READY TO RACE: The event organisers, in front, The Herald marketing manager Berna Ulay-Walters and race director Julie Briggs, and long-time returning riders of The Herald Cycle Tour, are eager to welcome the professional cyclists to Gqeberha as they celebrate The Herald’s 40th milestone edition — marking the biggest prize purse in the event’s history. Photo: Werner Hills

The country’s best-of-the-best professional riders are getting ready for the biggest race of The Herald Cycle Tour to date: its 40th edition.

The prize purse for competitive riders for the 2026 edition of The Herald Cycle Tour is a massive R650,000, the largest amount to be given away at The Herald Cycle Tour in celebration of 40 years of cycling in the region.

The Mountain Bike Races will take place on Sunday February 8 at the Addo Polo Club, and the Road Races will be raced over the weekend of Saturday February 14 and Sunday February 15 from Pollok Beach.

Kelsey van Schoor, who will be racing for Customised Cycling Pirtek, said she lost track of how many The Herald Cycle Tours she has raced since she started racing the 55km, and moved up to race the 106km when she was old enough.

“The Herald Cycle Tour is definitely a highlight on my calendar, especially since it’s a home-town event.

“I love that the race features full road closures. It makes me feel safe out on the road. The prize money is crazy.

“It has to be among the best-paying races in the country. I hope this will attract more pro riders to the start line,” Van Schoor said.

While she will be racing both the Mountain Bike and Road Race events in 2026, Van Schoor came in second place at the 2025 Herald Cycle Tour in the 106km Classic title race for women.

“I’m looking forward to seeing where I can place in the Ultimate Quest category, but ultimately, I just want to have fun out at both events,” Van Schoor said.

As the men’s winner of the 2025 and 2024 editions of The Herald Cycle Tour in the 106km Classic title, Hanro Geldenhuys from Team RDX said the increased prize money is a game-changer, and he expects the competition to be immense for the 40th edition of the race.

“I am looking forward to attempting three wins in a row with the team! The Herald Cycle Tour is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of South African cycling.

“The route really is something special, even more so for someone travelling to Gqeberha. It truly is a highlight in our team’s calendar. Every year, the race organisation is perfect, and it just allows you to embrace why you fell in love with the sport,” Geldenhuys said.

His teammate, Theuns van der Bank from Team RDX, won the race in 2023 and said he was looking forward to the “vibe after the race in the beer tent and maybe some half-price brandy specials”.

The 40th milestone edition of The Herald Cycle Tour will also mean an enhanced family experience at the Race Village, with family tents, a beer garden, children’s playpark, on-stage live entertainment, and VIP lounges.

Johann Trotzky, another RDX teammate, said The Herald Cycle Tour is a unique race with some fast, rolling roads that make it really exciting to ride.

“The Herald Cycle Tour has done an incredible job of building this into a major event on the calendar each year.

“For Realty Dynamix (RDX), it’s not just about the race; it’s a full weekend experience, enjoying time in PE and soaking in the atmosphere. RDX have podiumed a few times over the years, and every year we aim to continue that streak.”

Joshua Louw, also from Team RDX, is looking forward to racing along the stunning coastline of Nelson Mandela Bay. His advice to other riders is to “save a little energy for the final 5km”.

“The wind along the coast towards the finish line can be brutal. And above all — don’t forget to take in the incredible views and enjoy the ride,” Louw said.

Race distances include the 80km Extreme, 60km Adventure, 30km Leisure, 5km Family Ride and 500m Junior Race at the Mountain Bike Event. For the Road Race Event, the distances are 106km Classic, 55km Pursuit, and the 2km and 500m Junior Races.

Sponsors of The Herald Cycle Tour are Telkom (Top tier Platinum), Standard Bank (Silver), Sarah Baartman District Municipality (Gold, Mountain Bike Races), as well as vehicle sponsor Eastern Cape Motor Group Ford, hydration sponsor Powerade and accommodation sponsors Town Lodge Hotel Group and Zuurberg Mountain Village.

The Herald Cycle Tour 2026 medical sponsor is Relay EMS, infrastructure sponsors are Talisman Hire and K&W, while the bicycle sponsors are Trek, Cyclo Pro and Thule. Technical sponsors are Wayne Pheiffer and Coimbra; the print sponsor for the event is Goshawk, and the security sponsor is Omega Security.

