Enduro World Championships | Meet Team SA
The 2026 UCI Enduro World Championships heads to Finale Ligure, Italy, with the eMTB titles decided on Saturday and the Enduro titles on Sunday.
Long regarded as one of the spiritual homes of enduro, Finale’s rugged coastal mountains and network of technical trails provide a fitting backdrop for the season’s biggest rally. With national pride on the line and World Titles decided against the clock, the margins will be slim, the pace relentless and mistakes costly.
South Africa has an eight person squad taking on the best-of-the-best and we’ve got images and words from the crew there for you to get more acquainted with the toughest men (and woman!) of SA mountain biking. Here’s Team SA…
// Jason Boulle, 28yrs
Where did you grow up?
Little bit of KZN, little bit of Joburg.
Where do you call home now?
Somerset West.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
Jonkershoek’s trails are really up there. Helderberg is my most regular local visit at the moment. The Town Bush trails in PMB are great as well! Rockwood’s Angel in the Karkloof also comes to mind as a goodie, and then the Witfontein trails in George are also top class for me (maybe the closest to what we race in Europe).
Why do you race Enduro?
It aligns so well with how I enjoy riding my bike on any given day; I’m keen for a big day out and I’m happy to climb, as long as there’s a good trail coming back down!
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have done quite a lot by now! I first raced in Europe back in 2019 at a couple rounds of the Enduro World Series (way out of my depth). It was then a long while before I returned, at first for the inaugural Enduro World Championship in 2024 alongside Keira, Luca, and Keagan Brand who we are missing this year. Following that, I managed to race a full season of Enduro World Cups in 2025 which was a big learning curve and a massive undertaking. The plan was to repeat that this year but a dislocated shoulder early in the season sent me home early and I’m really grateful and stoked to be able to come back and finish of the season with Worlds in Finale alongside an awesome squad of Saffas! I’m going to give the best of myself this week and the result will be what it will be.
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
Thinking about racing Enduro mostly. I work as a freelancer in digital marketing, along with my wife, to pay the bills. Trying to stay consistent on the training schedule to be ready for the races! Les and I try to get out for a couple of walks or a hike each week too so it’s not all about bikes, but it’s mostly about bikes. Don’t mind hopping in a kayak when I get the chance but that seems to happen less and less often these days.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
I ride a Trek Fuel LX, size large and I’m 1.79m tall. It has a FOX 38 and Float X shock, Shimano XT brakes with 223mm TRP rotors and I usually use metallic pads. On the cockpit side, I’ve got a cSixx stem, Raceface carbon bars with a 30mm rise and the bars are 760mm wide. The Leatt grips have been very good. The wheels are cSixx E Series Carbon on Hope Pro5 hubs – though currently with a Lyne AMP Alloy on the rear for a bit which has been an interesting experiment. Also, I use a Cushcore Pro front and rear for questionable line choices and hitting stuff hard. Maxxis all the way – usually Assegai DH MaxxGrip on the front with DHRII DH MaxxTerra on the back. The drivetrain is Shimano XT, opted for the mechanical shifting because it’s easier to troubleshoot and I love the feeling. There’s a 34T cSixx chainring on a Sigeyi AXO power meter. Other notable parts – I have a spare tube stashed in the frame, a Lyne multitool on the bottle cage and ArmourRide frame wrap. Oh, ja, a cSixx Cage on the derailleur.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
After racing on the Trek Slash last year, I was keen to try something that was a little more of an all rounder, knowing how big the pedal days are at the Enduros in Europe, and also something a little simpler to maintain. The Fuel LX has been great in that regard, and with 170/160mm of travel, it is of course still super capable in the rough stuff. This bike is just really easy to get along with and that is sort of what you need for Enduro when the terrain is varied and the demands rage from powerful sprints in the stages to big liaisons up the hill and long technical descents.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
Brakes for sure. I like them to be as potent as possible (hence the 223mm rotors) and ideally biting early on in the stroke, so getting the right bleed is key. Tyres/wheels are probably next, I need to have a wheel setup that I can trust when pushing hard on a stage and so the Maxxis DH casing with a Cushcore Pro insert is my go to because it is just bombproof. I’ve struggled a lot in the past feeling like I’m between a medium and a large frame most of the time (at 179cm and preferring a more compact setup). This season I’ve tried a size large when I’ve ridden a medium or M/L in the past, and while the bike has felt comfortable and roomy, as soon as we’re back on the tight and twisty European enduro trails I feel like I want to go back to a Medium so maybe that will be next season’s mission.
