When it comes to the public sphere, talented tearaway Tyler Jacobs seems to prefer flying under the radar – but when she’ s in the saddle and on the start-line … get out of her way!
She may be only 21, but the Liv Factory Racing mountain biker is already ahead of her time, and the last part of 2025 saw her exploding onto the international scene.
She became the first South African female to podium in the Under-23 Women’ s Cross-Country Short Track( XCC) category at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships when she took bronze in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Less than a month later, it was a different continent but another podium and this time it was the top tier as she won the women’ s XCC World Cup race at Lake Placid, USA, becoming the first SA woman to win a World Cup event.
Back home now and catching her breath in the last‘ free’ week before going back into race mode, she shared the ups and downs of her rapid rise.
“ I started riding in my late teens with my dad and brothers but didn’ t really enjoy it as I kept on being left in the dust every ride. But when we moved back to SA and I started riding with people more my level I enjoyed it more. Then we tried one SA Cup in 2021 and I came third. I really enjoyed it and decided to try some more.”
Umhlanga-born and now living in Ballito, KZN, Jacobs clearly has Africa running through her veins as she also spent a spell in Kenya between the ages of nine and 17.
Strangely enough, it was at UCI MTB world champs that she experienced both the highest and lowest points of her burgeoning career.
“ Getting onto the world championships XCC podium while representing South Africa was my best moment because I absolutely loved riding for SA and it was my first podium.”
Only a few days later, it was back to reality at the same championships.
“ My dad, Warren, came over to watch the XCO [ longer format ] and I was really hoping to give him something special to watch, but I ended up having such a bad race, crashing badly about five times and had to pull out because I just wasn’ t in it.
“ So it was very disappointing after the XCC podium and wanting to make my dad proud, but it made me realise there are so many ups and downs even within a few days and that’ s just what sport’ s about.”
Not to be disheartened and back home in SA she switched codes for the SA National Road Championships in Midvaal, Gauteng at the beginning of February.
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“ I wanted to race as it’ s my last year at U23 level and there was an U23 category so I was gunning for that. For the whole race I was actually closely watching the U23 girls and then it came to a final sprint [ on a short punchy climb ] which I really like I and I was able to take the whole thing!“
It was only my second or third road race so there were no expectations at all – it was just to have fun and gain road experience – but something that maybe one day I’ d like to go into, but for now I’ m sticking to MTB.”
When it’ s not about the bike, it’ s about the beach for Jacobs.
“ I really love going to the beach, it’ s a bit of an addiction. I used to love taking my dog along but now I’ m not home much.
“ Apart from the beach, I also like to paint when I’ m in the mood and also enjoy running.”
While she may be travelling the world on a regular basis for races, home is where her heart will always be, but she does have a few other favourites on the list.
“ I love South Africa because it’ s my home but I also like other parts of the world. In Canada the tree leaves are beautifully red and orange when we race and then the mountains are beautiful where we race in France and Switzerland and then Brazil is actually very similar to where I live in Ballito.”
When it comes to coaching, Jacobs couldn’ t be in better hands, being guided by the legendary Barry Austin who has coached multiple national and international mountain bike stars.
“ I’ ve been working with Tyler since the last quarter of 2024, she’ s super talented, still young, and nowhere close to her potential yet,” said Austin.
“ She’ s a very dedicated worker … is very strong in the sprint and has a world class anaerobic capacity.
“ It’ s still the beginning stages for her, where she’ s learning the ins and outs but I’ m looking forward to where she’ s going to go with her huge potential.”
Jacobs is hoping that potential will get her to the next Olympic Games.
“ Well I’ d love to add on to last year which was a great year. I’ d like to get a few more podiums in XCC and hopefully XCO and then the 2028 LA Olympics is definitely something I’ m working on … it would be a dream if [ fellow South African racer ] Candice( Lill) and I were able to get enough UCI points to get us both there!”
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