Known as the Race with Soul, the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, is more than just one of South Africa’s premier mountain bike stage races. It boasts UCI Status, attracts a stellar field of elite riders, and showcases one of the country’s most diverse and scenic regions. The 2026 race, which takes place from the 22^nd to the 26^th of September, is set to be an exciting edition, with a stacked start list, 40% more riders than in 2025, and an iconic change that is sure to shake up the racing.

“The racing might be fierce, but everything else happens at a more relaxed pace. That’s probably why it earned and then lived up to its Race with Soul nickname.”

“Our races are like children; we’re not supposed to have favourites,” Henco Rademeyer, of the organisers Dryland Event Management, said. “This one is special though… It gives us more time to explore parts of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo people normally never get to see, and it allows more time for the riders to settle in, make friends, and build connections. The racing might be fierce, but everything else happens at a more relaxed pace. That’s probably why it earned and then lived up to its Race with Soul nickname.”

“I’m excited to announce that we have 40% more riders taking part this year, and that will certainly add to the vibe on the trails and in the race villages,” Rademeyer continued. “We also have a route change to announce. With Meiringspoort currently closed, a great deal of traffic is being rerouted over Swartberg Pass. To ensure rider safety and avoid heavy traffic, we decided to avoid Swartberg Pass. Stage 4 is therefore exploring the steep hills and deep valleys of the Swartberg foothills. Riders will get glimpses of the magnificent Red Stone Hills, and may see giraffe or even kudu from the bike. It will be a day for attacking riding and perhaps a long-range break could shake up the general classification.”

The change to Stage 4 means that the 2026 Cape Pioneer will take in 387km with 7 100 metres of accumulated elevation gain. Fewer metres of climbing usually equates to a less attritional race, leaving elite riders ready to attack at any moment. Though the rocky Klein Karoo terrain should not be underestimated, even when it appears innocuous on paper.

“I think it could make things spicy from Stage 1,” UCI Women’s three-time defending champion Samantha Sanders predicted. “Without that big climb where the strongest climbers can throw down some serious watt bombs and create separation, I reckon we’ll see a much more open playing field. That could make for some really interesting racing!”

Sanders won the 2025 edition alongside Vera Looser for the Efficient Infiniti Insure team, and starts as the favourite for 2026 with another former race winner, Sarah Maré, as her teammate. Their closest rivals are likely to be the Safari Essence Titan Racing combination of Danielle du Toit and Roxanne Kemp. Du Toit is herself a Race with Soul winner, having won the 2024 event with Sanders. Sanders’ third victory came in 2023 while racing with Kim le Court Pienaar.

“I love coming back because it really is the Race with Soul,” Sanders smiled. “You can’t really explain it; it’s just a feeling you get when you’re there. But what I also love is that it never stands still. The Dryland team is constantly evolving things and taking rider feedback on board. They genuinely go the extra mile to make the experience about the riders, and you can feel that.”

Cycle Nation Enza Construction’s Rachel Seaman and Bianca Botha are among three potential dark horse teams for the UCI Women’s competition. As are the Absolute Motion team of Luzaan Durand and Silke Bester, and the Summerplace Hollard Racing combination of Chloé Hopf (née Bishop) and Lilian Baber. The Summerplace Hollard Racing, Absolute Motion, and Cycle Nation Enza Construction teams are brimming with enthusiasm and have a point to prove against the more established stage racing outfits, Efficient Infiniti Insure and Safari Essence Titan Racing.

In the men’s race, Lood Goosen and Ignatius du Preez have stepped up to defend the title won last year by their teammates, Travis Stedman and Tristan Nortje. Stedman and Nortje’s absence frees Goosen and Du Preez from the supporting roles they have played thus far this year, and gives the young Toyota Specialized Imbuko men a chance to shine. They will, however, have to do it all alone, as Toyota Specialized Imbuko are not sending a second team.

Insect Science are travelling to the Garden Route en masse. Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning reigned supreme in the 2024 race and will be looking to regain the title. The Insect Science combination has Insect Science Safari Essence to call upon for support. Though the trails may determine that it is, in fact, Wessel Botha and Jan Withaar, rather than Du Toit and Bontekoning, who are the Insect Science outfit’s protected pairing.

Marc Pritzen and Felix Stehli are undoubtedly also five-star favourites. Pritzen was second in 2025 alongside Botha, but has enjoyed a stellar 12 months since then. He and Stehli will be racing aboard their 32-inch Stoll Bikes, and South African cycling fans will be watching their progress with interest as the Klein Karoo is a tough testing ground for new developments in cycling technology.

CVNR’s Herman Fourie and Keegan Tullis, as well as the Tshenolo Pro Cycling team of Alec Coleské and Halalisani Ndebele, will be in the fight for a podium place. As will Project Dream SA’s Jordon Boshoff and Travis Rademan-Ludeke, who will be looking to differentiate themselves from the next wave of talented young riders. André van Rooyen and Tayne Rudling, of Absolute Motion/Kings of Neon, Demacon Racing’s Stephan Aldum and Wium du Toit, as well as Young Guns, Henré Myburgh and John-James Martens, will have the Project Dream SA team in their sights.

Pump for Peace Abashovi and the Pump for Peace Trailblazers cannot be discounted either. Unathi Nxumalo has enjoyed a consistent season thus far, and with Thabiso Zindela, he will be eager to best not only his squadmates, Damon Terblanche and Tumelo Makae, of the Pump for Peace Trailblazers team, but also the likes of Project Dream SA, CVNR, and Tshenolo Pro Cycling. Nxumalo and the rest of the UCI Men’s field should not overlook the challenges of Freddie Visser and Nika Duffin, of Realty Dynamix, or Gustav Venter and Noah Odendaal, of CultureSA.

To watch the racing unfold follow @capepioneer on Instagram or like the Cape Pioneer Facebook page.

READ MORE ON: Cape Pioneer MTB race SA races