The Kayamandi Sports Fields outside Stellenbosch were filled with excitement on Wednesday, 11 March, as international mountain biking stars and local riders gathered for the 2026 songo.info Champions Race.
Held in scorching late-afternoon temperatures, the event delivered thrilling racing and a powerful celebration of community spirit. When the dust settled, Luke Moir and Olympic champion Jolanda Neff were crowned the men’s and women’s champions.
Now in its 12th edition, the Champions Race has become a much-loved highlight in the build-up to the Absa Cape Epic, bringing global riders into the Kayamandi community while shining a spotlight on the work of the songo.info charity.
Moir Claims Men’s Victory
The men’s race featured a strong international field, with Moir facing tough competition from Cannondale Factory Racing riders Charlie Aldridge and Luca Martin.
A lead group quickly formed and pushed the pace around the short, technical course that winds through Kayamandi’s streets and trails. Riders attacked repeatedly as they looked for an opportunity to break clear.
Moir made his decisive move on the final lap, attacking on the tar climb before entering the narrow downhill section through the houses.
“On the last lap I went all in on the tar climb,” Moir said after the race. “I sprinted as hard as I could to get into the downhill through the houses first.”
Once he had the lead entering the technical section, Moir was able to hold his advantage and crossed the finish line seconds ahead of Aldridge and Martin. Michael Foster finished fourth, while Cole Punchard rounded out the top five.
Neff Shows Her Class
The women’s race also delivered an exciting contest, featuring Olympic gold medallist Jolanda Neff alongside South Africa’s rising cross-country short-track star Tyler Jacobs and Buff BH rider Rosa van Doorn.
A fast start quickly split the field, with Neff, Jacobs and Van Doorn establishing themselves as the strongest riders.
As the race progressed, Neff’s experience proved decisive. On the final lap she accelerated clear of her rivals to secure the victory.
“I was absolutely loving it,” Neff said afterwards. “It’s such a special experience. We were racing through the community and all the people were so happy and excited.”
Jacobs finished second, while Van Doorn completed the podium.
Rising Stars and E-Bike Action
Before the elite races, the event featured an Open Category race and an E-Bike competition.
Under-17 rider Remi Vermaak won the Open Category race, highlighting the depth of emerging local talent.
In the E-Bike races, Michard Meets took victory in the men’s event, while Jess Kroon and Ciska Turner crossed the finish line together to share the women’s win.
A Race With a Purpose
Beyond the racing, the Champions Race celebrates the work of songo.info, a charity that provides education, sport and life-skills programmes for around 150 children from the Kayamandi community.
During a break in the racing, the IRONMAN Foundation donated 30 mountain bikes to songo.info and another 30 to the Anna Foundation, sparking excitement among the children.
With the Champions Race complete, attention now turns to the Absa Cape Epic, which begins on Sunday, 15 March, where the cycling world will once again focus on the Western Cape
