JEFFREYS BAY – The 2026 Trans Baviaans 24-hour mountain bike race will go ahead on 8 August despite devastating floods that struck the Baviaanskloof region in May, with organisers confirming that an alternative route will replace the traditional course from Willowmore to Jeffreys Bay.

According to organisers, for over two decades, the Trans Baviaans has presented ultra-endurance fanatics with one of the most rewarding challenges in South African mountain biking.

The statement said traversing the largest wilderness area in South Africa, the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and the greater conservation areas of the Kouga and Baviaans Mountain Ranges, the 24-hour race is unique for many reasons.

“The remoteness of the route from Willowmore to Jeffreys Bay is but one of the many attractions, though this remoteness also brings with it challenges,” the statement said.

The statement added that because of the devastating flooding, which wracked the region in May, an alternative route will have to be used for this year’s Trans Baviaans.

Race founder Wikus van der Walt said, “We’d like to reassure riders that the 2026 Trans Baviaans will be going ahead.”

“There will also be route changes, but the ethos of the Trans Baviaans will remain unchanged,” said Van der Walt.

He said the event was founded as an adventure in 2004, and though the modern world has expanded its reach into wild places over the 22 years since, the Baviaans has remained refreshingly untamed, though that does bring its own challenges for organising bike races.

“In recent years, extensive work on the road through the Kloof has made the race faster, with the Insect Science team shattering the course record last year on gravel bikes. This year, the floods have undone the road engineers’ work, and we will see a rugged, rough, and very memorable edition of the Trans Baviaans, but no course records will be broken,” said Van der Walt.

The statement said Mother Nature has produced many a surprise during the 21 editions of Trans Baviaans to date.

Most recently, freezing rain made the 2022 race particularly memorable.

“One edition which stands out for me is the Langsbaviaans of 2011,” said Van der Walt.

“That year, flooding a week before the race, had us scrambling for an alternative route to the Nature Reserve section through the Baviaanskloof. We decided to take the route to the northeast of the Baviaanskloof Mountain range and along the Grootrivier Pass. The route was dubbed the Langsbaviaans by the riders, and it looks like this year will see something similar taking place.”

Race Director Marelize Rhodes said they are still working out the exact details.

“Water levels are still dropping in the Groot and Kouga Rivers, and work on the roads is ongoing. We have a likely route plotted out, as well as an alternative, and a route we’d love to do if the work progresses faster than expected over the next six weeks,” said Rhodes.

“We reccied the traditional route, as far as it was possible to do so, as well as the alternative routes over the weekend, and we’re certain that the 2026 edition will take place on 8 August. Changes to the route are virtually inevitable, though, and as a result, the checkpoints will be in new locations. Riders will therefore need to be flexible in their approach to this year’s race and not mentally prepare to have checkpoint boxes at the 93-, 123-, 140-, and 172-kilometre marks.”

Rhodes said they will, however, ensure that the checkpoints are located in places where riders need them, before and after long climbs or particularly challenging sections of the route, to make it easier to fuel appropriately for those segments.

The statement said the 2026 Trans Baviaans route will be published, and GPX navigation files will be sent to 2026 participants to load onto their bike computers at least one week before the event.

The statement added that this route announcement will also include the checkpoint locations and information for supporters detailing where to meet their teams at a new Checkpoint 5-style support zone.

“With the road works ongoing, we’re holding off on announcing the route in detail at this point, as it may be possible to avoid some of the changes,” said Rhodes.

The Kouga Local Municipality has partnered with the Trans Baviaans on a three-year sponsorship agreement and is equally committed to ensuring a successful 2026 edition.

Kouga Speaker Lorraine Maree said, “The Trans Baviaans is more than a sporting event; it is a globally recognised showcase of everything that makes Kouga special, our spectacular landscapes, warm hospitality, quality accommodation, unique tourism attractions, and world-class adventure experiences.”

Rhodes said Kouga’s involvement means they are working with local government, local landowners, and local businesses to stage a memorable event.

“Trans Baviaans fills Willowmore to capacity and is the small Karoo town’s biggest event of the year. The financial benefit to Willowmore cannot be overstated. Jeffreys Bay is bigger and enjoys more tourism throughout the year, but in the absence of the World Surf League contest at JBay this year, Trans Baviaans provides much-needed bed-and-breakfast as well as hotel bookings at the end of winter when the town is quiet. We are working to ensure that riders and their supporters will maintain their accommodation and restaurant bookings, or book meals and beds if they haven’t yet, because the floods have impacted tourism terribly,” said Rhodes.

“I hope Trans Baviaans can kick-start a return of visitors to the Baviaanskloof region,” said Rhodes.

For regular updates on the road and route conditions leading up to the 2026 Trans Baviaans, which takes place on 8 August, follow @transbaviaans on Instagram or like the Trans Baviaans 24HR MTB Race Facebook page.

For more information, visit www.transbaviaans.co.za.

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