RIDERS WE LIKE
24 Alan Hatherly : Our World Champ shares the stoke of a winning season
56 Candice Lill : How the privateer has made her dreams come true
86 Barry Austin : The coach to the stars explains his novel approach
96 Puck Pieterse : All-round success for the plucky Dutch youngster
108 Victor Koretzky : The short-track king was the one to beat this year
128 Danielle Strydom : SA ’ s rising star on her marathon success
AT THE RACES
70 Non-stop action : A look-back at a packed elite season of fast and furious UCI and Olympic racing
98 Feeling the burn : A desert full of quirks at Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race
120 A place of grace : Fun , flowing trails and a festive vibe at Berg & Bush
132 One-shot wonder : The sheer exhilaration of sani2c nonstop
138 Mapping memories : A data journey to the 2025 Absa Cape Epic
142 SA race diary : Crank your way across lekker trails and gravel roads
24
GLOBAL PLAYGROUND
30 Bhutan : In pursuit of happiness on Enduro trails in the Himalayas
44 Zimbabwe : Taming the Zambezi on a rad three-day wilderness ride
62 Morocco : Our Last Lioness takes on the rocks and sands of North Africa
110 Norway : Trials legend Hans Rey tries out a brand-new trail network
70
MOUNTAIN
BIKE
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Paul Ingpen paul @ electricink . co . za 021 438 5972 / 082 990 8408
MANAGING EDITOR Anne Duncan
COMMERCIAL MANAGER Jono le Roux jono @ electricink . co . za / 083 324 6576
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Elinore de Lisle
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Zach Van Coller zach @ electricink . co . za / 064 202 5214
DIGITAL MEDIA Megan Robertson social @ electricink . co . za
PHOTOGRAPHY Action Photo , Piper Albrecht , Martin Bissig , Tyrone Bradley , Michael Chiaretta , Sam Clark , Laura Cueto , Tim De Waele , Matt Du Toit , Carmen Freeman-Rey , Tobias Ginsberg , Shaun Glover , Anthony Grote , Jussi Grznar , Instapix , Ismael Ibanez , Karolina Krasinska , Charly Lopez , Jacques Marais , Javier Martínez , Miguel Medina , Marti Milla , Nick Muzik , Stew Nolan , Oakpics , Robin O ’ Neill , Martin Rickett , Piotr Staron , David Sullivan , Max Sullivan , Aurelien Vialatte , Pierre Vieira , Sage Lee Voges , Bartosz Wolinski
CONTRIBUTORS Craig Beech , Martin Bissig , Justin Bothner , Simon Davies , Matt Elliot , Sarah Hill , Paul Hilliard , Ashleigh Irvine-Smith , Johanna Lehnung , Simon Nicks , Hans Rey , Jo-Anne Rogers-White , Hannele Steyn
To advertise in these publications please call Jono on 083 324 6576 or email jono @ electricink . co . za
10 | MTB | look what we have for you
Mountain Bike magazine is published by Electric Ink Media . Copyright : Electric Ink Media . No portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from Electric Ink Media or the authors . The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material . The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Electric Ink Media or the editors . Editorial & advertising enquiries : admin @ electricink . co . za 7 Pitlochry Road , Bakoven , Camps Bay 8005 Printed by Novus Holdings , Paarl Distribution : Mia 083 445 5097
PHOTOGRAPHS KAROLINA KRASINSKA / RED BULL CONTENT POOL , LAURA CUETO