With Tim Deane surging out of Vuvu to do Lahana's pass at night and keeping his lead, and then needing to chase down Franco Olivier's time to Diemersfontein.

As always, Freedom reminds us that this race has never only been about who gets home first. Sometimes the most powerful finish line stories are from the other end of the field. In this case, not measured in days and hours, but in years of showing up, digging deep, and refusing to let go of a dream.

This year, John Bowen captivated us all. Eleven years of belief, seven attempts, setbacks, freezing nights, lessons, and unfinished business. And finally, a permanent number 366.

John's Freedom journey became something bigger than one rider chasing a personal goal. The entire Freedom family got behind him, and in those last nights on the trail, Riana's timestamps indicating John's safe arrival at support stations were daunting.

Donations pouring into the scholarship fund, turning everyone's support of John into something lasting. R60,000. One student's entire high school career has been sponsored It is a beautiful reminder of what this community really is. Yes, we race hard, but we care deeply too.

Tonight, we celebrate the winner, the finishers, those that didn't make the full route, and all who make part of this remarkable 2026 freedom story.

I'm Julia Fisher, and this is the Freedom Trail Podcast, proudly delivered to you by Igmi's Express.

Riders featured:

• Tim Deane
• Brett Rightford
• Schalk Burger
• Craig Bosenberg
• Ron Rutland
• Tara Baum
• Andrew Walker
• Claude Unge
• Gill Graaf
• John Graaf
• Philip Erasmus
• Tilla Uys
• John Bowen

Special Guest: David Waddilove

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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THE HARDEST CHOICE

How do you make the decision to stop, to call it, to accept that you are going no further. The trail is there in front of you. The pull to get on your bike and ride is like an uncontrollable force in your soul. Physically you are strong and fit.  You still have the time to get there before the cut-off.

We’re just ordinary riders, taking on a challenge way beyond anything we have done before. We are not new to the trail. We’ve ridden almost the entire route since we signed up for the very first Freedom Circuit. We have helped run a support station and done some Buffalo Herding. We’re confident with navigation and riding in the dark and potential bad weather. We have been dot-watchers for years. We knew it was going to be hard on an extreme level. We knew that it was realistically going to take us around 24 days. 

Every day is hard or even harder and long. There’s quite a lot of muttering about life choices at some point every day. There’s another monstrous climb or rocky portage. It’s cold and  dark and there’s an icy wind blowing when the day starts that doesn’t really go away. You’ve been wearing dirty, damp, smelly clothes for 3 days. Your feet are constantly cold and wet. 

You will make it to the next support station. It’s welcoming and dry and warm and comforting. Things don’t seem so bad, you had a good day, saw beautiful landscapes, remote untouched valleys, rivers and streams, encountered beautiful people and you can go another day. Routines are easier, bike admin, body admin, eat, sleep, ride. The weather has been really kind. It is cold, the odd short rain shower, no snow, mostly sunny.

The sunrises and sunsets are glorious. It’s magnificently beautiful out there at the moment. The Karoo is so green. The aloes are blooming, millions of wildflowers everywhere. You can hear the bees and birds and the fynbos is a fragrant sensory overload. An aardwolf crossed the road in front of you. There was a dawn chorus of lions roaring at the safari camp. 

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Suddenly riding solo, Franco was set loose on the Freedom Trail and made the most of the opportunity.

His strong portaging and impressive efficiency meant that when he was on the move, he moved exceptionally well. Riding strong, steady and smart, he reeled in an impressive 15 day, 8 hour finish, leaving him in the clubhouse leader position for now.

In this episode, Freedom Fundi Steve Burnett chats to Franco about his race.

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Greg Fisher, who completed both Race Across South Africa and the full Freedom Challenge this year, shares five mental tips and tricks he used to help make it such a successful year on the Freedom Trail for him. They helped in get through the tougher stuff and were very useful in helping ensure things didn't get beyond his capacity.

From channeling Batman, or Mike Woolnough to "constantly navigating", Greg gives us a fascinating insight into the mental tools that kept him moving forward when things got tough.

In preparation for anything difficult, the mental game is always a big part of it, hopefully this can help you navigate and keep moving forwards through the highs, lows, doubts and dark patches of ultra-endurance racing, or life in general.

Listen in to get the full scope.

