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A Busy Events Schedule

It’s been a busy few weeks for the development programme with riders competing all over the country in a variety of events and activities.

The BMX National Series rounds 9 & 10 as well as the National BMX Championships was staged in Gauteng on the 21st & 22nd September and KZN sent through a large contingent of riders including 14 x riders that have progressed through the KZN Cycling Development programme. The smaller size of berms and jumps lent itself to being better suited to younger riders however made the Elite races no less exciting and the KZN team achieved some excellent results with a few outstanding performances.

Following in his big brother’s footsteps with a clear natural talent for riding bicycles, Mongezi Madida who is the younger brother of Manqoba managed to achieve an SA 4 placing in the final which as a novice rider who only started riding BMX this year and racing in the Expert Class, was a fantastic achievement. Wandile Mbili from Ilembe also achieved an excellent result considering this was his first national event winning through to the finals and attaining a SA7 number. Tyler Thompson managed to retain his SA 1 title with clinical racing from start to finish and other good results from the development group came from Tate Barnard – SA3, Mvelo Ntombela – SA6, Sphelele Ntombela – SA7, Mongezi Madida – SA4, Anele Ndlovu SA3, Logan Lambert SA6, Manasseh Meintkies SA6, Jordan Smallbone SA6, Zaid Stofberg SA3 and Sisanda Ngcobo SA3.

The Hi Q Hoedspruit Youth Festival took place at the Swadini Resort in Limpopo from 22nd – 25th September with a large KZN squad of junior riders that took part to compete against riders from all of the provinces across the country.  The event consists of a mountain bike race, road race, hill climb, individual time-trial and criterium with points being accrued by all the riders throughout and allocated to the overall points to determine the winning teams at the end of the competition. Part of this year’s KZN team were four young men from the development programme that were selected to compete in the event, these being Chad Singh, Smagaliso Msomi, Thabiso Shange and Banele Khanyile .

Apart from the excellent performance of the KZN squad as a whole, the youngsters from the development squad rode extremely well and contributed along with all others to the dominance of the KZN team at the event. As the competition progressed, and as they got used to the conditions and the type of competitions each day, the young boys got stronger and stronger and started finishing higher up the results sheets which is good to see. The KZN team won the event overall dominating the score sheets racking up a total of 316 points to take the title with Gauteng a very distant 2nd place with 139 points and Mpumalanga in 3rd with 135 points.

Six young riders from the programme qualified for the national finals of the Spur Schools Series and Lihle Ngidi, Unathi Nxumalo Thabiso Zindela, Mnelisi Khomo, Lerato Mokela and Anele Khoza made the trip to the event. It is fantastic to see the two girls qualifying and is testament to their massive improvement and efforts this year and is a huge achievement for them as well as the boys on the list, especially Mnelisi who has given his all at every event. They all rode well with varying success at the event and did not disappoint on look out of place at all against the best school riders in the country.

While all the events were going on, the work of the development district officers continued this month and another 86 x training clinics were held across the country with another 4 144 learners being included in the programme. To date, a total of 18 166 youngsters have been through the clinics programme which is great news.

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Karkloof Enduro 2025

The Karkloof Enduro will take place at the Absa Karkloof Country Club on 6th of April 2025.

The Elite Athlete Development Programme (EADP)

The Elite Athlete Development Programme (EADP), delivered in partnership with sport federations and high-performance institutions, is a direct response to the KZN Provincial Government Cabinet Lekgotla of 20-21 February 2014. The Lekgotla resolved that; ‘talented athletes are identified and developed through the implementation of a structured system of talent support and promotion of high performance.’ The vision of the department’s EADP is to “Identify and develop KZN athletes, in an optimal environment, with the qualities required to be international champions”. The programme is based on an ‘athlete-centered, coach-led and performance-driven system’ that provides athletes with world-class support services and facilities, so they can focus solely on performance. Since the inception of the Programme, EADP Athletes have won Olympic and Paralympic medals, World Championship medals, Youth Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals and more International and National Medals. Our congratulations to the Athletes for their outstanding achievements and to their families, Coaches, Clubs, Federations and Academies. You continue to make KZN Proud! The programme is implemented through the Prime High-Performance Institute and offers athlete support in different tiers with services which include medical screening, musculoskeletal screening, dietary assessments, high performance testing, functional movement screening, medical support, high performance training, gym membership and nutritional support. For further details on the programme and application forms, please reach out to the commission heads listed below. Contact List: Road Angus McFarlane angus@mcfarlanelinings.co.za   Mbuso Mhlongo m4ieng@gmail.com BMX Theuns van Heerden tvheerden@gmail.com MTB Greg Stedman greg.stedman@un.co.za   Dellah Paul dellah.paul@cyclingsa.com Track Ahmed Murchie murchie.am@gmail.com

