Event Primer: Tankwa Trek Entries Open
The SA XCM season preparation starts with a Tankwa Trek Entry. Here’s all you need to know about next year’s race.
Every year, the South African mountain biking scene ramps up from the quiet miles of summer base training through the early season races of January, towards the first major stage race of the calendar in February, the Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen. Since its inception, 14 years ago, the race in the Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres, and Witzenberg Valleys has gained a reputation as a formidable four-day test. One where the competition is fierce, and the trails are technical, but off the bike, the hospitality is hearty, and the opportunities for relaxation take the sting out of the racing exertions. It is for those reasons and more that a capacity 500-strong field has made the trek to Kaleo, and why it is advisable to secure a spot in the 2027 race now…
The fourteenth edition will take place from the 11th to the 14th of February next year, and will boast UCI S1 category status, a stacked elite field, and one of the most competitive age-category competitions in South African mountain biking. Avid local riders need little reminding of the superb singletracks, which make up much of the 280-kilometre-long route. Stages 1 and 4 remain near the Kaleo race village, which is itself an oasis in the rugged wilderness, and sweep through the ridgelines and rock outcrops of the Bokveld. Stage 2 crosses into the Witzenberg Valley to the west, where some of the country’s most fabled cross-country marathon trails await. Raw and unmanicured, the Witzenberg stage is a true test of one’s equipment and technical skills.
Stage 3 boasts the race’s most iconic feature, the Merino Monster. Towering over the Ceres Valley, this massive ascent is arguably the most notable mountain bike climb in South Africa, and certainly the biggest climbing test in a local bike race. From the Ceres Valley floor to the summit, it gains more than 1 000 metres, but the true Monster, from the water point at the base to the Biogen hydration station at the summit, measures 7.78 kilometres and gains 712 metres at 8.8%. Currently, Tristan Nortje and Candice Lill hold the Strava King and Queen of the Mountain titles. Fans can expect those records to be challenged during next year’s race.
For international riders who have yet to experience a Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, the appeal of the event is the opportunity for competitive racing followed by absolute relaxation. With one race village for the long weekend, there is no need to repack a bag between arrival on Thursday and departure on Sunday afternoon. The lush lawns of Kaleo and the old oak trees, which provide the race village shade, create a uniquely cool setting even in the heat of the African summer. A semi-secret swimming hole, around the corner from the race village, provides a natural tonic for tired bodies, though the sports massage therapists of FHR Sport Recovery will be on hand for post-stage treatments too.
All meals, from dinner on Thursday to a celebratory farewell lunch on Sunday, are included in the entry fee. Participants can then choose their accommodation upon entering, with options including Standard, Luxury, and Premium canvas tents, Luxury Rooms in one of Kaleo’s cottages, or a campsite for a camper van. Standard team entries are priced at R28 500, from the 30th of March until 30 September 2026; thereafter, late entries will be available until entries close for R31 900. Entries are limited to 250 teams of two, and are anticipated to sell out. //