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Can Tim overhaul Franco Olivier's benchmark time from the second batch while chasing from the racing batch? What will it take?

And how is John Bowen positioning himself as he closes in on Diemersfontein?

Join the conversation as they break down the key battles, pivotal decisions, and what to watch for as the race unfolds.

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Because when you have got that daunting goal of race to Rhodes or the Full Freedom Challenge, or even race across South Africa it is so much more adventurous than just exercising or doing a more normal sport.

It's like now your training and your lifestyle has to include adventure so you're prepared.

So now the coffee ride maybe has a bit more climbing involved and maybe you actually choose to do a, a Tiger Line and do a hike-a-bike in your training.

And it's one of the beauties of freedom is that it expands your horizons, not just in the race, but in life.

And in so many guys who come back have chose to need to prepare their bodies and their minds and their gear for this massive adventure that is so daunting that it scares you into preparing for it, and you have to prioritize that type of lifestyle that will prepare you for an adventure like this.

And we have seen quite a few riders on the trail this year coming back to complete one of these massive events, Race to Paarl, Race to Roads, or the full Freedom Challenge after a major setback of a major physical injury. Vera Reynolds just over a year ago had fractured neck, and Carlo with his pelvis and his massive injuries came back to ride a Freedom Challenge event.

So it's again using leveraging an event, a race, which can seem quite trivial and why does everyone make such a big deal about doing a race?

It's only a race. But really it's, it's a lifestyle direction. And it does give meaning to life, and it does give fulfilment in the day-to-day because your whole way you live changes when you're preparing for something like this.

And even if you're not doing Freedom that year, your mind space has been changed of having had it as part of your life before.

Like Tim says, when you do hard stuff in a pretend environment like a race, it overflows into hard stuff in the real environment of life.

And so those dot watchers who have been previous blanket wearers or have got a whip for doing Race to Rhodes previously, they still share in the drama of the race because it tops up that adventure tank that they have previously tapped into, and it keeps them connected to that lifestyle that you wanna choose of finding adventure and perhaps more fulfilment.

So it's just so cool to reflect on that and to let that resonate because just means that when we have the event and we're following these dots, we can let it mean so much more, and we can celebrate it, and we can put a ridiculous amount of, of focus and attention on this silly thing of riding your bike and doing these crazy river crossings and navigating your way through the dark because it is fun and it is trivial, and it is, it is a sport, but also it's just so much more.

Thanks for joining me on the Freedom Trail Podcast. I'm Julia Fisher, and this is proudly delivered to you by Igmi's Express.

Riders Featured:

• Franco Olivier
• Devlin Fogg
• Mark Basel
• Wayne Campbell
• Greg Fisher
• Tim Deane

Please support the communities from the Gamkaskloof and the Baviaanskloof and they work hard to restore their road, their lifeline.

For Supporting Gamkaskloof click here

For supporting Baviaanskloof click here

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Because in many ways, the Freedom Challenge is a condensed version of life itself.

There are moments of joy and flow where everything feels possible. The road opens beautifully before you. There are moments of struggle when progress feels painfully slow. Every step forward has to be purposeful and demands great effort. And there are moments that test us most, the moments we never planned for. Mechanical failures, injury, illness, weather, circumstances beyond our control.

Sometimes despite all the preparation, determination, and heart in the world, the journey doesn't unfold the way we hoped, and what might be one of the hardest lessons of all is having to withdraw.

Not everything is ours to control, but what always remains ours is how we respond.

Today we appreciate that there's great courage in showing up, committing, and getting to the start line. Every rider who arrives at the start line steps willingly into uncertainty. They expose themselves to the possibility of triumph, yes, but also of failure, discomfort, disappointment, and uncertainty.

And perhaps that is exactly where the magic lies.

Growth rarely happens inside certainty. It happens when we risk falling, when we dare greatly, when we choose to start despite not knowing how the story will end. Just like life

And perhaps that helps to explain why one of the very special things that we see on Freedom is the number of family members that ride together, and why so many riders return year after year. The fathers return to the trail, bringing their sons or daughters to share something that is difficult to explain and to share something that is so difficult to explain in words. Because when you know, you know. The lessons the trail teaches cannot simply be told, they have to be lived. You cannot describe hardship, the beauty, the exhaustion, the quiet moments of clarity. But until you've stood on the top of Lehannes Pass, until you've felt physically empty and somehow kept going, you don't truly understand it. Somewhere out there between the struggle and the stillness lies something profound, something capable of shaping character, deepening the connection, and teaching lessons that last a lifetime.

