‘OG’ or Adventure in 2026? Entries are open for KAP sani2c!
Message your partner, clear the calendar, and grab your entry to the best thing you will do in 2026. Entries are open for KAP sani2c.
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)
At the top of the long list of reasons to ride sani2c is the fact that it’s one of the few point-to-point stage races remaining, and covering 80 or 90+ kms per day over three days, in one direction, ensures that the terrain is incredibly varied. Through farmlands, plantations, nature reserve and indigenous forest, the vast rugged landscape is ever-changing, and that feeling you get along the way is why so many riders come back again and again.
These landscapes are something Megan Scribante (above, front) loved. While racing in the UCI category as Team Revive, with teammate Nicola Freites, Megan still managed to have lots of fun and enjoy the stillness in nature. Megan says: “It's that classic simplicity where there's just beautiful, insane nature, super-friendly locals, and you just forget about city life and everything else you have to do at home. I can remember a few times during the race, my mind just felt at ease, and at peace. There was nothing but contentment.”
After over 20 years of development by a family of dedicated and passionate mountain bikers, the 270 km sani2c route from Glencairn Farm near Underberg, down to Scottburgh on the South Coast, is world renowned. sani2c founder ‘Farmer’ Glen Haw knows what riders want, and some might say he is obsessed with making it better each year.
Cheryl Robinson (left) and Sally-Anne Skewis arrive at Scottburgh with elated faces
In 2024, just when you thought the route was set in stone, Glen and team reworked the last 30 kms of Day 1 into Mackenzie Club, and returning riders loved it, including Cheryl Robinson who finished her fourth sani2c this year, with teammate Sally-Anne Skewis: “I preferred the change of the day one finish. From the first year I did sani to now, I have to say the race just gets better and better.”
The pair finished as the 3rd veteran women’s team home, and Cheryl says: “The organising is so well done. I love the gees, the overnight race villages are fantastic and the food is amazing. I love the beautiful manicured trail, which makes it possible for new riders to compete. We rode hard, laughed harder, and made it to every water table like it was an Olympic event in snacking, fuelled mostly by banana bread, bacon rolls and USN gels by the dozen. One of the most fun (and possibly the most calorie-dense) stage races I’ve done!”
Each year farmers open their land for route access, and trail builders manicure the trails and build bridges over rivers and dams. You can only access these trails during the event, making this all the more alluring for the mountain biker seeking a new and different challenge, or an annual pilgrimage that becomes the highlight of every year.
Heiko Jakob (pictured above), originally from Germany but currently living in South Africa, finished his first sani2c in May. He says: “This photo was taken right at the top of the Iconic Climb, and you can probably see the sense of achievement on my face!
“Riding sani2c was an incredible experience - from the breathtaking trails and the well-organised race villages, to the amazing vibe amongst all the riders. It’s more than just a race; it’s a three-day adventure that’s both challenging and truly rewarding. I really hope I’ll get the chance to ride it again in the future. My teammate Ruan van Zyl supported me throughout the ride, and made the experience even more special.”
The deep-sleep afternoon nap at Jolivet Farm will have you recovered in time for day three
KAP sani2c Adventure and the ‘OG’ are the same event in most ways, with just a few key differences. E-bikes may only take part in the ‘OG’, not the Adventure, and they can opt for the e-bike race category, or start in a more relaxed group.
Billy Sendin (pictured above, with Glen Haw at the finish of day one) and Hendrico Burger rode sani2c in the e-bike racing category. Billy says he has done the race twice before on an analogue bike, many years ago, and found it quite tough, but always a fantastic experience. He says this year was exhilarating, and great fun to be competitive again, in this category: “We came second in the e-bike race and we were on the podium every evening, and I now have a sani2c trophy on my mantle piece. I’m turning 68 in August, and to have fun on an e-bike was brilliant. I will always recommend to any mountain biker to do this ride at least once in their lives.”
sani2c is a journey that takes you away from it all and back to yourself
As well as the inclusion of e-bikes, the ‘OG’ is a UCI sanctioned race and the professional racing takes place here, with a Prologue the day before the OG starts for all riders. The pro teams create an extra layer of excitement at the ‘OG’, but the racing upfront does not impact the bulk of the riders who are there to ride their own race.
And then the start days are different, with the Adventure running from Wednesday to Friday while the ‘OG’ starts on Thursday and ends on Saturday.
Lose yourself in an indigenous forest and fly through sugar cane fields - get yourself ‘home’ to the sani2c finish.
Remember, if you are looking for a bit of extra comfort after a day of riding, there are three accommodation options you can upgrade to, that include a bed with linen. These luxury tents sell out fast, so if it’s a luxury experience you are planning for your next sani2c, get that entry sorted.
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)