The 2026 Trans Baviaans route will change after severe May flooding damaged roads across the Baviaanskloof region.
Organisers confirmed the 24-hour mountain bike race will still take place on Saturday, 8 August. However, riders should expect a rougher and more unpredictable edition than recent years.
Race founder Wikus van der Walt said the event is “going ahead” and its core character will remain intact. He added that route changes had become unavoidable after floods hit the area.
The Trans Baviaans has run for more than two decades as one of South Africa’s major ultra-endurance MTB events. Its traditional course links Willowmore with Jeffreys Bay through remote conservation landscapes.
The race crosses the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and the wider Kouga and Baviaans mountain ranges. That remoteness helps define the event, but it also complicates race planning.
Trans Baviaans route set for a rugged edition
Van der Walt said the race began as an adventure in 2004. He noted that the Baviaanskloof has stayed wild, despite modern changes around it.
Recent road improvements through the kloof helped make the event faster. Last year, the Insect Science team broke the course record while racing on gravel bikes.
That speed will not define the 2026 race. Van der Walt said the floods had undone much of the road work completed in recent years.
He expects a “rugged, rough, and very memorable” Trans Baviaans. He also said no course records will fall this year.
Organisers will publish the final route at least one week before race day. They will also send GPX files to entered riders for use on bike computers.
The route announcement will include checkpoint locations. It will also give supporters details about where to meet teams at a new Checkpoint 5 style support zone.
Participants can prepare for rougher surfaces and unusually lush vegetation beside the route. Organisers also expect the landscape to offer striking views after the floods.
Checkpoint locations and start time will change
Race director Marelize Rhodes said organisers are still finalising the course. Water levels continue to drop in the Groot and Kouga Rivers, while road repairs continue.
Rhodes said the team has a likely route, an alternative route, and a preferred option. The preferred route depends on road work progressing faster than expected.
Organisers reconnoitred the traditional course where possible over the weekend. They also inspected alternative options.
Rhodes said route changes are virtually certain. That means checkpoint boxes will not be available at the usual 93, 123, 140, and 172-kilometre points.
She said riders must stay flexible and avoid planning around historic checkpoint distances. Organisers will still place checkpoints where riders need them most.
Those positions will sit before and after long climbs or especially demanding route sections. Rhodes said that approach should help teams fuel properly.
The 2026 race will also start earlier than usual. Riders will roll out at 8am, rather than the traditional 10am start.
The earlier start should give teams more daylight on the roughest part of the course. That change reflects the expected condition of the altered route.
Flood history and echoes of 2011
The Trans Baviaans has faced severe weather before. Freezing rain made the 2022 edition particularly memorable.
Van der Walt also pointed to the 2011 race, which riders nicknamed the Langsbaviaans. Flooding one week before that event forced organisers to change the route.
That year, the race bypassed the Nature Reserve section through the Baviaanskloof. It instead used roads north-east of the Baviaanskloof range and along Grootrivier Pass.
Van der Walt said the 2026 race may develop in a similar way. Organisers continue to wait for better clarity on access and repairs.
Kouga partnership supports race and tourism
The Kouga Local Municipality has signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Trans Baviaans. Organisers said the municipality remains committed to the 2026 edition.
Kouga Speaker Lorraine Maree described the event as more than a sports race. She called it a “globally recognised showcase” for the area.
Maree pointed to the region’s landscapes, hospitality, accommodation, tourism attractions, and adventure experiences. Those qualities all form part of the Trans Baviaans appeal.
Rhodes said Kouga’s support connects organisers with local government, landowners, and businesses. She said that cooperation is important after the flood damage.
The event fills Willowmore to capacity and ranks as the Karoo town’s largest annual tourism event. Rhodes said its financial impact on Willowmore is substantial.
Jeffreys Bay has a larger tourism base, but late winter remains a quieter period. The absence of the World Surf League contest at JBay this year adds importance.
Rhodes said the Trans Baviaans can help drive bed-and-breakfast and hotel bookings. She also urged riders and supporters to keep or make accommodation and restaurant reservations.
The May floods badly affected tourism across the Baviaanskloof region. Rhodes said she hopes the race can help bring visitors back.
Organisers plan to provide further updates as road conditions and route plans develop. Riders should follow official event channels for information before the 8 August race.
For additional reporting, see diverge.info.