// Jan Vreken, 17yrs
Where did you grow up?
Johannesburg and Lisbon.
Where do you call home now?
Stellenbosch.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
Jonkershoek, George and Karkloof. More niche: Botmaskop, Coetzenburg steeps and our homemade step-up.
Why do you race Enduro?
Because I like jumps, speed, having fun and exploring new trails. Enduro is the best way of doing that. There aren’t enough races of one discipline in SA to keep me busy, and XC makes me too nervous to enjoy, so I ride Enduro for the fun of racing my bike with friends.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
I’ve done no international races at all, and I’m just incredibly stoked and happy to have qualified for the event. I’m expecting to have a whole lot of fun, and to give it my all while having a jol (damn that rhymes)..
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
Training for Enduro 😅. I’m always riding, mostly XC, sometimes DH, sometimes more Freeride. Building jumps, riding jumps, surfing, exploring, some schoolwork now and then, freeride skiing, and just generally enjoying life.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
I’m on a Giant Reign with a FOX38 and Float X2 combo. My Shimano SLX Brakes are bled to perfection. The bar and stem are from Giant and I’ve got OneUp grips – the slim ones. Tyres are Maxxis Assegai DoubleDown casing on the front, with a Vittoria Airliner and a Minion DHR2 in DH casing on the back with a Cushcore. I’ve got GX T-Type shifting with carbon cranks to keep my inner XC racer satisfied.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
Because my XC bike would probably snap 😂. I’m very honoured and very stoked to be sponsored by Giant, and this is their top of the line Enduro rig, which i’m suuuper happy with, and continuously blown away by it’s capabilities.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
My bike has to be quiet, in working order, and preferably in one piece.
// Troy Cole, 17yrs
Where did you grow up?
Durban.
Where do you call home now?
Ballito.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
George, Western Cape.
Why do you race Enduro?
I race enduro because I genuinely enjoy riding and spending time on the bike with friends. The challenging trails, speed and technical riding is what makes the sport so enjoyable for me.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
This will be my first international race, so I am not setting overly high expectations. My main goal is to push myself, gain experience and find out what I am capable of racing against some of the best junior riders.
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
When I am not riding, I am usually either fishing or surfing with friends.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
It’s my Yeti SB160 with a RockShox Zeb Ultimate and Fox Float X2. Burgtec Bars and grips with Sendit Hand Guards. I’ve got TDR 29 rims mated to OneUp Hubs with Goodyear Wrangler tyres. I also use a OneUp Dropper Post and a Cushcore in the rear tyre.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
I had a crash on my old Intense and cracked the frame. Instead of replacing it with another Intense, I chose the Yeti SB160 because it’s lighter and gives me a better fit. The Yeti is a large frame, whereas my Intense was a medium, so it suits me much better.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
I’m especially particular about the position of my brake levers. I can immediately tell if someone has moved them, even slightly, so getting their position exactly right is very important to me.
// Frankie du Toit, 29yrs
Where did you grow up?
Pietermaritzburg.
Where do you call home now?
Stellenbosch.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
Jonkershoek / Witfontein, George.
Why do you race Enduro?
Enduro feels like the essence of mountain biking. It combines all the great aspects of riding – amazing trails, talking kak with your mates on the climb up, some healthy competition, pushing your technical and physical limits on the bike – and puts into a discipline.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
I haven’t done much enduro international racing (an EWS back in 2019 and a handful of British national races), but I have progressed a lot in my riding since then and am excited to line up for an international event again! For this event I am hoping to be able to push on every stage (the longer, more physical stages we race here are challenging to get down without feeling like a complete passenger by the end!) and try and keep the intensity consistent throughout the day, however I have no idea where I’ll stack up results wise. I want a day I am proud of!