For more information and to enter, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za. Online entries close on Monday February 2. Contact The Herald marketing manager, Berna Ulay-Walters, for any queries.

The prize-money breakdown is:

Road race, Sunday February 15 2026

106km coastal classic

C1 Racing Group Men and Women. Domestic Racing Licence required: 1 R100,000, 2 R60,000, 3 R40,000, 4 R20,000, 5 R10,000

Junior Men and Women: 1 R3,000, 2 R2,000, 3 R1,000

U23 Men and Women: 1 R3,000, 2 R2,000, 3 R1,000

Elite Men and Women: 1 R3,000, 2 R2,000, 3 R1,000

MTB race, Sunday February 8 2026:

80km Extreme

Men and women: 1 R30,000, 2 R20,000, 3 R10,000, 4 R5,000, 5 R2,000

60km Adventure

Men and Women: 1 R3,000, 2 R2,000, 3 R1,000.

READY TO RIDE: Ready to tackle the 40th milestone edition of The Herald Cycle Tour are Eastern Cape Motors Group riders, middle from left, Nigel Ladwig, Willem Lategan and Gino Fabbri, with The Herald marketing manager Berna Ulay-Walters, far left, and ECM North End Ford dealer principal Dale Cuthbert, far right. Image: WERNER HILLS

The vehicle partner for the Herald Cycle Tour 2026 is Eastern Cape Motor (ECM) Group Ford. This long-standing partnership is driven by shared values of supporting local families and the economy of the region of Nelson Mandela Bay.

As one of the largest privately owned motor groups in SA, ECM Group also celebrated 40 years of existence this year (2025), along with The Herald celebrating 180 years of journalism in the Bay.

The celebrations continue into 2026, with the 40th milestone edition of The Herald Cycle Tour.

The R650,000 prize purse for competitive drivers is the largest amount to have ever been given away at The Herald Cycle Tour in celebration of 40 years of cycling in the region.

The Mountain Bike Races will take place on Sunday February 8 at the Addo Polo Club and the Road Races will be raced over the weekend of Saturday February 14 and Sunday February 15 from Pollok Beach.

“The Herald Cycle Tour has been around for so long and has had a huge impact on the local community and economy,” ECM North End Ford dealer principal Dale Cuthbert said.

“It continues to grow year on year, and we enjoy the partnership with the event because of the great visibility and teamwork we experience every year.”

He said ECM Group Ford’s brand philosophies align with the values and spirit of The Herald Cycle Tour because of the local support and belief in the people of the region that spills into diverse communities.

“Local is lekker — keeping our support local is important to us. Nelson Mandela Bay is a major sport hub in the country and province, and the family-focused aspects of the event make it one of a kind,” Cuthbert said.

Vehicles that will be supplied by ECM Group Ford to support the event from an operational point of view are the Ford Ranger Series, the Ford Territory and the Ford Everest.

These vehicles will act as lead vehicles for the elite riders, conduct route checks and see to route markings and other travel logistics forming part of the race event.

“We selected these brands because of the ever-growing presence of especially the Ford Ranger and the Ford Everest into the local market.

“As we near the 40th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour, riders and supporters can look out for the early branding of the first marketing vehicles on the roads of Nelson Mandela Bay,” Cuthbert said.

Race distances include the 80km Extreme, 60km Adventure, 30km Leisure, 5km Family Ride and 500m Junior Race at the Mountain Bike event.

For the Road Race event, the distances are 106km Classic, 55km Pursuit, and the 2km and 500m Junior Races.

“We are looking forward to a record number of entrants in the 40th edition of the race, perfect weather on both weekends and a fun, family event for all,” Cuthbert said.

In addition to the increased prize money, 3 TREK bicycles will be up for grabs.

These include two sets of Marlin 4 GEN2 bicycles valued at R26 000 (one to be handed over as a lucky draw prize — open to all MTB and Road Race participants and another to be handed over to one of the event’s beneficiaries), sponsored by TREK & Cyclo Pro, and one 2025 TREK Top Fuel 5 (Matte Mercury) valued at R55,000 (available for Standard Bank MTB and Road Race participants), sponsored by Standard Bank.

For more information and to enter, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za

Online entries close on Monday February 2.

Entries are now open for the 40th milestone edition of The Herald Cycle Tour, which promises to be the biggest event to date in terms of prize money, race village atmosphere and fast-paced competition on track and off-road.

