat about Alan Hatherly’s enthusiasm for the year ahead on the road and MTB, as well as a look at how he’s going in the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia – where he finished 3rd behind Tom Pidcock on the only uphill finish of the 2025 race. Looking ahead the Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, takes place from the 6th to the 9th of February, and it will be the first real test of form for the likes of Kate Courtney, Candice Lill, Lukas Baum, Georg Egger, and Matt Beers. Read the stories and news covered in this week’s episodeof the Diverge Podcast on www.diverge.info: Attakwas Extreme: Hatherly Opens 2025 Season with a Victory Trailseeker National MTB Series Kicks Off with Massive Prize Purse Safari Essence Titan Racing Launch with Danielle du Toit and Bianca Haw Tankwa Trek: She Sends and Speed Company Headline 2025 Elite FieldsFollow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 7 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice talks you through the 2025 Absa Cape Epic route, after riding the route recce. As is usually the way of it, he didn’t complete every stage – because he came in unfit and exhausted – but if you’d like to avoid withdrawing from the race you should probably listen up and start training, hard. Without long passes, aside from the final climb of the Queen Stage, the route is punctuated by 2-3 kilometre long 10% average gradient challenges. These along with the amount of singletrack sap not just the legs but your whole body. So take a listen to a quick overview of what to expect.   Remember you can read all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast on www.diverge.info: 2025 Absa Cape Epic Route Reveal RH77-Factory Wins Fiercely Contested Edition of the Old Mutual Wealth Double Century   Please note the Diverge Podcast will be taking a break over the festive season until the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, which takes place on the 18th of January 2025. You can tune in again for news from the Hell of the South and previews of the racing season on, Thursday, 23 January next year.   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 6 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice chats to EcoBound and To Hell and Back’s Zane Schmahl about the oldest mountain bike stage race in the country. Over beers in Gamkaskloof – as Die Hel is actually known – they spoke about the history of the event, the difficulties of staging a MTB race in such remote places, and the future of the 30-year-old event. Remember you can read all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast on www.diverge.info: Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Passes Stage 1 of Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidacy Garden Route Giro: Explore the Passes Thomas Bain Built Who to Watch at the 2024 Old Mutual Wealth Double Century Grant Parkes Wins Pedal Project Dream Bike Raffle   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 5 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice reflects on a stellar edition of the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz race. Toyota Specialized dominated the final event in the Epic Series’ 2024 calendar, winning all three stages, despite Alex Miller crashing heavily on Day 2. With serious stage race season now completed we then pivot to the Garden Route Giro and the launch of Dryland Event Management’s gravel stage race. Seamus joined the team from Oudtshoorn on a three-day media recce and got to see, first hand, some of the groads the race will take in, in 2026.   Then looking ahead this weekend is the oldest stage race in the country, To Hell and Back. Though it’s more social than racy, now, it is something we’re really looking forward to riding.   Remember you can read all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast on www.diverge.info: Total Domination by Toyota Specialized at the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz Garden Route Giro: Dryland Introduce 6-Day Gravel Stage Race To Hell and Back: As jy weet, weet jy!   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 4 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice looks back on the first two races in the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales series, reflecting on Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs victory in the Chardonnay as well as the excitement of E-Bike racing in the Pinotage. The Pinotage ended with the Swiss team of Santina Malacarne and Lukas Dennda having to resort to Malacarne towing and pushing her partner after his engine cut-out. Meanwhile in the Klein Karoo the Dryland Traverse wrapped up and Nicola Freitas provided a recap of the action from her perspective.   Then we look ahead at the Shiraz race at FNB Wines2Whales, which is shaping up to be a doozie. Remember you can read all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast on www.diverge.info: Pure Perfection for Lill and Jacobs at the FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay Malacarne Tows Dennda to FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage Victory Internationals Excel in Iconic Klein Karoo Trail Run Beers On Ice for The Last Dance of the 2024 Season at FNB W2W   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 3 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice looks ahead at the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales with the insights of Tiffany Keep, Bianca Haw and Sarah Hill. Meanwhile in the Klein Karoo the Dryland Traverse got underway today, 31 October, and Nicola Freitas provides some on the ground reflections from the Prologue which takes in a run through the Cango Cave – a world heritage site. To read more about the events and news covered in this episode click through to the website www.diverge.info:   Chardonnay Field Shines for 2024 FNB Wines2Whales   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In Episode 2 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast Seamus Allardice looks back at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, as well as the Cape Town Trail Marathon, and the Prince George Monumental 100 Miler. Then casts his gaze ahead at the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales and finds out from Zane Schmahl what the route conditions are like on the Road to Hell. To read more about the events and news covered in this episode click through to the website www.diverge.info: Hendricks and Kavanagh Power to Peace Run Victories Williamson and Kanyimo win Cape Town Trail Marathon Titles Glenrose Xaba Shatters the SA and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Records on Debut Why To Hell and Back is the OG MTB Stage Race   Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube.

Tune in for Episode 1 of the rebooted Diverge Podcast. The relaunched pod will be a shortcast/micro pod of between 10 and 20 minutes in length, focusing on the events and sports host, Seamus Allardice, covers on www.diverge.info. To read more about the events and news covered in this episode click through to the website:     Build-Up to the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Why To Hell and Back is the OG MTB Stage Race⁠    There’s a Comotion in the Klein Karoo⁠  Kevin Vermaak Launches Gravel Burn, 7 Day Gravel Stage Race⁠ Dryland Introduce 6 Day Gravel Stage Race, the Garden Route Giro⁠  2025 Absa Cape Epic Route Revealed⁠     Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and Diverge on YouTube.