Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje make it another 1-2 Finish at Ford Trailseeker #2 Cradle

Cradle Moon, Gauteng – This past Saturday, 1 March, the Ford Trailseeker #2 Cradle mountain bike race took place, attracting 2300 participants who were treated to an exciting ride through the rugged terrain of the Cradle Moon Conservancy.

In the Elite Men’s race, teammates Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje of Imbuko ChemChamp secured another thrilling 1-2 finish, keeping their hopes alive for the R1 million performance bonus for winning 6 out of 6 Ford Trailseekers, as well as the R100,000 bonus for winning the Series on points.

The Elite Men’s battle was undoubtedly the main attraction, with all eyes on Marco and Tristan as they aimed to cement their winning streak. Marco was optimistic: “The weather is perfect, and it seems like the rain is staying away. We know the course, and my legs are feeling good. We’re two weeks away from the Epic, so the form is there. I have a strong teammate, Tristan—I think it should be a good day.”

His confidence proved well-founded. The Elite men’s field took off at 07h00, and by the 12 km mark, a lead group of six had formed, featuring Nortje, Joubert, du Toit, Buys, Stedman, and Withaar. However, Pieter du Toit’s puncture ended his chances, despite a valiant chase, dashing Team Pyga Eurosteel’s hopes for a win.

At the 33 km mark, Marco had opened up a 16-second gap on Arno du Toit and Tristan Nortje. But Tristan soon bridged the gap back to his teammate. Together, they built a 44-second lead on Arno du Toit. In the end, Marco (Imbuko ChemChamp) crossed the finish line just ahead of Tristan, with Arno du Toit (Insect Science) clinching third.

In the Elite Women’s race Samantha Sanders (Efficient Infiniti), Bianca Haw (Safari Essence Titan Racing) and Hayley Preen (Honeycomb) broke away early on. Sanders confessed, “I had good legs, so I thought best not to waste them!”, sharing the lead with Preen, one minute ahead of Haw who was chasing hard 15 km in. 

At the 30 km mark, Sam Sanders took definitive control at the front and left Preen in the dust. “We started at a good pace, it was fast from the go! Going up the climb at the 30 km mark, I felt I was the strongest, and managed to create a gap & get away,” she celebrated. Sam Sanders managed to maintain her lead, crossing the line first, with Hayley Preen second and Bianca Haw third.

After the leaderboard update on Wednesday, we’ll find out who will take the reins and claim the number one spot in the Elite Women’s Series standings.

The day’s racing conditions were excellent, despite an initially gloomy forecast. The overcast sky and absence of rain created ideal conditions for the riders, who were treated to rare game sightings throughout the race. Cradle Moon’s craggy climbs, fast-flowing single-track and wildlife galore ensured a challenging but fun day on the bike. 

“This event is considered one of the more demanding in the Series, and riders who completed their race Saturday can feel immense pride at having conquered the rugged terrain and considerable elevation”,  said Pieter Vorster, Race Director, Faces.

To top off a gruelling ride, riders relaxed with a cold one next to the picturesque Cradle Moon dam, toasting their rides, while the kids and the young at heart enjoyed a dip in the cool water.

“Today was exciting,” said Tarryn Knight, Ford SA representative. “And it is wonderful to see all the Ford owners here—the Ford-dedicated parking lot was absolutely packed! The Series is getting incredibly heated up with over 2000 entries in this particular race, so it will be interesting to see what happens at the next one in Pretoria on the 7th of June. Well done to everyone who finished today, and all the best with the rest of the Series.”

The third Ford Trailseeker Series will be held at Die Bosveld, Pretoria, on 7 June 2025.

Race Results:

70km

40 km

20 km

10 km