The prize purse for competitive riders for the 2026 edition of the tour will be an impressive R650,000, sponsored by Tshedo Impact — the largest amount to ever be given away at the event in celebration of 40 years of cycling in the region.

“This is going to be a big one, the biggest Nelson Mandela Bay has seen.

“We are inviting more riders — elite and development riders — to come out and join us and soak in the beauty of our Bay with us,” The Herald editor Rochelle de Kock said.

The mountain bike races will take place on Sunday February 8 at the Addo Polo Club, while the road races will be over the weekend of Saturday February 14, and Sunday February 15, from Pollok Beach.

“It is the biggest cycling event in the Eastern Cape, and it sees riders from around the country — even from other countries around the world — coming out to enjoy the beautiful Nelson Mandela Bay scenery and the Sundays River Valley region for the mountain bike ride,” De Kock said.

“It has become an event for the entire family, and it truly is an opportunity to show off the beauty of our city and what it has to offer for visitors.”

The 40th edition of the Herald Cycle Tour promises an elevated family experience at the Race Village, featuring dedicated family tents, a lively beer garden, a children’s playpark, live on-stage entertainment, exclusive VIP lounges, gourmet food stalls, interactive cycling demos, chill-out zones, and fun competitions for all ages.

Highlights also include meet-and-greets with pro riders, race-day selfie stations and a live DJ to keep the energy high throughout the day.

More development riders will be invited to participate in the 2026 races, and beneficiary organisations that will be supported by the tour include uThando Youth Cycle Academy, Bayethe Multi Sport Academy, Reach for a Dream and the Smile Foundation.

“Reaching this milestone inspires us to enhance the rider experience for cyclists and their families and, also, to plough deeper into the community with upliftment projects,” De Kock said.

“Each year, our team strives to elevate the event, and this anniversary allows us to broaden our impact by placing a stronger focus on outreach — supporting local schools, charities and development riders in and around Nelson Mandela Bay.

“We want to ensure that the Herald Cycle Tour is something that truly belongs to everyone.”

Race distances include the 80km Extreme, 60km Adventure, 30km Leisure, 5km Family Ride and 500m Junior race in the mountain bike event.

In the road race event, the distances are the 106km Classic, 55km Pursuit and the 2km and 500m Junior races.

In addition to the increased prize money, three TREK bicycles will be up for grabs as lucky draw prizes.

These include two sets of Marlin 4 GEN2 bicycles valued at R26,000 (open to all MTB and Road participants), sponsored by TREK & Cyclo Pro, and one 2025 TREK Top Fuel 5 (Matte Mercury) valued at R55,000 (available for Standard Bank MTB and Road participants), sponsored by Standard Bank.

Sponsors of The Herald Cycle Tour include Telkom (Top-tier Platinum), Tshedo Impact (prize money sponsor), Standard Bank (Silver), Sarah Baartman District Municipality (Gold, mountain bike races), as well as vehicle sponsor Eastern Cape Motor Group, hydration sponsor Powerade and accommodation sponsors Town Lodge Hotel Group and Zuurberg Mountain Village.

The Herald Cycle Tour 2026 medical sponsor is Relay EMS, infrastructure sponsors are Talisman Hire and K&W while the bicycle sponsors are Trek, Cyclo Pro and Thule.

Technical sponsors are Wayne Pheiffer and Coimbra, the print sponsor for the event is Goshawk and the security sponsor is Omega Security.

For more information, contact The Herald’s marketing manager, Berna Ulay-Walters, on ulayb@theherald.co.za

To enter, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za.

Online entries close on Monday, February 2.

FIRST HOME: Hanro Geldenhuys leads the pack across the line as he successfully defended his Herald Cycle Tour title at Pollok Beach on Sunday. Image: Richard Pearce

There were contrasting finishes as Cape Town cyclists Hanro Geldenhuys (Team RDX) and Hayley Preen (Team Honeycomb 226ers) successfully defended The Herald Cycle Tour 106km Classic titles at Pollok Beach on Sunday.

In its 39th edition, the event, fuelled by Astron Energy and made possible by Telkom, also featured a 55km pursuit race.

There was such a tight finish in the men’s race, that all three podium finishers clocked the same time.

