Over the last decade, we at Diverge have covered around 25 events per year across MTB, Gravel, Road, and Trail Running. With that experience in hand, we'll be bringing you more insights in 2026. Some of it will be on the ground, on the job for the event, while we will be covering other races [...]
Having broken the course record in 2024, Tristan Nortje became the first rider to dip below the 3-hour mark at the Lions Karoo to Coast, as he bettered his own record en route to victory in the 26th edition, on Sunday, 21 September. He was joined atop the podium by fellow George local, Mellusca Toovey, [...]
Community is at the core of the Lions Karoo to Coast, from the individuals who volunteer to man registration tables and water points to the charitable beneficiaries of the race, and on to the young riders who have used it as a springboard to launch careers at the highest levels of cycling. The people of [...]
The Lions Karoo to Coast has been a mainstay of the South African mountain biking calendar since 1999. The historic route, which follows the country’s longest gravel pass from Uniondale to Knysna, has ensured that thousands of riders have taken part in each of the 25 editions to date. E-Mountain bikes and gravel bikes have [...]
Tristan Nortje soloed to victory in commanding fashion, breaking the 12-year-old course record by nearly 3 minutes at the 2024 Lions Karoo to Coast. Catherine Colyn was as dominant in the women’s race winning by 11 minutes and 42 seconds; on Sunday, 22 September. A year on from the event which was cancelled, due to [...]
The Lions Karoo to Coast will boast Cycling South Africa sanctioning for the first time in nearly a decade when it takes place on Sunday, 22 September 2024. This has led to a surge in the number of competitive riders taking part and the reestablishment of elite racing hostilities. In the women’s race Cherise Willeit [...]
The Lions Karoo to Coast will be a Cycling South Africa sanctioned event for the first time in nearly a decade when it takes place on Sunday, 22 September 2024. This will allow riders with racing licences to take part again and ensures that the local development riders are able to compete, on home turf, [...]
The Lions Karoo to Coast is one of South Africa’s most iconic mountain bike races. Since its foundation in 1999 the race has brought thousands of cyclists to Uniondale to ride the magnificent Prince Alfred’s Pass to Knysna. Over the 25 years, since the inaugural edition, mountain bikes have changed significantly, 26er hard-tails are almost [...]
On the evening of Thursday, 21 September, the George Municipality Disaster Management deemed the 2023 Lions Karoo to Coast unsafe to proceed, due to expected adverse weather conditions on Sunday, 24th September 2023. This decision, though by-in-large supported by the riders registered to participate in the event, has implications beyond the staging of a mountain [...]
The Lions Karoo to Coast is one of South Africa’s most enduring and popular mountain bike races for a reason. Yes, the route is spectacularly beautiful. It is challenging enough to attract the most competitive of riders, while being an achievable challenge for relative newcomers to the sport. What really makes the event so special [...]