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
I work full time at Hellsend Bike Shop in Stellenbosch – you can’t keep me out of the industry!
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
Size medium Trek Fuel MX with RockShox Lyrik Ultimate and a Vivid Ultimate Coil shock. Maven brakes, Burgtec 25mm rise bars trimmed to 760mm wide and a cSixx 50mm stem. Wheels are the Bontrager Line Comp Alloy, mullet with Maxxis Assegai and DHR2 in DH casing – and a Cushcore in the back wheel. Drivetrain is Shimano with Di2 XT shifting.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
I am supported by Trek SA and chose the new Fuel MX bike as my race bike for this year because I felt it was the perfect bike for our SA trails – it’s super responsive, incredible to pedal, stable at high speeds and handles bigger impacts well – it may be slightly undergunned for this event, but I feel so good on the bike I am more than happy to ride it!
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
My brake lever set up. I want the bite point on my brakes to be relatively close to the bar and it has to be the exactly the same.
// Luca Zietsman, 19yrs
Where did you grow up?
Grew up mostly in Cape Town.
Where do you call home now?
In lovely Cape Town more specifically Durbanville.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
Hillbillies Trails, George.
Why do you race Enduro?
I race Enduro because you get to explore remote locations with your friends, have fun riding your bike, and race down mountains.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
This will be my third World Champs, and this year I completed a full World Cup series, so I have a decent understanding of riding in Europe and the demanding conditions.
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
I try to stay active with lots of gym work and by keeping busy.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
I’m on a Scott Ransom RC with FOX Factory front and rear. Shimano XTR Brakes, a Deity Stem with 760mm Renthal Bars. Santa Cruz Reserve Wheels with Continental Kryptotal Tyres and a full Shimano XTR Drivetrain.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
This bike just rips through anything you put in front of it. You just need to have the guts to send it! I’ve raced a full season on it, and it has given me no problems whatsoever. It’s very strong and surprisingly lightweight for a big 170 mm front and rear rig, coming in at 14.9 kg.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
Suspension! My suspension is where I spend most of my focus. If my suspension isn’t right, the bike isn’t right. I really need my suspension to be set up exactly how I want it.
// Matt Lombardi, 29yrs
Where did you grow up?
Helderberg, Somerset West.
Where do you call home now?
Stellenbosch.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
Witfontein, George.
Why do you race Enduro?
I really enjoy the adventure part of Enduro. Getting to ride in new locations and unseen trails is something that’s very special to me. I enjoy the long days and varied terrain that each stage offers. It’s a true test of man and machine.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
Quite a bit. I raced the EWS from 2017-2019 and a few more international Enduros since then. Such as Trans Madeira twice, a few French Cups, and the one and only Enduro Des Nations in 2019. Guess I’m old now. My expectations are to enjoy the Finale trails and survive a big day in the hills. Results are kind of secondary to me and the experience is what I value.
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
Riding most other cycling disciplines. I enjoy the odd gravel race, and have been more present on the DH bike the last couple years. I started my own brand and Race Team, Unbound, and that keeps me busy off the bike. I also really enjoy tennis and have recently taken up enduro motorbikes with my Dad.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
I’m on a Commencal Meta SX with FOX Factory 38 and X2 suspension. Shimano XT brakes, a Burgtec cockpit and DT Swiss Wheels. Maxxis Assegai and DHR2 DH tyres. SRAM Eagle 90 and a 210mm OneUp dropper.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
I’m actually loaning the bike from Commencal SA on a long term test and thought it would be mega to race it on the world stage! So far I’m pretty impressed.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
Cockpit positioning. I just want my hands to feels comfortable and know where my levers are at all times. Little bit more fussy with suspension than I used to be, but mainly getting the sag, rebound, and compression right makes the bike feel wonderful.