KAP sani2c

The Ride of Your Life in 2025: KAP sani2c Whether it’s the longest singletrack thrill you ever experience on the bike courtesy of the ‘Umko Drop’, or the satisfaction of reaching the top of the gruelling Unitrans Iconic Climb, KAP sani2c delivers unmatched mountain biking, and 2025 will be no different. “Endless manicured singletrack, the camaraderie of riders and the awesome community support, sani2c is the perfect balance of beauty and struggle to make the finisher’s shirt all the more worth it. I’m not surprised that riders keep coming back,” says John Low, who was a first-time rider at KAP sani2c’s 20th edition this year. Susan Gerber is a sani2c ‘Black Mamba’, a rider who has done sani2c ten or more times, and she says: “It doesn’t matter how many times you do sani2c, every time is a new adventure, a new challenge. The spoils of beautiful trails, and the lekker vibe, and oh the food, all keep us coming back. Sani constantly delivers beyond our expectations on the trails, accommodation, facilities and hospitality. From the early days of showering in a tent, to having built showers – It has  become my annual holiday, if I dare to call it that.” From vast open tracts of game reserve or farmland, to compact indigenous forest, sani2c is a three-day dream on the bike If you’re looking for your next big adventure, set your sights on KwaZulu-Natal and enter the iconic KAP sani2c – there’s no better way to challenge yourself and create unforgettable memories in May 2025. Due to the event’s massive popularity, it expanded threefold over the years and three separate events now start on consecutive days. With a recent renaming of The Race to recognise it as the original sanic, the ‘OG’ still hosts the country’s top riders at the sharp end of the 1000-strong field, as they compete for UCI points, starting with a Prologue. The Adventure is still The Adventure and remains an early sell-out with a waiting list. Some say there is more of a party vibe here where the beers flow readily after each morning on the bike, and The Adventure has been around long enough for many riders to call this their sani2c ‘home’. The contrasting atmosphere of plantation forest, rugged Umkomaas Valley, sugar cane fields, and the view to the ocean, makes this point-to-point journey pure magic The Trail is now called the e-Trail, the sole event for e-bikers. With only 500 riders accommodated in the e-bike version, it is geared for groups looking for a more intimate, relaxing experience where a luxury tent option is more readily available. Non e-bikers can ride the e-Trail, but e-bikers may not compete at the Adventure or the ‘OG’, so this is where mixed groups will participate. This event is bound to help a novice to relax and focus on their goal of finishing ‘the best three days you can spend on a mountain bike.’ If you are looking for more details about the small differences between the three sani2c events, have a look at this guide. All three of the KAP sani2c events have these things in common: 1. Point-to-Point Journey: Unlike many stage races that are based at one race village, the KAP sani2c takes riders on a transformative adventure, starting in Underberg near the iconic Sani Pass and finishing in Scottburgh on the Indian Ocean coast. This format offers an unparalleled sense of progression and achievement. 2. Expertly Designed Route: Over two decades, ‘Farmer’ Glen and his family have collaborated with local communities to perfect the route. Riders benefit from meticulously crafted trails featuring thrilling singletrack, diverse terrain, and stunning landscapes. Now firmly established, the route is constantly scrutinised for even small tweaks that will enhance the experience. 3. Rich in Singletrack: The event boasts the highest proportion of singletrack among South Africa’s stage races, ensuring an adrenaline-fueled experience through forests, valleys, farmlands and nature reserve, as well as criss-crossing the mighty Umkomaas River. 4. Simple Logistics: The race’s thoughtful organization makes participation easy. Riders can fly into King Shaka International Airport and take the sani2c shuttle to Glencairn Farm. If riders  travel to the start in their own vehicle, local school parent volunteers drive vehicles to Scottburgh, helping to raise funds for infrastructure and other valuable improvements at their schools. 5. Iconic Features: Highlights include the breathtaking descent into the Umkomaas Valley, the adrenaline-pumping Yankee Doodle trail, and a host of floating bridges. These well-thought out elements set sani2c apart as a bucket-list experience. Not to be left out is the Unitrans Iconic Climb, which Farmer Glen created to test riders’ resolve and give them a solid sense of achievement if they make the climb without setting foot on the ground. 6. Community Impact: KAP sani2c was started as a fundraiser for a local Ixopo school, and this has not changed.  Now run through the sani2c Community Development Trust, the event generates over R10 million annually for 23 schools, charitable organisations, and environmental projects. These funds enhance education, create employment and foster entrepreneurship, as well as help to expand infrastructure, demonstrating the event’s commitment to being “More Than a Ride.” Watch a detailed overview of what you can expect from KAP sani2c: Why they do it “After all these years I still get excited by the reactions of riders,” says Farmer Glen. “To hear words like ‘life-changing’ and ‘mind-blowing’ when they reach the finish line, makes all this work worthwhile. Every small detail matters, whether it’s the trail building team blowing leaves off the trail at 2am, or the home-baked crunchies and banana bread in the chill-zones, everyone takes such pride in making all our riders happy.”  Experience the thrills the e-Trail, Adventure or ‘OG’ at KAP sani2c KAP sani2c e-Trail: Tuesday to Thursday, 6-8 May 2025 KAP sani2c Adventure: Wednesday to Friday, 7-9 May 2025 KAP sani2c ‘OG’: Thursday to Saturday, 8-10 May 2025 Follow KAP sani2c on social media: