The Waterberg region of Limpopo received over 200 millimetres more rain in the first four months of 2026 than its average annual rainfall of 800 millimetres. This meant that the trails for the Glacier Waterberg Traverse were wet in places, but it did not dampen the spirits of the intrepid riders taking on the third edition of the three-day stage race. Spirits were further lifted when the sun came out, mid-morning, on Friday, 1 May, and the skies remained largely clear for the following two days.
Summerplace Game Reserve is famed for its singletracks. The trails are a mix of technical sections and long flowing segments. This suited the young Booth brothers, as well as the local heroine, Lilian Baber, best. Though Reunion’s Yann Nirlo could have been in contention for victory, had he not suffered a major puncture on Stage 2.
The event’s format sees a longer Race and shorter Ride route running in parallel. Competitive cyclists are encouraged to enter the Race, which takes in more of Summerplace’s technical trails and tested with more elevation gain. The Ride is designed for the social cyclists who prefer to spend time at Dryland Event Management’s famous water points and finish early to maximise the relaxation in the beautiful bushveld setting.
One participant who thoroughly enjoyed his three days on the bike was Glacier by Sanlam CEO Khanyi Nzukuma. “It’s been fantastic. Especially today [Sunday] in the sunshine. It’s been tough in places, especially on Friday in the mud, but definitely worth it,” Nzukuma enthused.
The riders and their families were welcomed in style at Registration, on Thursday. As a truly family-friendly event, everyone is greeted like a returning race winner. A glass of Perdeberg Wine or an ice cold Weihenstephaner beer, set the tone for a relaxed long weekend, while popcorn, droëwors and other snacks helped to ease participants through the admin of registration.
With the Riders and Racers raring to go, Thursday night and the early hours of Friday morning saw rain pouring down. Only 1.5 millimetres had been predicted but it rained considerably more than that. As a result, the start was delayed by 15 minutes, on Friday, for the rain to blow over. Once the rain stopped the stages got progressively warmer and drier. Though mud was still a factor in the low-lying sections of the reserve. The Glacier Waterberg Traverse’s sister event, the Glacier Storms River Traverse in the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape, started the trend of muddy Traverse events a decade and a half ago.
“Mud is part of the fun,” Henco Rademeyer, of Dryland Event Management, laughed. “It’s not ideal, of course, but the elements are certainly part of the mountain biking experience. I think a bit of adverse weather helped us all appreciate the sun when it came out.”
After a solid first stage, Thomas Booth won Stages 2 and 3 to claim the overall victory in the Race. Son of former South African road racer, Damian Booth, Thomas and Matthew Booth were the revelations of the race. The teenagers impressed with their descending skills, their fortitude on the climbs, and their superb manners off the bike.
Nirlo had won Stage 1, but lost nearly 15 minutes with a puncture on Stage 2. He then raced Stage 3 with the Booth brothers, opting not to sprint Thomas for stage honours after enjoying the manner in which the young men conducted themselves on the bike.
In the women’s race, Baber reigned supreme. The cross-country racer opted to sit out the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series due to the prohibitive costs of travelling to South Korea. Baber’s nearest competition came from the evergreen Yolande de Villiers, with Nicolle Weir holding off Janine Muller to take third.
Off the bike Saturday was celebrated as Glacier Day, where the title sponsor treated the riders and their families. The morning began with a complimentary cappuccino, cortados or any other brew for the coffee aficionado. After taking to the trails in the Glacier by Sanlam riding jersey, created by First Ascent, the participants were welcomed back to the race village by a Weihenstephaner, and encouraged to sign up for the Perdeberg wine and biltong pairing, or test drive one of the GWM P-Series bakkies, a GWM Tank, or a Haval H6.
All told it was an action-packed weekend, where the riding underpinned the excitement but certainly was not the only attraction, especially after the sun came out. Sunday was the warmest day and, in the sunshine, spirits were high, bringing the event to a fitting close. With smiles all round, the 2026 edition was the best yet. To see just how good the Glacier Waterberg Traverse was, follow @waterbergtraverse on Instagram or like the Glacier Waterberg Traverse Facebook page. Find out more at www.waterbergtraversemtb.co.za.
2026 Glacier Waterberg Traverse Results:
Open Men’s Race:
- Thomas Booth (6:45:42)
- Yann Nirlo (6:55:01 | +9:19)
- Matthew Booth (7:02:38 | +16:56)
Open Women’s Race:
- Lilian Baber (7:00:39)
- Yolande de Villiers (7:10:47 | +10:08)
- Nicolle Weir (07:28:53 | +28:14)
For the full results from the 2026 Glacier Waterberg Traverse, please click here.