// Justin Deyzel, 18yrs
Where did you grow up?
Pretoria.
Where do you call home now?
Pretoria.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
Definitely between Jonkershoek and George, but I think George is my favourite.
Why do you race Enduro?
I race Enduro because it gives me the opportunity to be outdoors and explore new places. I’m also quite good at descending, so that’s something I really enjoy about the sport.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
I have no international racing experience yet, as I’ve mainly been focused on national racing. This is also my first year racing a full Enduro season, so I’m still quite new to the sport. My expectations for the World Champs are to have fun, gain as much experience as possible and learn from racing against the best in the world. At the same time, I want to do well because I’ve been training hard and want to see what I can achieve.
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
I’m usually racing XCO or marathon, as those are the most popular forms of mountain biking where I come from. There aren’t many mountains around Pretoria, so the gravity scene is quite limited. I also enjoy playing padel, but most of my time is spent cycling.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
It’s a Specialized Stumpjumper 15 with Öhlins Suspension, Maven Brakes and OneUp V2 Bars. I’m using Schwalbe Magic Mary and Albert Radial Tyres, SRAM GX Transmission and Roval Wheels.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
I’m riding the Stumpjumper 15 because it’s a lightweight and efficient bike on the trails, while still being capable enough for Enduro racing.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
I’m not too fussy about most things on my bike, but I pay the most attention to getting my suspension setup right.
// Keira Duncan, 25yrs
Where did you grow up?
Karkloof.
Where do you call home now?
Karkloof is home, apart from several months of the year where I am overseas racing, all around Europe.
Favourite Trails in South Africa?
That’s always a tough question. I’d have to go with Karkloof and Witfontein (George).
Why do you race Enduro?
Since a real youngster I enjoyed racing. I did BMX, Moto some XC and a bit of Downhill but Enduro racing is the format that stuck. It combines a lot of elements together that I think make it a lot of fun, technical and physical trails, long adventurous rides, a strong social component, often tight competition, a great variety of terrain and beautiful landscapes to experience.
How much international racing have you done and what are your expectations for the 2026 World Champs race?
I’ve now got a few international seasons under my belt, although 2026 is my first full season having taken on the entire World Cup season and several other international competitions. I’m stoked to have made it through the whole season, I feel like I’ve made some great progress and look forward to giving my best shot at world champs for a solid result.
When you’re not racing Enduro, what are you up to?
When I’m not racing I generally have my hands dirty, getting stuck in to work on my family’s farm. We have a regenerative farm and specialize in organic fruit and vegetable production in our systems. I am passionate about growing plants and all things nature related. So I generally find myself very busy working outside of racing, and of course training as much as work allows to build for the next season.
Take us through your setup for World Champs.
I’m on a PYGA Slakline High Pivot in size small. RockShox Zeb Ultimate Fork and a SuperDeluxe on the back. I run SRAM Maven Brakes but with Galfer 203″ Shark rotors and either the Race or Advanced Galfer brake pads depending on terrain. Leatt Launch Control Aluminum, 38mm rise bars, 730mm wide with a 40mm cSixx stem. Maxxis Assegai DH Test Pilot front with Maxxis DHR II DH Test Pilot rear. The drivetrain is SRAM Eagle Mechanical T-Type and other pieces include a cSixx seat clamp, Crankbrother Mallet pedals, 170mm Truvativ cranks and a Sigeyi Power Meter.
Why is this the bike that you’re racing Enduro World Champs on?
The Slakline is my trusty companion when the tracks get steep, rough, and demanding. Believe it or not, my current frame is on its fourth year of World Cup competition and it’s going strong. It’s a big bike built for speed, but it’s balanced with an efficient pedal platform and loves everything from bike park laps, to free-ride to full days adventuring through mountains with big climbs and demanding descents.
What are you most fussy about on your bike?
Probably most fussy about suspension pressure/setup and tyre pressure. It feels like I’m fighting with the bike if those are out. //
| IMAGES: Lara Bredenkamp, Les Boulle | EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Jason Boulle |