If your ideal mountain bike weekend includes raw trails, proper climbs, epic views, warm hospitality, and that rare feeling of truly escaping the noise, clear your calendar for 13–14 December 2025. The CoMotion in the Klein Karoo is calling. And this year, it’s dialed in for a proper pre-holiday finale to your riding season.
Paid partnership with Makadas Adventures
Now in its third year, CoMotion in the Klein Karoo has fast become a must-do on the local stage race calendar, and for good reason. It’s a boutique two-day MTB stage race set in the wide, sunbaked beauty of the Klein Karoo, based just outside Montagu, Western Cape, less than a two-hour drive from Cape Town. With a growing reputation for rugged charm, varied trails, and a vibe that nails the balance between racing and soul-riding, this is not your average stage race. It’s a weekend that delivers on challenge, scenery, and connection – with the land and your fellow riders.
Don’t be fooled by the ‘boutique’ label – CoMotion in the Klein Karoo is no soft spin. Each day covers 55km of riding with meaningful climbing, punchy technical sections, flowy farm trails, rocky ridgelines, and jeep track that’s been part of the local landscape for generations. It’s a proper mix of effort and reward, crafted for riders who like to push themselves, but who also know how to soak up a panoramic view or chat around a water table.
The terrain is unapologetically Karoo – dry, dramatic, and beautiful. Expect scrubby singletrack through fynbos, rugged ascents with views over valley farms, and long stretches where you’ll feel like the only rider out there. It’s mountain biking with depth, not noise.
This event isn’t for complete beginners. You’ll want to be fit, comfortable with varied terrain, and ready to ride in hot, dry conditions. But if you’ve done a few marathons or a previous stage race and are looking for something that balances performance with atmosphere, this is your ride.
The organisers have made an easy, very scenic route option on Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve (on Day 2) that is ideal for less fit and skilled riders. It includes the Zebra Trail which is great for game spotting and the roads here are hard pack and in good condition.
E-Bikes are welcome!
What sets CoMotion in the Klein Karoo apart isn’t just the riding – it’s the energy. The team behind the event are riders themselves, and it shows. The routes are designed with love and local knowledge. The event village is welcoming without the over-the-top glitz. And the post-ride vibe is less about medals and more about beers, boerie rolls, and sunset chats.
Accommodation options cater to all budgets – from comfy self-catering cottages to rustic camping under the Karoo stars. There’s solid coffee in the mornings, cold drinks at the finish line, and a real sense that you’re part of something special, not just another number in the field.
Why ride CoMotion in 2025?
- Timing: Mid-December is perfect. The big races are done, the holiday chaos hasn’t hit yet, and your legs still have something left in them.
- Location: Montagu is just a few hours from Cape Town and easily accessible from the Garden Route and Gauteng. It’s the gateway to the Klein Karoo – a landscape that every South African rider should experience.
- Size: Limited entries mean a less crowded, more personal event where you’re not dodging bunches or queuing at water points.
- Soul: The ride has heart. It’s challenging, yes – but it’s also full of moments that remind you why you ride. Big skies, tough climbs, long descents, and a post-race vibe that lingers long after you’ve driven home.
Entries are open now, and with numbers capped to keep the experience intimate, you don’t want to sit on the fence. Whether you enter solo or as a team of two, CoMotion in the Klein Karoo 2025 promises two unforgettable days on the bike in one of South Africa’s most iconic riding regions.
Visit makadasadventures.co.za/comotion/ to secure your spot.
