As the year draws to a close, we reflect on an exciting and action-packed season of the Ford Trailseeker Series, with specific emphasis on the Ford Trailseeker Series Leaderboard and the School Series XCM Leaderboard.
Ford Trailseeker Series Leaderboard
A surefire highlight of the 2024 series was the re-introduction of the Ford Trailseeker Series Leaderboard, which created a new level of excitement and motivation for competitive riders.
Participants across all distances showed remarkable dedication, attending at least four events in the Series to earn points and vie for the overall Series win, and with a substantial prize purse up for grabs, riders pushed their limits, leaving everything out there in their quest for gold.
The Prize Purse:
70 km:
1st – R10 000
2nd – R7500
3rd – R5000
In the 40 km and 20 km distances the top 3 riders on the Leaderboard receive FREE Ford Trailseeker entries to every race for the subsequent year!
Anatomic Leaders jerseys were awarded after every race signaling the top contenders, and adding a strategic element, as riders worked hard to maintain or challenge for the top spot across multiple distances.
Let’s take a look at how this year’s electrifying racing unfurled:
#1 Banhoek
27 January 2024 marked the start of the 2024 Ford Trailseeker Series in the Western Cape. Our first event kicked off at Plaisir Wine Estate, drawing over 1000 riders to the starting line, a record number for Cape events. This event showcases the world-class trails of the Banhoek Conservancy, as evidenced by the stacked field of international mountain bikers this race attracts annually.
This year, we were fortunate to have Alan Hatherly, Juri Zanotti, Martins Blums, Jordan Sarrou, Alessandra Keller, Candice Lill, Iana Belomoina and Annie Last gracing our start line.
With so many international riders attending #1 Banhoek, top spots on the Series Leaderboard for the 70 km were awarded to non-South Africans, Juri Zanotti and Alessandra Keller leaving the racing wide open for the remainder of the Series.
In the 40 km race, Van Zyl Steyn and Gabriella Raith emerged victorious, both securing the full 4000 points, and setting up what would become a tightly contested series.
#2 Cradle:
Back in Gauteng, Ford Trailseeker #2 Cradle Moon on 9 March 2024 stood out as an unprecedented post-COVID sell-out event and for introducing an exciting new venue to the Series. For the Gauteng riders who did not travel to Cape Town, this was their first Trailseeker of the year. The considerable elevation and sweltering heat made this event one of the most challenging this year. But the incredibly scenic trails traversing the Cradle Moon Conservancy and the chilled post-race vibe at the race venue more than made up for it.
This race brought dramatic changes to the leaderboard. Even though Pieter du Toit and Sarah Hill surged to thrilling victories on the day, it was Ignatius du Preez and Anna Marx, who had both competed at #1 Banhoek and chalked up points, who graced the top of the 70 km leaderboard.
The 40 km race saw a new leader emerge in Beon van Staden, who took the top spot on the leaderboard, with Gabriella Raith and Bianca Botha tied at the top with one win each in the women’s category.
#3 Die Bosveld
Ford Trailseeker brought yet another thrilling new venue with #3 Die Bosveld on 8 June 2024, which turned out to be a gem! With 2300 riders on the start line, the atmosphere was festively competitive.
A unique feature of this race was the option to ride an A or B line in the 70 km race—a rarity in marathon (XCM) racing. The A-line was significantly shorter but covered some challenging terrain – a great option for the technically proficient rider. The racing was flat and fast, and due to the headwind on the day, most elite riders opted for the more challenging but shorter A-line.
Jaedon Terlouw stormed to victory in the men’s 70 km, with Johan Fourie de Villiers and Pieter du Toit in close pursuit. On the women’s side, Bianca Haw narrowly beat Samantha Sanders and Nicolette Griffioen.
The leaderboard now saw Ernie Roets firmly in the lead in the men’s marathon, with Nicolette Griffioen pulling ahead in the women’s. In the 40 km race, Andre van Rooyen continued his winning ways, and Bianca Botha had grabbed the lead, making it clear she was the one to beat in the half-marathon series.
#4 Sondela
Crossing the Gauteng provincial border into Limpopo Province, Sondela Private Game Reserve remains a firm favourite in the Ford Trailseeker Series. They hosted us on 6 July 2024 for #4 Sondela. Riders were treated to a beautiful winter bushveld breakaway and an unforgettable adventure on the fast and flowy Sondela trails.
With another winning performance in the men’s 70 km, Pieter du Toit earned second place on the Series Leaderboard under Ernie Roets who held fast to his lead. On the women’s side, Samantha Sanders won the day in a nail-biting finish over Bianca Haw, while Tania Bugarin quietly moved into the lead on the Series Leaderboard with a strong third-place finish.
In the 40 km event, Andre van Rooyen and Bianca Botha extended their leads, though the margins were tightening. Both athletes had to keep up their performances with two races left to secure their titles.
#5 Van Gaalen
Another cross-border trip into the North West Province took us to the Dutch gem, Van Gaalen Cheese Farm, for #5 Van Gaalen on 27 July 2024. This iconic trail park is widely regarded as the most popular venue in the Series, no doubt due to the fun, fast and flowy trails meandering next to the Skeerpoort River. For most Gauteng riders, #5 Van Gaalen is their last opportunity to earn valuable points which may place them ahead of their rivals on the Series Leaderboard!
