Matt Beers and Candice Lill claimed victories at the opening round of the 2026 Ford Trailseeker Series in the Banhoek Valley on Saturday, 31 January. With stacked elite men’s and women’s fields featuring South Africa’s top mountain bikers alongside strong international challengers, the racing was fast, tactical, and fiercely contested from start to finish.
Early Start, Fast Racing
A 06:30 start ensured that elite racers completed their events before the heat of the day set in. By 09:30 the women’s podium places were decided, while social riders later faced the full force of the African sun. For many competitors, the opening round served as an important barometer of early-season form after December and January training blocks.
“It was a chilled start, I’d say, but once the climbs came it got really, really fast out there,” noted Vera Looser. “I could feel that it was my first race of the year.”
Lill Takes Control After Keller’s Misfortune
The elite women’s race remained conservative through the opening 10 kilometres before Candice Lill and Alessandra Keller began to apply pressure on the climbs. Only Tyler Jacobs, Looser, and Hayley Preen could initially match their pace.
At the 26-kilometre mark, Lill’s sustained effort caused the lead group to splinter. Keller’s race then took a dramatic turn when a puncture dropped the Swiss rider out of the top five, allowing Lill to ride clear and secure victory.
“I could feel today that I’m in a really good place, and this is a great way to go into the season,” Lill reflected. “Unfortunately, Alessandra had a puncture, but she put in a really strong ride to come back for third.”
Jacobs finished second after a steady solo effort, holding off Keller’s late charge. Looser placed fourth, with Preen rounding out the top five.
Aggressive Racing Shapes the Men’s Contest
In the men’s race, Michael Foster set an early aggressive tempo, ensuring the field split before the main climbing sections. Sandy corners and hidden rocks made the opening 20 kilometres particularly demanding.
“The first 20 kilometres of this Ford Trailseeker Banhoek are always hard,” explained Tristan Nortje. “Position is so important with the speed and sand in the corners.”
After several regroupings and renewed attacks, a select group featuring Beers, Marc Pritzen, Luke Moir, and Foster emerged as the race reached its decisive phase.
Beers Delivers a Perfectly Timed Finish
Beers made his winning move on the final climb, edging away from Moir while Pritzen fought back to close the gap. Knowing the final section well, Beers launched his decisive attack in the last 1.5 kilometres.
“Marc was leading into the final singletrack, and I was on his wheel,” Beers explained. “I knew exactly where to attack and managed to execute it perfectly.”
Beers led through the final corner to take victory, with Pritzen second and Moir third. Foster recovered to finish fourth, ahead of former world champion Stéphane Sarrou.
Series Resumes in May
The Ford Trailseeker Series now pauses until autumn, with Round 2 set for Saturday, 2 May at Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge. With R100 000 in series prizes on offer, the battle for overall honours is only just beginning
