The high level of competition, world class course design, and raw technical terrain are the factors that make The Big 5 by Imbuko Wines and Canetsfontein South Africa’s toughest one day MTB marathon, and one of the best in the world!
With the date set for 15 February 2025, there are just 2 months until this prestigious event takes place in the mountains of Wellington, Western Cape. 2025 is expected to draw more big names than ever before, further heightening the level of competition and raising the bar on South African marathon racing. Will you be there to test yourself against the best in the world on the toughest course in SA?
Enter The Big 5 MTB here and keep an eye on our social media channels here for updates on the route and some insightful videos to help you conquer the mighty course!
“I absolutely love The Big 5. I think if I could design a marathon route that suited me, that would be it. I love the challenge of the climbs but they’re not too steep and ridiculous, they are long and challenging enough their own way at a gradient that really suites me.” – Candice Lill, 2024 Winner
Who is racing THE BIG 5 in 2025?
Every year The Big 5 has delivered absolutely thrilling racing. Over the years we have had the likes of Filippo Colombo, Andri Frischknecht, Matt Beers, Candace Lill, Mona Mitterwallner, Marco Joubert, Vera Looser, and many others taking to the start line at Imbuko Wines. With R25 000 each on offer for the fastest man and woman + a R20 000 bonus for the King and Queen of the mountain, the competition in 2025 will be fierce. With typical race times of just under 4 hours of the top men and 4hrs30 for the women, it a true test of endurance and technical skill!
“Mentally you have be ready to suffer. It’s normally very hot, and the climbs and downhills are steep and long. Get comfortable with your bike’s setup and pack loads of chow.” – Marco Joubert, 3rd Place 2024
The Big 5 draws the who’s who of marathon racing with local legends and international stars set to go toe-to-toe in Feb 2025. Here is who you’ll see on the start line of The Big 5 by Imbuko Wines and Canetsfontein.
In the women’s field we have Sam Sanders and Danielle Strydom confirmed with likely appearances from Candice Lill (2024 Big 5 Winner), Vera Looser (2024 Marathon World Cup winner), Sarah Hill and Bianca Haw, of whom the latter has been shaking up the results with a strong return to racing this year!
In the men’s race, the local Imbuko Pro Cycling riders Marco Joubert, Tristan Nortje, Rudi Koen and Lood Goosen will of course be present for their home race and Marco is hungry for a win after narrowly missing out to Filippo Colombo and Andri Frischknecht in a sprint finish in 2024!
Arno du Toit, Herman Fourie, Rossouw Bekker and Cronje Beukes are also confirmed to be racing and we’ll have likely appearances from Keagan Bontekoning, Marc Pritzen, Wessel Botha, the Pyga EuroSteel team, Johan Van Zyl, and Alex Miller. We’re also expecting a good showing of European pro riders with the likes of Team Bulls and Scott SRAM being regulars at The Big 5, we’ll make announcements on our Social Media as more riders are confirmed!
The toughest terrain in SA, but also the most rewarding
If you’ve ridden bikes in Wellington, you’ll know that it’s no walk in the park. The Limietberg mountains are steep and have plenty of vertical exposure to make those big climbs truly epic battles! It isn’t only the relief of the land that makes racing bikes here so challenging, the sandstone rocks have eroded to make for slippery surfaces with plenty of loose gravel over hard packed ground. It’s classic Western Cape mountain biking!
With that in mind, the descents are what make every pedal stroke to the top worth the sweat. Seemingly endless trails that carve their way through fynbos and forest, drawing you deeper into the moment as the world slips away and it’s just you and your bike in perfect harmony moving through the most breathtaking scenes in SA.
This is where you earn your stripes a South African mountain biker. Tested physically on the massive climbs and technically on the epic descents. The BIG 5’s route has been designed to take you up and over the biggest and best climbs on this mighty range of mountains and down unforgettable descents that you won’t find the likes of elsewhere in the country!
