Farhad Sader is the Managing Director of Old Mutual Wealth, and practices what he preaches when it comes to the Old Mutual Double Century. With multiple finishes, Sader has a former Springbok rugby player as his team captain and is ready to take on the challenge again in 2026.

How many Old Mutual Double Centuries have you done? Seven. The first was almost a decade ago, in a makeshift team that met for the first time on the morning before the start. The plan was to reach Swellendam in one piece – which turned out to be the whole plan!

Is there an edition that stands out? 2024 – my fastest. The early years were all about getting all 12 riders across the line together. Then a few ambitious riders started asking how fast we could go; and nobody wants to be the reason the group slows down, so everybody trained.

What’s your favourite part of the route? The top of Tradouw Pass to our first stop at 120km. The reward after the climb is a section of fast, rolling terrain where everyone briefly pretends that it’s easy. It doesn’t last.

And your least favourite? The Three Sisters at the end. That’s the printable name! The team’s time is taken in the middle of the group, so nobody gets to ride away from the problem. Everybody goes up. Slowly, if necessary.

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What bike do you ride, and tell us about the set-up? There are two, and I know how that sounds… The Trek Madone SLR runs Shimano Ultegra components, with 30mm tyres, Bontrager RSL 51 wheels, Assioma Duo power pedals and a Wahoo Bolt computer. I can’t hide from the numbers! Then there’s the BMC Teammachine SLR01, which has a Dura-Ace drivetrain and 30mm tyres on Scope Artus 4 wheels. 

Both bikes are coming to Swellendam. The BMC is new, and a close friend and teammate gets the honour of riding it before I do.

What’s been your longest ride in the build-up? A few weekend rides of around 135km, followed by the One Tonner (160km), which was where I found out whether the winter training had paid off or if I’d just talked about it…

Whole food or gels on race day? Both. I aim for 60g of carbs an hour – that’s my ceiling. Somewhere between 120km and 160km, the thought of another gel becomes genuinely offensive, so from there the stops are for proper food.

Who do you train and ride with? There’s a weekly bunch, most of them stronger than me, which is the point. You don’t get faster riding with people you can drop. The rest is solo on the trainer at home, which is more structured and fits around work and family.

Are you the team captain? What makes a good captain at the Old Mutual Double Century? I’m vice-captain. The captain is Breyton Paulse, and ‘vice’ is a fair description of the gap! Breytie is a born leader, with decades at the top of professional sport, and we feel the benefit. A good captain understands what the group needs before the group does, and gets the message across in a way that tired riders can believe. My job is mostly to agree with him. 

What’s your post-race indulgence? Immediately afterwards, a chocolate Steri Stumpie, which I’ll have been thinking about since roughly the second Sister! Later, a braai, more pasta than is reasonable, and dessert. By then, the Three Sisters have their polite name back.

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