The dramatic landscapes of the Tankwa Karoo once again played host to elite mountain biking as the 2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, concluded on Sunday, 8 February. Over four demanding days and 280 kilometres of racing, the iconic stage race delivered commanding victories, high tension and a deeply emotional finish.
Seiwald and Cortinovis in Complete Control
The UCI Women’s race belonged entirely to Greta Seiwald and Sara Cortinovis. The Decathlon Ford | Unno pairing wrapped up a flawless overall victory by winning all four stages of the event, underlining their dominance from the opening day to the final finish line.
Wearing the First Ascent pink jerseys throughout the race, Seiwald and Cortinovis established an early advantage on Stage 1 and steadily extended it over the following days. Their decisive moment came on the Queen Stage, which included the iconic Merino Monster climb. There, they claimed both the stage win and the Queen of the Mountain hotspot prize, effectively sealing the overall title.
Despite carrying a comfortable 6-minute and 13-second lead into the final stage, the duo opted for an aggressive approach rather than a cautious ride. Their attacking strategy paid off, adding a further 7 minutes and 15 seconds to their advantage and securing an emphatic overall victory.
Behind them, Vera Looser and Samantha Sanders once again finished second overall, while Cherise Willeit and Ila Stow comfortably held onto their podium position in third.
Drama and Nerves in the Men’s Race
The UCI Men’s competition was far more fraught, with tension lingering until the closing kilometres. Andreas Seewald and Jakob Hartmann of Singer KTM began the final stage with a 5-minute and 23-second lead, but the Tankwa Trek’s reputation for late drama proved well founded.
A pair of punctures for Seewald turned the final day into a nervous affair. With the help of their Singer KTM teammates, Simon Stiebjahn and Martin Frey, the German duo kept calm, avoided panic and limited their losses. Though they were unable to contest the stage win, Seewald and Hartmann rolled home to secure the overall title.
Local Heroes Shine on the Final Day
While the overall leaders rode defensively, Travis Stedman and Jaedon Terlouw raced aggressively at the front. The South African pairing claimed victory on the final stage and, in doing so, leapfrogged their rivals into third place on the final general classification standings.
A Win That Carried Deeper Meaning
Beyond the results, the most heartwarming story of the race belonged to Hartmann. After being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism last year and warned that he might never race again, his return to top-level competition was deeply emotional. Securing overall victory at the Tankwa Trek marked not just a career highlight, but a powerful personal comeback.
As the dust settled on the Tankwa plains, the 2026 edition once again affirmed the race’s reputation as a true test of endurance, resilience and teamwork — and a stage for unforgettable human stories.
