The Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, returns from 30 September to 4 October 2025. Known as the Race with Soul, it blends world-class mountain biking with a relaxed village atmosphere, creating a unique mix of competition and camaraderie. For both elite professionals and everyday riders, the event offers a rare chance to test themselves on South Africa’s most scenic and challenging trails.
From Seven Days to Five
Launched in 2009 as a seven-day stage race, the Cape Pioneer quickly earned a reputation for its tough, ultra-distance routes through the Southern Cape. In 2024, the organisers reduced it to five days, striking a balance between difficulty and accessibility. The shorter format has allowed them to increase the intensity of the stages while still ensuring that the experience remains enjoyable. Defending champion Keagan Bontekoning of Insect Science praised the change, explaining that it made racing more tactical last year, but he expects the longer and tougher stages of 2025 to create bigger time gaps. In his words, “It’s never over until the end.”
The 2025 Route
The fifteenth edition of the race begins in Wilderness for the first time. Riders will cross the Outeniqua Mountains to Louvain on an opening stage that covers eighty-four kilometres with more than two thousand metres of climbing. The following day loops out and back from Louvain on an eighty-eight kilometre course with one thousand eight hundred metres of ascent. Stage three takes riders on a ninety-six kilometre transition to Oudtshoorn, setting up the penultimate day. Stage four promises to be a highlight, finishing on top of the iconic Swartberg Pass after ninety-three kilometres of hard riding. The race concludes with sixty-four kilometres of rugged Klein Karoo mountain biking in the Chandelier Game Reserve, ending in front of the Oudtshoorn Civic Centre.
Men’s Race: Fierce Rivalries
The men’s race is set to be highly competitive. Defending champions Insect Science, with Bontekoning and Arno du Toit, face tough opposition from teams such as Imbuko ChemChamp, Toyota Specialized, and PYGA Euro Steel. The field also includes Tshenolo Pro Cycling, Honeycomb 226ers, Absolute Motion, Project Dream SA, and Kings of Neon Academy. Imbuko ChemChamp brings strength in depth, with Tristan Nortje joining forces with Travis Stedman, while Rudi Koen and Lood Goosen ride in support. Toyota Specialized lines up with Marc Pritzen and former champion Wessel Botha. PYGA Euro Steel fields Jaedon Terlouw and Michael Foster, eager to make amends after losing their lead on the final day in 2024 due to a puncture. Tshenolo Pro Cycling presents two squads, with Halalisani Ndebele and Johan de Villiers racing alongside Cronje Beukes and Daniel Kotze. Insect Science also has Alan Gordon and Jan Withaar as support riders. With new partnerships, tactical squads, and fresh rivalries, the men’s race promises fireworks right to the final finish line.
Women’s Race: Champions and Comebacks
The women’s race carries its own intrigue. Defending champion Samantha Sanders, riding for Efficient Infiniti Insure, returns after recovering from a fractured elbow and pelvis. She is partnered with Namibian star Vera Looser, who has just completed a strong European season, finishing eighth at the World Marathon Championships. Sanders admits she may not be at her best, but she remains determined to race with grit and resilience. Adding to the drama, her former teammate Danielle du Toit now rides with Bianca Haw for Safari Essence Titan Racing, ensuring that old partnerships turn into new rivalries. The women’s field also includes Lilian Baber and Karlise Scheepers of Summer Sky Racing, Frances Janse van Rensburg and Rachel Seaman of Absolute Motion, Ila Stow and Chloe Bishop of Forstress Real Estate Investments, and Sanchia Malan and Tarryn Povey of Index Property Solutions. Efficient Infiniti Insure adds further depth with Sarah Hill and Stephanie Wohlters supporting Sanders and Looser. With such strength in numbers and diverse talent, the women’s race looks set for five days of gripping competition.
More Than Just Racing
What makes the Cape Pioneer unique is its atmosphere. While the competition at the front is fierce, the event remains welcoming to amateurs who come for the challenge and the camaraderie. The Race with Soul is as much about the shared experience as it is about the podium. Spectators and fans can follow the daily drama online, with live updates on Facebook and Instagram under @capepioneer.
A Race to Watch
With demanding routes, inspiring comeback stories, and international fields, the 2025 Cape Pioneer is set to deliver five days of unforgettable mountain biking. More than just a race, it is a celebration of endurance, adventure, and community spirit. For full details, visit www.capepioneer.co.za
