Race Preview: Imbuko Big 5 Challenge | 3000m in just 77km
Deep field of local and international stars locked-in for Saturday’s climbfest!
Excitement is building for Saturday’s Big 5 by Imbuko and Canetsfontein with a deep field of international and local competitors looking to sharpen their legs and skills – ahead of the Cape Epic! This one day marathon-style race is solidifying itself in the South African and global calendar as an event that delivers phenomenal racing on a truly challenging course with huge climbs and sublime descents.
The generous prize purse, offering R25 000 to the winners of the overall male and female categories and a bonus R20 000 to the King and Queen of the Cliffhanger ascent, will bring added intensity to the racing. Beyond the pro field, the start line will be filled with riders from across South Africa and abroad who have come for the challenging route that takes in some 3 000m of elevation gain over 77km; not to mention the spectacular descents of which the Cliffhanger is undoubtedly the crown jewel.
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Wellington is the place to be on the 15th of Feb with great spectating possible from Canetsfontein and Imbuko Wines Private Cellar. The weatherman is predicting temps in the high 30’s for Saturday in Wellington which can really shake up the race. Let’s dive into what to expect and who will be racing at the 2025 Big 5 MTB Challenge.
The lineup
There is certainly high expectation and a lot of hype around the hometown heroes Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje racing for Imbuko ChemChamp, fresh off of a dominant overall win at Tankwa Trek and setting a new record on the Merino Monster climb in the process!
“Tristan and I are both critical thinkers regarding the process of training and are in love with it. Now that we are racing together on the same team, this means we are only constantly pushing each other to perfect our craft. We both believe that we have what it takes to compete against the best. The team also believes in us and gives us the support needed to do that.” says Marco Joubert.
Here’s what Tristan Nortje had to say ahead of Saturday’s race: “Of course it’s exciting having the best race in SA and toughest race in SA as your home race on your home training grounds. Don’t think it can get any better? Going up against Marco is going to be so much fun. We’ve become such good friends and just can’t wait to push each other with both of us on good form it’s going to be a tough and tight race. Definitely going to be exciting!”
Those words from Marco and Tristan were shared before the marathon behemoth Matt Beers submitted his entry into The Big 5. Matt’s presence will undoubtedly be felt by all the riders. He hasn’t had the opportunity to race un-tethered this season and will surely be looking to assess his form and make his mark again on a race that he has won before.
International Competitors
On the international side of things, the much loved Buff Megamo duo of Hans Becking and Wout Alleman are landing on South African soil this week and dropping right into The Big 5 for some Cape Epic prep. Wout Alleman is in fine form, claiming the win at Mediterranean Epic this past weekend and will bring some punch to the pro field on Saturday. They had this to say: “We’re coming to South Africa to enjoy some trails, and we will start next week Saturday at the Big 5! Super happy to be back in Wellington and super happy to be back in South Africa. We’re looking forward to some nice trails and to the cliffhanger! We’ll see you there.”
If we’re talking punch, Singer KTM Racing’s Martin Frey and Simon Stiebjahn can’t be ignored. The combo won the final stage of Tankwa Trek, showing that they’re race ready and could be very dangerous if things get tactical toward the finish, as we have seen happen in the past. The Big 5 is a very different event to the 4 days of Tankwa Trek. Will this play to their favour or will they flounder in the big mountains?
The Bulls Bikes team are becoming Big 5 regulars and will once again have a full house of 4 riders on the start line. Simon Schneller, Axel Roudil-Cortinat, Urs Huber, and Karl Platt are household names in South African cycling circles with a history of great performances at our stage races and one-day marathons. The boys in blue are comfortable amongst the towering peaks of the Limietberg and will add great flavour to the racing.
Other local racers in with a shout at a podium finish are Luke Moir, Marc Pritzen, Pieter du Toit, Herman Fourie, Arno du Toit, Rudi Koen, and Lood Goosen! The field is deep for Saturday’s race but these climbs are unforgiving and will expose who has got what it takes and who doesn’t.
Arno du Toit is looking strong in 2025, the former national champ claimed 3rd at a very competitive Attakwas in Jan. Here’s what he has to say going into The Big 5: “The Big 5 has become quite a prestigious event and I’m sure the rider line up for this year will be terrifying as always. With that I don’t really put expectations on a result, but rather to race to the best of my abilities. At the moment I can say with confidence that if I give it my best, the result will be something to be proud of.”
A Potent Elite Women’s Field
Returning to defend her title is the one and only Candice Lill. Candice has excelled, to say the least, on the international stage over the last season and loves to race hard in the mountains of Wellington. She’ll be aiming firmly at the top step of the podium to make racing on her birthday that much sweeter!
“I’m excited to race The Big 5 on my birthday! It’s one of my favourite races, I really enjoy the whole atmosphere of the day, the climbs, the descents, every single part of it is just awesome. In terms of the competition, it’s one of those races where you really just have to ride your own pace. I’ll ride according to what I can manage over the whole course and that will be the fastest way that I can complete the course. If I try to go harder than I want at the beginning, I might pay for it at the end.” says Candice.
Candice will have her work cut out for her as Marathon World Cup winner Vera Looser is also taking to the start line on Saturday with her own hugely successful season behind her (including a Marathon World Cup win) to boost the invaluable self-confidence needed to race at your best.
Vera is looking forward to the challenge that the racing brings. “The Big 5 is such a good form test and a very similar terrain and race characteristic as one of my main goals early in the year. It gives you an indication of where you stand compared to the other riders, but it is also very exciting to compare it to my race from the previous year. I love the course and the challenge behind this race.”
Sarah Hill, Sam Sanders, Hayley Preen, and a flying Danielle Strydom and Bianca Haw (of the newly formed team Safari Essence Titan Racing Team) make up some of the other top contenders in the women’s field while Malene Degn, an experienced World Cup XCO racer, has thrown her hat in the ring for Saturday and will bring some Scandinavian flare to the racing! It looks like it will be all to play for in the Limietberg mountains!
“I’ve learnt to love this race over the years. It pushes my mental boundaries and helps me grow into a better rider! Leading into The Big 5, I want to now test myself in a different way. 3000m of climbing in 75km is something that I need to become familiar with, especially because the Cape Epic is around the corner! My plan is to race hard, aim for a new FTP on the first major climb, and push some major single track limits!” says Sarah Hill.
The race kicks off at 6:30 AM on Saturday from Imbuko Wines in a mass start for all the riders. The leaders are expected to come through the groovy spectator point at Canetsfontein at approximately 07:45 and again at 08:45. We expect the first rider to cross the finish line back at Imbuko Wines as early as 10:15 AM where there will be great food, wine, and other refreshments for riders and spectators to enjoy! Prize giving is scheduled for 12:00 and 14:00 for top men and women respectively.//