Breaking down The Big 5 course
“What really makes the route so amazing is the descents and in particular the Cliffhanger, it is so so iconic and beautiful. I love both aspects of the route, the descending and the climbing, and the nature of the climbing. The event has a great vibe and quite a few European pros come along as well to make the racing harder. I always feel like I’m going too hard in the beginning but I seem to manage to maintain it and I think that’s because I’m having so much fun on the descents in between!” – Candice Lill
As Candice says, the route is equal parts challenging and rewarding with 3 000m of climbing over the 70km course. The climbs will test you to your limits and the descents will pay you back with incredible views, turns, and the rush of speed. When it’s all over, you’ll be welcomed back at Imbuko Wines with a cool damp facecloth, recovery drinks, a comfy chill area and delicious food options for you and the family (and of course some of the finest wine around)!
Now lets dig into the details of this grand route in the Limietberg Mountains!
Hawequa – 15km up / 4km down
The first climb of the day (Hawequa) is entirely made up of farm and forest roads. There is plenty of room to contest for position and overtake on the climbs but watch out for ruts and loose rocks!
You’ll be treated to spectacular views along the top contour (700m vertical into the race) before you plunge down to the Hawequa Scout’s Hall on the Hawequa trail! The trail is fast, not too technical, has plenty of corners and is quite loose under tyre towards the bottom.
Seven Peaks – 4km up / 4km down
Once you pass the first water point at the Hawequa Scouts Hall, the second climb of the day will begin. Seven Peaks is a single track climb that gains 360m of elevation through steep switchbacks and a couple of rock gardens before pounding back down to the valley floor on the surreal Cool Running’s trail! High speeds, sublime corners, and some slippery gravel sections make this am iconic section of the race!
Obiekwa – 12km up
By this point (27km into the day) the legs will be talking to you but the biggest climb is about to start. Passing through the Canetsfontein water point (a great spot for spectators to hang out) you will begin the ascent to the mighty Cliffhanger! Winding single tracks and forest roads will lead you up and up into the mountains where you’ll eventually emerge out of the trees to one of the most unique trails in South Africa. Expertly crafted switchbacks take you higher and higher to 1000m above sea level and the start of the Cliffhanger descent!
The Cliffhanger – 10km down
If you’re a little intimidated by the sharp turns and steep terrain, take a deep breath and remember the following; manage your speed into the corner with your brakes, start the turn as much to the outside of the corner as you can, look to where you want to go through the corner and try release the front brake through the turn to let your tyre grip and turn better! Once you’re through the switchback gulley at the top, the trail opens up and you’ll have one of the longest and most grin-inducing descents of your life ahead, dropping 850 metres in 10km! Enjoy every moment!
Groenberg – 6km up / 3km down
Passing through the Canetsfontein water point again with 47km under the belt you’ll have 2 more big efforts to tick off. Groenberg is the fourth climb and mixes singletrack and farm roads to take you up 240m over the 6km climb. There are a couple of steep pinches but this ascent is mostly forgiving! The Golden Mile trail will take you through the gulley and round a bunch of super fun corners back to the valley floor where you’ll pass the Val du Charron water point. Fill up here because there is still a ways to go (just over 10km of hard riding) and the Pataskloof climb can bake in the sun.
Pataskloof – 11km up and across / 5km down
The final test is a steep gravel road that points up the mountain that you descended down with the Cool Running’s trail earlier in the morning. Vasbyt through the first sting on the gravel road and then prepare to navigate some rough and rocky terrain on your way back across to the Hawequa Scouts Hall. On your way you’ll encounter a sharp descent on very loose gravel with a lot of ruts, play it smart and safe here to get to the finish in one piece!
New change to the route near the finish
Leaving the Scouts Hall, you’ll now head down and out the main gate for a faster finish instead of back across the Brookyln Bridge and the nasty climb out of the valley. The easier finish might make for some new surprises elsewhere in the route to keep everything in balance so keep an ear out for route announcements on our social media channels!
“The Imbuko Big 5 event is just before the Cape Epic stage race which means that everyone’s form is pretty much cooking. This is the perfect test of fitness. There is no other race like this in SA!” – Marco Joubert
Are you up for the challenge? The Limietberg Mountains are calling. It’s time to show them what you’ve got!
Enter at https://imbukobigfivemtbchallenge.co.za and come prepared for a ride like no other on the 15th of Feb 2025!