But Geldenhuys clinched the photo finish honours to reign supreme, sealing his second consecutive HCT title after crossing the finish line in two hours, 25 minutes and 41 seconds.

Brad Gouveris was adjudged second and Wynand Hofmeyr was third.

In the women’s race, HCT specialist Preen, 26, secured her third title in a row and her fourth overall to win in comfortable fashion.

She sailed through the finish line in a time of 2.52:05. She was followed by Kelsey van Schoor in 2.54:46 and Zanri Rossouw in 2.54:48.

Geldenhuys had hoped for some wind on the day to make the race more difficult for the riders.

“The wind wasn’t blowing that bad,” Geldenhuys said.

“I would have liked a bit more, but the teams here from Johannesburg really made the pace high on the climbs, so the wind wasn’t needed for us.

“From the start when we got away we were hoping that it would be a reduced bunch, which makes it a little bit more calculated, and that is what we got in the end.

“I was a little bit boxed in when the sprint opened up and I thought, flip, there are my chances gone and Brad was off like a rocket.

“Luckily when I got out, I could start reeling him in slowly but surely.

“The Herald always puts up organised events and everything runs smoothly. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’ll definitely be coming back next year.”

Preen said she was happy with her time, improved from 2024’s 2.59:46.

“Today I didn’t want to run solo for the whole race so I got some ladies with me and we worked nicely, and then I was like I might as well go a bit harder.

“So probably from about 60km I decided to go solo from there to the end.

“The gap wasn’t as big as last year, but it was beautiful weather conditions and a beautiful day.

“I am very happy with my third win in a row and fourth HCT win.”

The Herald editor Rochelle de Kock said the event had grown even more popular.

“It’s more than just a race for cyclists. It has become more of a family event and that is nice,” De Kock said.

“Riders are coming with the children and their families, and every year the various sponsors are setting up and accommodating those children.

“But I think what we have also seen this year, as we have seen in previous years but more so now, is the support of various foundations, the sponsorship for riders such as Uthando Youth Cycling Academy.

“You can see the investment in sponsoring those who are young and what it is doing, because last weekend, for instance, they had podium finishers, as well as last year.

“That shows the importance of really just giving everyone a chance, and we had Glenryck coming on board, who are the sponsors of their kits.

“So they looked nice and professional, and that is what the HCT is about.”

Astron Energy Group managing director Mxolisi Makhatini said: “Partaking in an event like this, we see this as allowing us to cement our plan, to create awareness but also to show support for everybody here.

“It’s the second time we are involved, so we are looking beyond just today.

“I understand the HCT is celebrating its 40th anniversary next year and we would like to be with them, supporting this event.

“But going forward we see this as a flagship event that we, as Eyona Energy, would like to support going forward.

“We would like to see this as a success.”

Telkom chief marketing officer Gugu Mthembu said: “The HCT is an important event in the community of Gqeberha and for us, as Telkom, it’s more than a sponsorship.

“The partnership cements our values of commitment to connections. If you look around, family bonds are being strengthened through this.

“But also the cyclists themselves, when you look at the dedication and the commitment they have in training to finish the 55km and the 106km, it’s commendable.

“It talks to perseverance, it talks to resilience and, as a brand, those values are integral to who we are.”

WINNING WAYS: Celebrating on the podium after the Herald Cycle Tour 80km Extreme women's race are, from left, second-place finisher Sabine Spitz, winner Robyn de Groot and Nicola Clayton, who crossed the line in third. Image: Richard Pearce

Johanneburg’s Robyn De Groot successfully defended her 80km title in the Herald Cycle Tour mountain bike event, fuelled by Astron Energy and made possible by Telkom, at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday morning.

De Groot, 42 crossed the finish line in three hours, 31 minutes and 57 seconds, shredding just over eight minutes off her 2024 finishing time of 3:40:03.

Sabine Spitz went one better than her third place of last year in a time of 3:53:49, while Nicola Clayton took the remaining place on the podium in 4:28:00.

Though happy to have defended her title, De Groot said she would like to have seen greater women’s participation in the main event.

“The trails and the route are fantastic, the weather played along and I had no problems this year, so it was really a cool race,” De Groot said.

“I truly enjoyed the course. These mountain bike events are nice and long, so it’s good — a nice single track and some nice climbing, so we had a bit of everything.

“This year I had no mechanical problems: it was smooth sailing.

