The 2026 Berg River Canoe Marathon from Paarl to Velddrif got underway yesterday morning (15 July), with six-time race winner Robbie Herreveld offering insight into what promises to be a fascinating battle.

Herreveld, who finished runner-up to Tom Lovemore in 2024 and Hank McGregor last year, was not drawn into predic-

ting a winner in what he anticipates being a tough race.

“Both are phenomenal athletes,” said Herreveld on Tuesday. “Knowing their history they are both going to come prettywell prepared. Tom has all the ability but I think if both of them are on form then I think that’s going to be a tough race.”

If the race was decided on pedigree, McGregor would romp home. The 48-year-old won 11 World Marathon titles between 2003 and 2018, and was so dominant winning his 14th Berg last year that he was able to manipulate the action to try and secure second overall for team-mate Sisenko Ntondini.

Sitting between youth and experience is 2024 champion Lovemore (28), who can claim stage victories over McGregor and was superb two years ago in dismantling all opposition.

If youth was the criteria, 22-year-old Maties student Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert would be the favourite after winning all four Berg Series races in June. However, he will face new questions in the long, five-hour stages.

Others in contention include Jeremy Maher (24), who Herreveld rates highly, along with Msawenkosi Mtolo, Anders Hart, Heinrich Schloms, Paul Marais and Divieano Pietersen.

The women’s race sees Neriyah Dill as clear favourite after winning all four pre-Berg races.

The battle for the podium looks likely to include 2023 winner Christy Shrimpton, Natasha Bradford, Ansune Basson and Joanne Conradie.

The starting cannon fired at 09:00 on Wednesday in Paarl, with paddlers heading to Zonquasdrift 62 km downstream for the first overnight stop in the four-day, 240 km race.

More information can be found at https://berg.org.za/