Today we hear from trail legend Alex Harris, Gavin Horton, Carlo, and a very special guest. Let's not delay in hearing firsthand from the riders.

This is Julia Fischer on the Freedom Trail podcast, proudly delivered to you by Igmi's Express

Riders featured:

• Franco Olivier
• John Barrow
• Roger Fuller-Good
• Emma Lombard
• Alex Harris
• Tim Deane
• Steve Burnett
• Gill Graaf
• Nigel Payne
• Gavin Horton
• Carlo Gonzaga
• Ron Smith (Rocket Ron)

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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From a distance, the Freedom Challenge appears to be about riding bikes across our country. Distances measured, elevation accumulated. Riders leaving in small groups with the goal and desire of rolling around the dam in Diemersfontein to feel the earned weight of a blanket across their shoulders.

That's the visible part. What's less visible, at least initially, is the community it has spawned over the years. Not just riders, but the wider circle that gathers around the event. The hospitality of communities, accommodation providers, and farmers opening their doors at all hours, day and night. Families, friends, dot watchers, and volunteers, people who may never ride a single kilometer of the route, yet feel deeply connected to the event.

Evidenced by message groups that pulse day and night for weeks at a time when the race is alive. In the normal course of life, communities form around convenience, shared geography, shared profession, shared background, shared interests. This one forms around something less tangible. The community is unique.

Thank you, Mike. We'll hear more from him at the end of this episode. We had Race to Paarl starting this morning and lots of rider updates to share with you. This is Julia Fisher on the Freedom Trail podcast, proudly delivered to you by Igmi's Express.

Riders Featured:

• Mike Woolnough
• Devlin Fogg
• Trevor White
• Franco Olivier
• Rene Horn from Bucklands
• Andrew Walker, Claude Unge and Tara Baum
• Greg Fisher
• Andrew Purnell
• John Barrow and Roger Fuller-Good
• Craig Bosenberg
• Margaret Opperman from Elandsberg
• Tim Deane
• Leon Erasmus

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Those numbers are impressive, but they don't tell the real story because the most remarkable thing about the Freedom Challenge isn't the distance, it's the people. These aren't full-time professional athletes with support crews and perfectly curated training blocks. These are ordinary people. People with jobs, families, responsibilities, worries, lives waiting for them back at home.

And yet, out here on the trail, something extraordinary happens. Day after day, often alone, riders wake up sore, tired, cold, depleted, and still choose to keep going. They climb another mountain. They leave Slaapkrantz at lunchtime and push through another freezing night. Not because it gets easier, but because somewhere deep inside they've decided that stopping is not the story they want to tell. There's something quietly heroic about that.

The Freedom Challenge has a way of revealing ordinary people showing extraordinary determination.

In today's episode, we celebrate those riders, the ones digging deep, enduring long days, and discovering what becomes possible when grit, resilience, and heart take over.

This is Julia Fisher, and this is the Freedom Trail Podcast, proudly delivered to you by Igmi's Express.

Riders featured:

• Andrew Walker and Claude Unge
• Paul Lochner
• Tim Deane
• Leon Erasmus  

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Where the trackers tell one story of kilometers covered and support stations reached, positions gained or lost. But every dot, every rider is navigating their own journey through fatigue, uncertainty, triumph, and even occasional despair.

Overcoming fatigue and battling sickness and injury is impressive, but equally impressive is the rider's adaption to trail life, to being brave enough to lean into discomfort and being okay with the unexpected. What a privilege it is to lead the simple trail life.

I'm Julia Fisher, and this is the Freedom Trail Podcast, delivered to you by Igmi's Express.

Feature riders:

• Craig Houston, Dave Hanbury, Duncan Houston and Ron Rutland
• William Mills
• Mike Woolnough
• Carlo Conzaga
• Tim Deane
• Enslin Uys

Philip Erasmus's blog "One Giant Challenge".