“I do not really count wins or anything, but it’s always nice to come into a well-organised event.

“I would to see more women participate in the 80km.

“I was thinking about it when I was riding in. It’s not a massive challenge but it’s a big enough challenge.

“It is definitely doable, so it would be nice to see more women doing the 80km.”

In the men’s 80km race it was Stuart Marais who sailed through comfortably to the finish line in first place in 3:12:38.

He was followed by Lourens Spies (3:21:50) in second, with Stegmann van Zyl taking bronze in 3:21:51.

“I do the HCT every year. I am from here, so these trails are my backyard and I am excited to come back every year,” Marais said.

“The race was really nice. It was a great route and a nice cool day compared to the last couple of days when we had a heatwave.

“We were fortunate to have very cool weather and a great route, a lot of single tracks and great climbs.

“It was a great day. The route was marked pretty well. The water points were well stocked and I did not have any mechanical issues, so I could just enjoy the ride,” Marais said.

He said his race plan had been to go in hard from the outset.

“I planned to go strongly from the start. Where it rolls out is pretty flat, so we usually ride in big groups. As soon as we rode into the single tracks I made quite an effort to split the crew up and we did that.

“The three of us climbed nicely up the pass together and when we got to the top of the pass, I put in another effort to go away alone, and from there I rode nicely to the finish.

“It is always lovely to win, and it’s especially nice to win when you are at home on your home trails.

“I’ll have to come back next year and defend it.”

RIDING CONFIDENTLY: The Herald Cycle Tour participants are assured of top-notch emergency and medical care in the MTB and Road races, thanks to our official partner, Relay EMS. Image: RICHARD PEARCE

It’s all systems go for The Herald Cycle Tour fuelled by Astron Energy 2025, with the mountain bike races taking place this Sunday at the Addo Polo Club.

The road races will be held next Saturday and Sunday (February 15 and 16) at Pollok Beach.

With specialist teams working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this one of the most epic cycle tours in the country, the safety of the 3,000 participants in the various races, as well as spectator safety, will be a priority on both weekends.

Relay EMS will again provide top-tier emergency medical care for The Herald Cycle Tour participants, continuing its partnership with the event since 2020.

“As the official medical service partner, Relay EMS will ensure medical safety throughout the race events, offering a fully-equipped medical centre, ambulances, motorbikes, and response vehicles,” Relay EMS special medical services manager Julia Brits said.

“Relay EMS also focuses on pre-race planning to identify high-risk areas and ensure efficient response during the event.

“Relay EMS was pivotal in a life-saving incident during the 2020 race when a cyclist suffered cardiac arrest, highlighting the importance of our quick, skilled response.”

For the 39th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour, riders who tackle both feature races for road and mountain bikes can enter as Ultimate Quest participants.

The 80km Extreme is the feature event on the off-road programme, which also offers the 60km Adventure, 30km Leisure, 5km Family Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash races.

Next weekend’s road programme is headlined by the 106km Classic for various racing categories, complemented by the 55km Adventure for age groups and tandems.

The 2km Kiddies’ Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash take place on the Saturday.

Relay EMS will provide a fully equipped medical centre at the finish line for both weekends, as well as ambulances for the lead races and at strategic points along the routes.

Medical personnel will be stationed at the finish line, and a sweeper ambulance will ensure that no cyclists are left on the routes.

These resources will be co-ordinated from the Venue Operations Centre (Voc).

“The Voc is set up to allow us to live-track all our vehicles along the course, and our extensive digital private radio network will enable us to communicate directly with our crews.

“Any incidents along the route are communicated to the Voc; the Voc will then allocate the closest resource to the incident, ensuring we respond as quickly as possible,” Brits said.

Relay EMS will also have water points at both events.

“Ensuring the safety and care of all cyclists is our top priority; Relay EMS is prepared for any medical situation, and we are proud to serve this iconic cycling event again.”

Online entries for the races have closed, however, late entries will be available at the registration tent on Friday at Pollok Beach from 2-6pm (for the MTB races) and on February 14 and 15 at Pollok Beach from 2-6pm and 9-1pm respectively (for the road races).

To support your favourite riders and come share in the fun, find out more by visiting www.heraldcycletour.co.za

For further queries, contact The Herald marketing manager Berna Ulay-Walters at ulayb@theherald.co.za