A crisp winter morning gave way to red-hot racing at the fifth event of the 2025 Ford Trailseeker Series, held on the iconic trails of Van Gaalen. With over 2 100 riders lining up, the day delivered tactical brilliance, thrilling finishes, and a fierce display of mountain biking from some of South Africa’s top athletes.
The elite men’s race played out as a tightly controlled tactical affair, with the front group holding formation for much of the day. But when it mattered most, South African Marathon Champion Marc Pritzen of Team Honeycomb 226ers made his move. Launching a decisive attack in the final kilometres, he distanced himself from the chasers and crossed the line solo in a commanding time of 2:30:29.8. “It’s a good win in the national colours,” said Pritzen after the race, proudly representing South Africa on the top step.
The fight for second came down to a heart-pounding sprint. Jaedon Terlouw of PYGA Eurosteel edged out reigning African Champion Travis Stedman of Toyota Specialized by just half a second. Terlouw finished in 2:31:42.6, with Stedman close behind in 2:31:43.1. “It was a fast day,” said Terlouw. “Having raced here before, I knew I had to be first into the singletrack. That made the difference.”
In the elite women’s race, Tyler Jacobs delivered a bold and calculated performance. She made her intentions clear from the outset, launching an early solo move on the Ford Everest climb and riding clear with a lead of nearly four minutes.
Bianca Haw chased hard, closing the gap on the flatter stretches of the course. But as the trail turned uphill once more near the Greek Church climb, Jacobs surged ahead again and sealed the victory in 2:56:59.2.
“I didn’t really know what to expect coming into this,” said Jacobs. “There were a lot of strong women on the start line. I got a gap on the first climb, but Bianca pulled it back. On the final climb, I managed to get away again.”
Haw crossed the line in 2:58:48.8 to secure second place, with Sarah Hill pushing through for third in 3:06:25.2, rounding out a fiercely competitive women’s podium.
There’s something truly special about bringing the mountain biking community together, and that’s exactly what the Ford Trailseeker Series is all about. With a range of distances on offer, the event caters for everyone. “There’s something special about Van Gaalen,” said Race Director Pieter Vorster. “The trails, the venue, the people, it all came together this weekend.”
The post-race vibe at Van Gaalen was nothing short of festive. The venue, nestled in the heart of the Magaliesberg, was alive with energy as friends and families basked in the winter sunshine. Finish line reunions and laughter-filled race stories created a scene that captured the spirit of the day.
Next Stop, the Series Finale, 13 September
The series now shifts to its final event in the 2025 Series, #6 Wellington, on 13 September, with leaderboard titles up for grabs and one last chance to soak in the Ford Trailseeker magic. The grand finale in the Cape Winelands is set to be a spectacle with the overall marathon series winners taking home R100 000, adding extra fire to what’s already shaping up to be a fiercely contested finish.
Leading Marathon Results
Elite Men
- Marc Pritzen | 2:30:29.8
- Jaedon Terlouw | 2:31:42.6 (+1:12.8)
- Travis Stedman | 2:31:43.1 (+1:13.3)
Elite Women
- Tyler Jacobs | 2:56:59.2
- Bianca Haw | 2:58:48.8 (+1:49.6)
- Sarah Hill | 3:06:25.2 (+9:26)
Introduction image: Tyler Jacobs leads Bianca Haw in the Elite women’s marathon race battle
Source: Faces Marketing