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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We are now one week into Freedom Challenge 2026, and so far, the trail has been showing its kinder side, showing off some spectacular sunrises and providing solid riding conditions. The support stations are buzzing from the Oaks all the way to Kranskop, the dots have been moving steadily across the map, with a few squiggles keeping the dot watchers entertained.

Instagram and Facebook have our rider stories and diaries of pics and videos straight from the trail.

But tonight, we'll catch up with some of the stories developing and hear from some of the riders out there.

My name is Julia Fischer and this is the Freedom Trail Podcast, delivered to you by Igmi's Express.

This episode features:

• Roger Nicholson
• Nigel Payne
• Trevor, Sean and Jeremy Maarschalk
• Ron Rutland
• Jeanette Scoular
• Craig Bosenberg

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Today is Friday, the 12th of June, and the trail has been open since Monday. We have five batches out there tackling the elements, which up until now have been kind. My name is Julia Fisher, and this is the Freedom Trail podcast, which is proudly delivered to you by our new logistics partner, Igmi's Express.

In the pack this year we have Ron Rutland. Very exciting to have him on the trail, and he shared some of his pre-race reflections with us.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Ron Rutland
• John Bowen
• Franco Olivier
• William Mills
• Mike du Toit
• Greg Fisher
• Mike Roy
• Andrew Purnell
• Jack Black and Sal Marco
• Craig Macrory
• Guy Macquet
• Leon Kruker
• Brian Kruger
• Enslin Uys
• Kirsten Searle
• Des Serale
• Craig Bosenberg

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Their finish line video

Highlights from RASA day 4 featuring the van Coller trio.

Enter RASA 2027 and event info

Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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These past 15 days feel like an absolute binge on life. Watching Race Across South Africa unfold, has been deeply human, it's been raw, and it's been impossible to look away from. Thank you for joining us in following those dots and listening and tuning in to the Freedom Trail Podcast as we've been cheering on and inspired by the massive efforts put in by the men and women tackling the inaugural race across South Africa.

I'm Julia Fisher and my husband Chris, and I host events and tours on the Freedom Trail, and together let's celebrate South Africa. On a trail like this, which connects 2000 kilometers from east to west, it carries stories in its dust, stories of grit, of believing and of not giving up.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Vincent French - cap 7
• Mark Fitzjohn - cap 28
• Quinton Rutherford - cap 37
• Gavin Robinson - cap 42
• Brett van Coller - cap 44
• Tim van Coller - cap 45
• Zach van Coller - cap 49

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It is the second last day of the inaugural Race Across South Africa, day 14.

The Fourth Lady and the fifth lady came in today side by side, Becky Sands and Charlene May as well as Miguel. The three of them finished together having written the last section together. It ended up being an emotional moment for Becky when you're pushing so hard and that relief and joy to get to the finish line. Well done. It really looks like Sherlene was really grateful and happy to have been able to ride with Becky and they look to have formed a beautiful friendship from the journey.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Miguel Tiexeria - cap 35
• Cherlene May - cap 25
• Rebecca Sands - cap 3
• Shaun Slabber - cap 6
• Zach van Coller - cap 49
• Tim van Coller - cap 45

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Welcome to the Freedom Trail Podcast, with all the news from day 13 of race across South Africa. We had 11 finishes receiving their bokkies at Dimersfontein Wine Farm today.

Ingrid Avidon came in second place at half past eight this morning, finishing in 12 days and 30 minutes. She left McGregor at 10:30 last night and rode through the night to get here this morning.

"Yeah, it was as expected. Very, very hard. Yeah, but lovely, like awesome times. Sometimes were not awesome. And then other times was like awesome. But generally it's just awesome." Ingrid Avidon

Riders featured in this episode:

• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36
• James Parkin - cap 39
• Ollie Greaves - cap 11
• Merak Greaves - cap 10
• Olebogeng Kgengwe - cap 31
• Arrie Rautenbach - cap 19
• Rob Selley - cap 33
• Giles Clinton - cap 8
• Greg Fisher - cap 29
• Mike Woolnough - cap 16

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Today, day 12 of Race Across South Africa. We've had an incredible 14 riders reach the finish line, 23 still muscling it out there, and eight DNFs and unfortunately 1 DNS.

