More than 1 400 mountain bikers made the most of perfect late-winter conditions and some of Johannesburg’s best-loved trails at the 2026 Garmin MTB Classic at Northern Farm on Saturday 22 August.
With warm sunshine, fast and flowing singletrack and a field that ranged from serious racers to families and recreational riders, the Garmin MTB Classic once again showed why it has become an annual highlight on the Gauteng mountain bike calendar.
Northern Farm provided the perfect playground. Its extensive network of purpose-built singletrack is one of the reasons the venue has become such an important part of Johannesburg’s mountain biking culture. The farm has more than 110km of trails catering for riders of all abilities.
For Garmin, however, the event is about more than simply hosting another mountain bike race. Gauteng has the highest concentration of mountain bikers in South Africa, and the Garmin MTB Classic provides the brand with an opportunity to give something back to the riders who support it throughout the year.
There was plenty on offer for those prepared to race hard, with cash prizes for the leading riders as well as Garmin and Tacx products for top performers and lucky-draw winners.
WITHAAR ON TOP
The headline race was the 50km, where Jan Withaar combined his familiarity with Northern Farm’s trails with sharp post-winter form to take the overall victory.
The ever-green Insect Science MTB team member covered the 50km in 1:51:02, finishing almost a minute and a half ahead of Gustav Venter. Lumardt Pienaar completed the overall men’s podium.
It was a strong performance from Withaar, particularly on a course where local knowledge can make a significant difference. Northern Farm rewards riders who know when to commit on the fast sections, where to conserve energy and how to carry momentum through its flowing singletrack.
Venter’s second place and Pienaar’s third ensured a competitive battle behind the winner, with the 50km field providing exactly the kind of racing the Garmin MTB Classic is designed to encourage.
The women’s race was dominated by Tania Bugarin Ortiz, who produced an impressive 2:14:08 to take the victory. Cloe Muller finished second, with Yvonne Cornes completing the women’s podium.
Bugarin Ortiz, who races for the Tshenolo Women’s Pro Team, has already established herself as one of Gauteng’s strongest mountain bike racers this season, and her Garmin MTB Classic victory adds another strong result to her 2026 campaign.
SOMETHING FOR EVERY RIDER
While the 50km provided the serious racing at the sharp end of the field, one of the Garmin MTB Classic’s strengths is the range of options available.
Riders could choose between 50km, 35km, 20km and 10km routes, making the event accessible to experienced racers, developing riders, families and those simply looking for a quality morning on the bike. The 2026 edition also featured a dedicated 35km eBike racing category, adding another dimension to the event.
Unlike social eBike entries on the other distances, the dedicated eBike race was designed specifically for competition, with no speed cap and a separate start. That created an opportunity for eBike riders to race properly rather than simply being accommodated within an existing field.
The inclusion of eBikes is another indication of how quickly the category has become part of mainstream mountain biking. A dedicated racing category allows riders to enjoy the benefits of electric assistance while still experiencing the intensity and strategy of competitive racing.
MORE THAN JUST A RACE
The Garmin MTB Classic has also developed into an event that extends well beyond the finish line.
A race village, food, refreshments, chill and recovery areas and bike-wash facilities gave riders plenty of reason to stay around after their races. Garmin and Tacx products added another incentive, with lucky-draw prizes ensuring that riders who weren’t standing on the podium still had something to race for.
For Garmin, it also provides a direct connection with the mountain biking community in its biggest South African market.
2026 GARMIN MTB CLASSIC – OVERALL PODIUM FINISHERS
50km – Men
1 Jan Withaar – 1:51:02
2 Gustav Venter – 1:53:29
3 Lumardt Pienaar – 1:53:39
50km – Women
1 Tania Bugarin Ortiz – 2:14:08
2 Cloe Muller – 2:22:19
3 Yvonne Cornes – 2:25:23
35km – Men
1 Evan Naude – 1:20:52
2 Matthew Norton – 1:22:52
3 Jaco Aldum – 1:22:53
35km – Women
1 Minke Kruger – 1:31:58
2 Roxy de Lange – 1:36:13
3 Hannah Lansdell – 1:40:57
35km eBike – Men
1 Erwin Sterne – 1:16:23
2 Gavin Horn – 1:19:00
3 Charles Cowley – 1:21:45
35km eBike – Women
1 Irma du Plooy 1:19:08
2 Tracey Reynolds 1:19:09
3 Liezl Sterne 1:23:46
20km – Men
1 Eduan Bruwer 51:55
2 Nicholas Norton 51:58
3 Saul Oosthuysen 52:51
20km – Women
1 Gretha Veldsman 58:24
2 Miche Pretorius 1:05:43
3 Marionette Roselt 1:06:53
10km – Men
1 Gundo Nemushungwa 31:05
2 Mulinda Nemushungwa 31:05
3 Hendrik Albasini 35:32
10km – Women
1 Zané Kotzé 37:02
2 Isabella Frankel 38:17
3 Lee-Marie Crafford 38:31
For full results, click here. https://mtbclassic.co.za/results/
