It’s time to experience the magic of the KAP sani2c!
Whether it’s the promise of a getaway, the thrill of an adrenaline rush or a big challenge that requires training and focus - we all need something to look forward to. When you decide on that goal or book that break, having it in the calendar provides fuel for the soul. KAP sani2c 2026 is the ultimate three-day mountain bike journey of 270 kms from the Drakensberg mountains to the sea at Scottburgh, and you should be there.
That sani2c feeling of the road ahead, the community support, and the thrill of the trails in store
There are so many elements that have made sani2c iconic, but it all begins with the route and the trails. After navigating the Cannondale Curves, fly through exhilarating singletracks in Sappi plantations, then choose left or right to cross the Mossbank Dam on the PG Bison floating bridge. Connect with the sheer joy and thrill of the legendary Umkomaas Drop, and the reward of knowing you climbed the Unitrans Iconic Climb without needing to get off the bike and push. Clint’s Climb will remind you that the legs still have Work to be Done in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, followed by the singletracks through Mtagati coastal bush. A maze of sugar cane fields and the Hansgrohe Floating bridge across the lagoon at Scottburgh beach, all lead you home to Scottburgh Golf Club.
Choose your line. One is shorter and faster, but perhaps a bit trickier.
These trails have been honed over many years with meticulous attention to detail, and the constant striving to improve the experience is why returning riders still get surprises.
‘Farmer’ Glen Haw is usually spotted out on the trails, or is there for a hug at the finish line
KAP sani2c Adventure: Wednesday 6 May to Friday 8 May
KAP sani2c ‘OG’: Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May (with UCI Prologue 6 May)
Do you know the difference between the Adventure and the ‘OG’?
Does it get better than this?
While the world we live in has grown so complex, sani2c distills what matters into three days of fun and focus, getting you from one point to the next through exquisite beauty and tough trails, with countless people pulling together to make it happen for you. Some riders have done it again and again and made it their annual pilgrimage, but each year there are fresh faces who may have been dreaming of this experience for many years.
Grant Mcpherson is one of just three riders who have done every single one of the 21 editions of sani2c. In the early days he rode his bike as fast as he could, but now it is his annual reset:“I see it as a journey not a race. The three days at sani2c gives me the chance to recharge my batteries. It’s a relaxing few days, and I always come away refreshed.”
What dreams are made of. The view from the cabbage tree on the Umko Drop.
For some it’s a personal challenge to achieve something they did not think was possible, for others it’s fun with friends or family, or ticking off that bucket list, much like 62 year-old Charmaine Eleftheriou and 70 year-old Sheila McCall did this year.
The pair fulfilled their long-held ambition of taking on the KAP sani2c. Charmaine says: “sani2c was an event we’d talked about for the last 10 years. It was definitely all about the experience and adventure - not the race. Over the three days of riding, the camaraderie was overwhelming. We didn’t feel any pressure from other riders - just support and encouragement.”
Another first-time sani2c rider this year was multi-platinum-selling South African singer-songwriter Elvis Blue, who traded in his microphone for his mountain bike to take on the Adventure. He says: “There really is something quite magical about being on a bike in a beautiful place. It gives you the opportunity to clear your head. There are many things that make the sani2c experience very special. You take some of the most scenic scenery our country has to offer, mix in spectacular singletracks, and then the organisers have really gone above and beyond to put together a well organised event, with great accommodation and facilities. I think the best thing for me was being there with a bunch of friends and having a beer after each stage.
When you make it to the top of the Unitrans Iconic Climb
“Something that I also noticed that left quite a big impression on me was the community involvement in the race. It's clearly not lip service. I found the happy faces and the participation of the community in the event quite inspiring,” he says.
This is one of the key things that distinguishes sani2c from other events, and what has made it more than a ride. Having been established in 2005 by the Haw family to raise funds for Lynford School where the Haw children went to school, 21 years later sani2c still operates on the fund-raising model they adopted: schools and other organisations along the route provide the services for the race, from the race village preparation and catering, to managing the water tables, bike washes, and shuttle services for the cars from Glencairn Farm down to Scottburgh. By bringing together communities to volunteer for their organisations for over twenty years, sani2c has become part of the fabric of the communities along the 270 km sani2c route and represents family, tradition, and togetherness. And riders feel it.
A reward like no other, a cold beer with your mate after a wonderful day on the trails
Bond with buddies after a challenging day in the saddle, enjoying the comfort of the race villages that have benefitted from years of constant improvements. Whether you head for the banana bread at Mackenzie Club or the crunchies at Jolivet, the hours you spend refuelling, recovering and relaxing will include a hot shower, a hearty meal, and a well-stocked bar. Emerge from your canvas tent each morning to the aroma of Exploring Coffee and the excitement that you get to do another day of this.
That smile on the face when you have made it to the beach and can picture the fairway finish line
Fuel your soul. Get KAP sani2c 2026 onto your calendar. Entries open 25 July.