The 2024 Ford Trailseeker Mountain Bike Series concluded spectacularly on 7 September 2024 at the scenic Bosman Family Vineyards in Wellington, Western Cape with perfect weather and a glamorous line-up that included SA’s very own, newly crowned UCI XCO World Champion, Alan Hatherly. Riders were treated to a superb day of mountain biking on some of the finest trails in the province.
The Wellington trails, renowned for their challenging climbs and thrilling descents, did not disappoint. Riders across all distances were tested on technical sections, rewarded with stunning views, and driven to push their limits on steep punchy climbs. And with so many Gauteng riders travelling to the Western Cape to defend their positions in the Series, the competition was white hot in the final showdown for 2024.
Elite Race
Our UCI XCO World Champion, Alan Hatherly, surprised everyone as a last-minute entrant, setting a fast pace and putting our local elites to the test. After a thrilling battle among the lead group of four, it was Alan and Tristan who broke away, turning the race into a nail-biting showdown. In the end, Tristan powered through to claim the win!
🥇 Tristan Nortje 02:23:49
🥈 Alan Hatherly 02:23:50
🥉 Arno du Toit 02:24:01
Marco Joubert held on right until the end to place 4th, with Series Leader Pieter du Toit crossing the line in 5th.
In the Elite Women’s race, Sarah Hill stole the show. Nicolette Griffioen, unfortunately, broke her chain and had to claw her way back to second place, with local legend Lehane Oosthuizen claiming third.
🥇 Sarah Hill 03:09:56
🥈 Nicolette Griffioen 03:22:18
🥉 Lehane Oosthuizen 03:25:49
Schools XCM Series
This event also marked the second race in which schools from the Western Cape competed against one another. It was inspiring to see so many young riders out on the trails, bringing a fresh and competitive energy to the race.
Congratulations to every rider who joined us on the day! Thank you, Bosman Family Vineyards for spoiling us with a stunning venue to do what we love best: racing our bikes with our favourite people.
We look forward to seeing everyone back on the trails in 2025!