Van Gaalen was pivotal in defining the series contenders. Michael Foster won the men’s 70 km race, but it was Pieter du Toit who took over the Series lead with consistent top-three finishes. Jaedon Terlouw and Philip Buys remained close, keeping the men’s race wide open. In the women’s category, Nicolette Griffioen reclaimed her top spot by placing third, overtaking Bugarin on the Leaderboard.
In the 40 km race, Andre van Rooyen extended his lead, while Bianca Botha continued her reign in the women’s category. However, Megan Boshoff emerged as a serious contender with a strong second-place finish, threatening Botha’s position heading into the final race.
#6 Wellington
The Series concluded spectacularly on 7 September 2024 at the scenic Bosman Family Vineyards in Wellington, with perfect weather and a glamorous line-up that included our very own, newly crowned UCI XCO World Champion, Alan Hatherly. Riders were treated to an excellent day of mountain biking on some of the finest trails in the region. And with so many Gauteng riders travelling to the Western Cape to defend their overall positions on the leaderboard, the competition was fierce – a fitting finale to the 2024 racing season!
In the men’s 70 km race, a blistering performance by Tristan Nortje secured the win just ahead of Hatherly, but it was Pieter du Toit who had done enough to hold onto his Overall lead, winning the Series! Jaedon Terlouw and Philip Buys finished second and third in the Series, respectively.
In the women’s 70 km, Sarah Hill took top honours on race day, but Nicolette Griffioen’s second-place finish secured her the Overall Series title. Tania Bugarin ended a close second in the Series, with Sarah Hill placing third.
In the 40 km, Andre van Rooyen and Bianca Botha sealed their dominance, winning the Series overall. Van Rooyen was chased by Joshua Kanis but stayed consistent to finish strong, while Botha fended off a late challenge from Megan Boshoff.
2024 Series Champions:
Men’s 70 km: Pieter du Toit
“I’m stoked to have conquered the Ford Trailseeker Series this year! Despite missing the first event, I managed to win the series and take two event 1st places. Massive appreciation to Trailseeker and Ford for hosting world-class mountain biking events!” – Pieter du Toit
Women’s 70 km: Nicolette Griffioen
“I started 2024 knowing that I wanted to ride as many of the Ford Trailseeker Series events as possible. Each race is quite different in the nature of its trails, technicality, total ascent and speed, so competing and performing well in all of them is a proper challenge. The highlight of the series for me was definitely Wellington – tough climbs, miles of flowing singletrack, and just an amazing crowd of fun-loving mountain bikers creating an awesome vibe at the final event!” – Nicolette Griffioen
Men’s 40 km: Andre van Rooyen
“I decided to race the second race at Cradle Moon to see how I perform. Went all out there and got away with my first-ever Trailseeker win. I then had amazing results at the last few races of the Trailseeker series and walked away with the leader’s jersey! The Trailseeker Series is an amazing event and has the best trails. Can’t wait for next year’s series!” – Andre van Rooyen
Women’s 40 km: Bianca Botha
“It was an amazing year, with awesome races, awesome vibes, and awesome trails! Thanks to Trailseeker series for all the effort, making memories we will never forget.” – Bianca Botha
Men’s 20 km: Dylan Kohlmeyer
“The 2024 Ford Trailseeker was an exciting series for me with 6 races taking place over different terrains, unfortunately I could only partake in 4 of them. These races brought my cycling game to another level with strong competition throughout the series. Cradle moon was by far my favourite race with intense climbs and descents. I enjoyed the Trailseeker Series and am happy to be taking the overall win in the 20km.” – Dylan Kohlmeyer
Women’s 20 km: Jeane Smith
“Thank you, Faces Advendurance for the excellent Trailseeker Series. I enjoyed every event, and I met a lot of lekke mountain bikers with loads of gees. Initially, it only started as a great ride with my family, and I am honoured to be the 20 km Series Champ.” – Jeane Smith
These riders displayed remarkable determination, skill and consistency throughout the Series, earning their place at the top in a hotly contested season. Well
Ford Trailseeker Schools XCM Series
Another exciting aspect of the Series this year was the inclusion of the Ford Trailseeker Schools XCM Series, a brilliant initiative by Ford Trailseeker and Schools Cycling South Africa aimed at nurturing young talent. Schools are invited to enter their learner riders for a chance to compete for the generous cash prizes sponsored by Ford.
This initiative has provided an excellent platform for young riders to experience competitive cycling, fostering the next generation of riders and growing the sport at the grassroots level. This is a crucial step in developing our future stars of the sport, ensuring that cycling continues to grow at the school level and beyond.
We are proud to announce the Overall Schools XCM Series winners for 2024!
🥇Overall High School: R5000 | Kempton Park High School
🥇Top Boys High School: R2500 | Florida High School
🥇Top Girls High School: R2500 | Afrikaans Hoer Meisiesskool
🥇Overall Primary School: R5000 | Constantia Park Primary School
Congratulations!
What’s On The Cards For Ford Trailseeker 2025?
Looking ahead, Ford Trailseeker has even bigger ambitions for 2025, with plans to offer leaders’ jerseys and cash prizes for the Series winners across all three major distances, including the 20 km Half Marathon Short race.
The 10 km Fun Ride will remain a fun ride serving as a stepping stone and learning curve for beginner riders. The Fun Ride is, as the name suggests, FUN!
We’re excited to see what the 2025 racing season holds and who will rise as the top contenders and ultimately claim the Series Championship!