If you haven’t yet done one, it’s time to tackle your first mountain bike stage race! You may not think you’re ready, but if you have a reasonable level of fitness and can cover 50km of distance in under 4 hours, then you should be able to complete a mountain bike stage race.
South Africa is the world’s leading country when it comes to mountain bike stage races, so you have a great choice of events. Bearing in mind this is your first stage race, it’s best to choose one that’s geared for stage-race rookies. Here are a few as well as some advice on how best to prepare…
Most mountain bike stage races are three-day events. But there are some that are two-day races. You need to work out which you would prefer. If you aren’t too experienced, it’s probably best to go with a two-day, but know that one more day often makes the trip more worthwhile.
Here’s a list of upcoming stage races that are worth considering:
Fedgroup Cradle 100
Avianto, Gauteng (1 hour from Pretoria)
12-13 April 2025 | Stage 1: 45km | Stage 2: 55km
Sabie Xperience Lite
Sabie, Mpumalanga (4 hours from Pretoria)
1-3 May 2025 | Stage 1: 42km | Stage 2: 45km | Stage 3: 32km
Glacier Waterberg Traverse Ride
Summerplace Game Reserve, Limpopo (2.5 hours from Pretoria)
9-11 May 2025 | Stage 1: 30km | Stage 2: 36km | Stage 3: 33km
Standard Bank Berg & Bush Two-day
Emseni, Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal (4.5 hours from Pretoria)
31 May and 1 June 2025 | Stage 1: 60km | Stage 2: 50km
SOLO OR TEAM?
Traditionally, most stage races use the two-rider team format, but many of the newer ones offer a solo-entry option. First-timers should consider the team format as it’s a great way to share the challenges and rewards. If you’re smart, you can convince an experienced rider to partner with you to make the experience less ‘bumpy’.
CHOOSE WISELY
Choose a stage race that you feel you can manage. Look carefully at the route information because a 40km flattish stage is a lot easier to complete than a 40km stage with lots of climbing. Enter it as soon as possible so that you have a firm goal and start training specifically for it. You want to do at least one long ride a week, ideally two to prepare you for the distances. Also be sure to include singletrack riding in your training as singletrack is prevalent at most races.
IT’S AN ADVENTURE!
A stage race is more than the actual riding. The training for it, the trip and accommodation planning (if it doesn’t have as part of the entry), the new places you discover and the break from your routine all add up to an exciting adventure! Be sure to add a stage race to your to-do list if you haven’t done one yet. And if you have, add another!