The 2025 South African Mountain Bike Marathon Championships delivered two very different but equally impressive victories on Sunday, as Marc Pritzen and Sam Sanders emerged as national champions at the Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival.

Contrasting Wins in Elite Races

Pritzen clinched the men’s title in a thrilling four-rider sprint finish, while Sanders dominated the women’s event with a commanding solo effort to finally step atop the podium at Karkloof after multiple near misses.

Riding for Team Honeycomb 226ers, Pritzen out-sprinted Marco Joubert, Michael Foster, and his teammate—and defending champion—Wessel Botha after 85km of fast, tactical racing through the famed Karkloof trails.

Pritzen’s win completed a unique national title treble across road, gravel, and mountain biking. Already a former SA Time Trial and Road Race champion (2021) and Gravel Champion (2024), the 26-year-old added the elusive MTB crown to his résumé despite a mid-race crash that dropped him from the lead group.

“Of all my national titles, this is the one I wanted most,” said Pritzen. “It was the hardest because of the technical skill it required, but it’s also the most special.”

After remounting and rejoining the leaders near the race’s main climb, Pritzen positioned himself well for the finish. “Marco attacked late and I stayed on his wheel. Once we hit the finishing field, I made my move and held on.”

Sanders Finally Claims Gold

In contrast to the close men’s finish, 41-year-old Sam Sanders used raw endurance and experience to break away midway through the women’s race and ride solo to a massive nine-minute victory over Bianca Haw and Danielle Du Toit. Sarah Hill narrowly missed out on the podium.

For Sanders, the win was especially meaningful after finishing second in both the 2022 and 2024 SA Champs at Karkloof, as well as at the recent SA Gravel Champs held at the same venue.

“I’ve been on the podium a lot here,” said the Team Efficient Infiniti Racing rider. “But this time I knew I was in better form and needed to be bold. I went long and capitalised on my strength as a diesel engine.”

Sanders broke clear on one of the long climbs and never looked back. “Mentally, once the gap opened, it becomes harder for the others to chase. So it wasn’t just physical—it was a mental game too.”

Full Weekend of Action at Karkloof

The SA Marathon Championships capped off a packed weekend of sporting events at the Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival. Saturday featured trail runs and MTB enduro races, while Sunday saw the marquee 85km national championship event.

In the men’s 21km trail run, Siphesihle Zimu took top honours, followed by Lindelani Zondi and Giovanni Bianco. In the women’s race, Carla van Huyssteen dominated, with Tenisha Du Toit and Eryn Chapman rounding out the podium.

With elite competition, family-friendly events, and Karkloof’s signature blend of forest trails, gravel roads, and technical singletrack, the 2025 edition of the Trail Festival once again proved why it’s a standout event on the South African outdoor calendar.

SA MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEN
1 Marc Pritzen 3:45:2
2 Marco Joubert 3:45:22
3 Michael Foster 3:45:24
4 Wessel Botha 3:45:39
5 Tristan Nortjie 3:48:19
6 Jaedon Terlouw 3:49:34
7 Travis Stedman 3:49:59
8 Jan Withaar 3:51:30
9 Keagan Bontekoning 3:52:29
10 Johan Van Zyl 3:54:46

WOMEN
1 Samantha Sanders 4:37:48
2 Bianca Haw 4:46:59
3 Danielle Du Toit 4:47:11
4 Sarah Hill 4:49:31
5 Lilian Baber 05:04:44
6 Riley Smith 5:24:56
7 Karlise Scheepers 5:24:56
8 Steph Wohlters 5:25:20
9 Sanchia Malan 5:25:22
10 Shauna Esmeyer 5:33:06