KAP sani2c Prologue: Explosive Start to the 22nd KAP sani2c
The 2026 KAP sani2c opened with a sharp and decisive Prologue at Glencairn Farm, setting the tone ahead of the ‘OG’ race start tomorrow morning. At just 17.96km, the route packed in 1570m of climbing, rewarding explosive power and precision on a course that leaves little room for error.
In the UCI Men’s race, Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko 1) laid down an early marker, stopping the clock in 00:42:15 to take the win. Keagan Bontekoning and Johan van Zyl (Insect Science) took second place in 00:42:36 in a jostle with Jaedon Terlouw and Travis Stedman (Toyota Specialized Imbuko 2) who finished in 00:42:37. Wessel Botha and Arno du Toit (Insect Science Safari Essence) followed ten seconds later.
Joubert, while clearly confident about his team’s prospects for the race, was pleased to have secured the leader’s jersey: “It’s nice to start this race with a win in the bag and great motivation to have that jersey on your back. Our second team, Jaeden and Travis, is not far behind us, and in a race like this, numbers will play to our advantage when the pace is so high.”
Marc Pritzen, powering in front in the early stages of the race, had to settle for fifth place with teammate Felix Stehli (Team Honeycomb 226ers) in a time of 43 minutes and 7 seconds.
The UCI Women’s race saw Samantha Sanders (Efficient Infiniti Insure) dominate the Prologue in 00:52:28, opening a clear gap over the field. The battle for the podium was tightly contested behind them, with Cherise Willeit and Ila Stow (Fortress Toyota) taking second place. Danielle du Toit approached the finish ahead of the Fortress Toyota pair but had to hold back to wait for her partner after Kemp took a slight wrong turn in the last two hundred metres. The two teams were separated by just seconds.
Willeit concedes that the Efficient Infiniti Insure team are ‘in a league of their own’ and says that the main racing will be for second and third place.
Sanders said the trails were really fast: “It was cold and windy, but the terrain was actually surprisingly good. There was obviously a lot of rain the last two days, and even last night, it was raining, so I expected more mud, but it was actually sublime.”
Looser returns to sani2c after nearly a decade and is thrilled to be back: “It’s amazing to see how the event has grown, I love the community here and can’t wait for the next few days of riding bikes.”
With the Prologue complete, the general classification is established – but anything can happen over the next three days of demanding riding.
Day 1 of the KAP sani2c ‘OG’ rolls out from Glencairn Farm near Underberg tomorrow morning – riders head to Mackenzie Club near Ixopo, over 89km, easing riders from the explosive Prologue into a more sustained test of endurance. With 1,027m of climbing and a net descent of 1,358m, the stage rewards teams who can manage effort early while staying sharp on the flowing, often technical terrain.
Men’s Prologue Results:
Marco Joubert & Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko 1) – 00:42:15
Johan van Zyl & Keagan Bontekoning (Insect Science) – 00:42:36
Jaedon Terlouw & Travis Stedman (Toyota Specialized Imbuko 2) – 00:42:37
Wessel Botha & Arno du Toit (Insect Science Safari Essence) – 00:42:47
Marc Pritzen & Felix Stehli (Team Honeycomb 226ers) – 00:43:07
Philip Buys & Pieter du Toit (FORD Prime Bunch) – 00:44:09
Women’s Prologue Results:
Samantha Sanders (Efficient Infiniti Insure) – 00:52:28
Cherise Willeit & Ila Stow (Fortress Toyota) – 00:55:24
Danielle du Toit & Roxanne Kemp (Safari Essence Titan Racing) – 00:55:31
Frances Swanepoel & Rachel Seaman (Cycle Nation Enza Construction) – 00:57:33
Kylie Hanekom & Hayley Smith (Bike Hub) – 00:59:42
Erin Shillaw & Lianke Fourie (Old Mutual Womans Team) – 00:59:59
Who won the 2026 KAP sani2c Prologue?
Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje of Toyota Specialized Imbuko 1 won the men’s Prologue in 42:15, while Samantha Sanders won the women’s race in 52:28.
Where was the 2026 KAP sani2c Prologue held?
The Prologue took place at Glencairn Farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
How long was the sani2c Prologue route?
The Prologue covered 17.96km with 1,570 metres of climbing.
What makes the sani2c Prologue challenging?
Despite being short, the route demands explosive climbing power, technical precision and high-speed racing with little room for mistakes.
What happens after the Prologue at sani2c?
The Prologue establishes the general classification before the three main stages of the KAP sani2c ‘OG’ race.
What is Stage 1 of the 2026 KAP sani2c?
Stage 1 takes riders from Glencairn Farm near Underberg to Mackenzie Club near Ixopo over 89km with flowing terrain and over 1,000m of climbing.
Why is the KAP sani2c one of South Africa’s top mountain bike stage races?
The event combines world-class trails, competitive racing, scenic landscapes and a strong riding community, attracting both elite and amateur riders from across the country and beyond.
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