South Africa's premier 4-day UCI stage race, the #TankwaTrek, has been awarded the highest SHC status for 2025 and beyond. The increase from S1 status guarantees more UCI Points and an increased prize purse. https://diverge.info/2024/12/19/tankwa-trek-awarded-premier-uci-shc-status/
#MTB #MountainBiking
If you're keen to kick your 2025 off with an adventure give me a shout.
When: 2-5 January
Where: Ruiterbos, Van Wyksdorp, Calitzdorp & Oudtshoorn rural
Cost: R1 700
Bookings: email info@diverge.info (Very limited spots available)
https://diverge.info/2024/12/18/leeukloof-loop-a-january-bikepacking-adventure/
#Bikepacking #CyclingTrip #CycleTour
What to expect from one of SA's toughest #XCM races, The #Big5 by Imbuko Wines and Canetsfontein when it takes place on the 15th of February next year: https://diverge.info/2024/12/12/why-the-big-5-is-one-of-sas-toughest-mtb-xcms/
#MountainBiking
#GravelBurn have partnered with Swiss cycling brand, #Assos, as the 7-day gravel stage race's official cycling apparel partner. Assos will produce leaders as well as rider kit, which participants can order, ahead of the inaugural event. https://diverge.info/2024/12/12/gravel-burn-welcomes-assos-as-official-cycling-apparel-sponsor/
Entries are open to the 2025 Race with Soul. The Momentum Medical Scheme #CapePioneer, presented by Biogen, promises adventures, challenges and hearty Klein Karoo hospitality. Find out more here: https://diverge.info/2024/12/11/cape-pioneer-plan-your-2025-adventures-at-the-race-with-soul/
The RH77-Factory team took a bold approach to the Old Mutual Wealth Double Century on Saturday, going hard to each checkpoint with the aim of completing each leg with just six riders. Though this left them exposed to time loses if anyone punctured it did enable them to blitz the course and win the 2024 title in commanding fashion: https://diverge.info/2024/11/24/double-century-rh77-factory-wins-fiercely-contested-2024-race/
#DoubleCentury #RoadCycling
Episode 6 of the rebooted #DivergePodcast is live, featuring a chat - in #DieHel - with #ToHellAndBack #MTB's Zane Schmahl. Listen or watch on Spotify and read all the other News on diverge.info.
#Podcast
After a highly successful 2024 edition Abbott World Marathon Majors have announced that the Sanlam #CapeTownMarathon has passed Stage 1 of the selection process which should see the race become #AfricasFirstMajor in 2026. https://diverge.info/2024/11/21/cape-town-marathon-passes-stage-1-of-awmm-candidacy/
#RoadRunning #RoadMarathon #Marathon
The 2026 #GardenRouteGiro course might still be underwraps until March 2025, but the key points it will visit have been revealed, including 5 iconic passes & poorts built by South Africa's most famous road builder, Thomas Bain. https://diverge.info/2024/11/21/garden-route-giro-exploring-the-passes-and-poorts-bain-built/
#Gravel #GravelBike #GravelRace
There are fierce battles throughout the 300 team strong Old Mutual Wealth #DoubleCentury field. Here's a look at some of the teams to watch for Saturday's 32nd edition of the famous team time trial.
https://diverge.info/2024/11/20/double-century-battles-expected-for-titles-bragging-rights/
#Cycling
The #DreamBike Raffle raised over R160 000 for the #PedalProject's 2025 #TrailTherapy programme and saw Gant Parkes ride away with a unique Outer Cycles Link E-Bike as the lucky winner. https://diverge.info/2024/11/20/pedal-project-grant-parkes-wins-outer-cycles-dream-bike-raffle/
#MTB #Charity
This week, in the #DivergePodcast, Seamus Allardice looks back at the FNB #Wines2Whales Shiraz & the #GardenRouteGiro Media Recce, before looking ahead to this weekend's #ToHellAndBack stage race. Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/seamus-allardice3/episodes/5-Beers-for-Toyota-Specialized-at-Wines2Whales-e2qvtj0
#MTB #MountainBiking #GravelCycling #Podcast
The all-conquering Toyota Specialized team completed their clean sweep of FNB #Wines2Whales stage victories on the final day of the 2024 Shiraz race, from Oak Valley to Benguela Cove, today. Matt Beers and Alex Miller’s margin of victory was 7 minutes and 42 seconds. Imbuko’s Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha held Honeycomb Pro Cycling at bay on Stage 3 to secure second, ahead of Tristan Nortje and Marc Pritzen. https://diverge.info/2024/11/10/wines2whales-total-domination-by-toyota-specialized/
#MTB #MountainBiking
Alex Miller endured a bad looking crash, with just a few scraps and bruises, en route to victory on Stage 2 of the FNB #Wines2Whales Shiraz race. For the second day running the Toyota Specialized team were joined on the podium by Imbuko and Honeycomb Pro Cycling. Read the story of how the day unfolded here: https://diverge.info/2024/11/09/wines2whales-miller-survives-stage-2-crash-to-win-with-beers/
#MTB #MountainBiking
Toyota Specialized's Matt Beers and Alex Miller engaged power mode to surge to victory on Stage 1 of the FNB #Wines2Whales Shiraz today. Behind them Imuko's Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha were second, ahead of Tristan Nortje - who dislocated his shoulder on Gantouw Pass - and Marc Pritzen - who suffered two poorly timed dropped chains. Read about what happened on the course from Lourensford to Oak Valley here:
https://diverge.info/2024/11/08/wines2whales-toyota-specialized-engage-power-mode-on-day-1/
#MTB #MountainBiking
The FNB #Wines2Whales Shiraz is effectively the end of the South African MTB racing season. With significant prize money on the line the top local teams are thus highly motivated to finish the 2024 season with a win. Here's a look at who to watch this weekend: https://diverge.info/2024/11/07/wines2whales-beers-on-ice-for-the-last-dance-of-mtb-season/
#MTB #MountainBike
The Pinotage race at FNB #Wines2Whales wrapped up at Benguela Cove on Wednesday. After a day of rain and a stage under cloudy skies the sun came out for the downhill run into the Overberg. It was anything but smooth sailing for the Mixed Category leaders though, as Lukas Dennda's E-Bike motor cut-out and his teammate, Santina Malacarne, had to tow and push him up every climb in order secure the 2024 title. Read the story here: https://diverge.info/2024/11/07/wines2whales-malacarne-tows-dennda-to-pinotage-victory/
#MTB #MountainBiking
While the men's & mixed category leaders, at the FNB #Wines2Whales Pinotage race, are familiar faces, the women's leaders are unexpected heroines. Meet Heather Collen and Kerry Ould to discover their E-Bike adventure: https://diverge.info/2024/11/05/wines2whales-meet-the-unexpected-leaders-of-the-pinotage/
#MTB #MountainBike
The 2024 #DrylandTraverse wowed locals and internationals alike as it took in a section of the Cango Caves and lots of fantastic mountain trail running in the Swartberg. Read the full story from the race here: https://diverge.info/2024/11/05/dryland-traverse-internationals-excel-in-iconic-klein-karoo-run/
#TrailRunning #TrailRun
After a weekend of sunshine, rain blew in from the north west for the Pinotage race at FNB Wines2Whales. It was thus a wet, windy, and cold affair on the opening day, but that didn't diminish the fun the fun the riders had out on the trails: https://diverge.info/2024/11/04/wines2whales-dirty-delight-on-day-1-of-the-pinotage/