Guy Miles often rides to the start of an event and his plan was to ride to the start of rasa, ride it, and then ride home. He lives in Wartburg and with his loaded bike on the final descent into the race village, to the start line, guy lost control and fell off his bike. Unfortunately, he broke his hand, so was never able to start. . He had surgery a few days later, and I hope your recovery goes as well as it can guy, and hopefully we'll see you on the start line next year.

Finishing today was our first lady, Sarah van Heerden, coming in an incredible 13th position in the field.

"That route is absolutely amazing. I'm so thrilled I got to do it because I have to be honest, I would never do the Freedom Challenge in winter. I can't handle that cold. The route is exceptional. I mean, I don't even like people, but the people we met and the hospitality and it was unbelievable. I mean, people running out from Airbnbs to tell us to come and stay with them. No, it's so awesome." Sarah van Heerden

Riders featured in this episode:

• Sarah van Heerden - cap 4
• Peter Maritz - cap 22

DONTE HERE to the SPCA in support of Sarah's incredible ride!

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On day 11 of Race Across South Africa, a 2000 kilometer journey riding east to west across the southern tip of Africa. What a privilege and let's dive right into the special moments.

On the finish line today in ninth position, came in Riaan Meintjes. Riaan knows the Freedom Trail well and has done each of the four segments as well as the full Freedom Challenge, and let's hear what he's got to say.

"Oh, it was amazing. Such a beautiful week. I really enjoyed it. It's an absolute adventure. The people you meet are just incredible and some wildlife experiences along the way. It's just an absolutely stunning route. I think I prefer RASA, but Freedom Challenge has more magic to it, you know, this is more of a proper race and Freedom Challenge to me is more of a journey." Riaan Meintjes

Riders featured in this episode:

• Riaan Meintjes - cap 24
• Martin Zettle - cap 38
• Clinton Halsey - cap 21
• Guy Jennings - cap 9
• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36

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Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the Freedom Trail podcast, where we hear firsthand from the riders on day 10 of Race Across South Africa.

Before we dive into the rider experiences out there, Mike Woolnough shares what it's like to ride mid-pack on Race Across South Africa.

"We've seen some of the top guys come in and it looks like they've just written around the block. Some of them look like they have just written around the dam and come back and they look as fresh as daisies. But I mean, these guys are gladiators. You know, what's it like for Joe average? Joe average being the guys and girls who are riding Race Across South Africa and finishing outside of the top 10." Mike Woolnough 

Riders featured in this episode:

• Mike Woolnough - cap 16
• Kobus van Niekerk - cap 32
• Rudi Bassi - cap 30
• Nicolas Stathoulis - cap 23
• Duncan Luke van Niekerk - cap 40
• Willie di Plessis - cap 1
• Giles Clinton - cap 8
• Becky Sands - cap 3
• Shaun Slabber - cap 6

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Today, on day nine of Race Across South Africa, was the race for second place. Pierre Lambert made his move at check point 2. He arrived at check point 2 with the group and left before the rest of them, with Nick and Duncan ahead of him. He worked hard to stay ahead. Then last night while sleeping at Montagu. Zane overtook him in the early morning. Zane then put in a hard effort to create a gap and Zane de Decker finished in second place in eight days and seven hours.

 Pierre was hot in his wheels coming in one and a half hours later in third position.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Zane de Decker - cap 26
• Pierre Lambert - cap 13
• Oliver Greaves - cap 11

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What a day it was for the Freedom Trail today. Drikus Coetzee took line honours in the inaugural Race Across South Africa, devouring the course in seven days, 12 hours and three minutes. He arrived at the finish line, humble and still in good shape, and shares with us some stories from the trail.

"It's something special. I think lots of international guys can come and do this route and come and see a really great part of South Africa. I saw, um, absolutely stunning, stunning, stunning places of South Africa" race winner, Drikus Coetzee.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Drikus Coetzee - cap 43
• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36
• Shaun Slabber - cap 6

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Happy Sunday to you all. Just to think on day seven while we were making our morning coffee, maybe around seven o'clock in the morning. These guys and girls had already been at it for three or four hours, five hours, maybe even. And now as we take our tea to bed tonight and cuddle up in our nice, warm, cozy beds, they are still out there.

Some of their days are just exceptional and it's quite incredible to think how your body can adapt to trail life. Many of these riders will come in at the end of a long day and be absolutely staggered by what they are capable of. 

Riders featured in this episode:

• Olebongeng Kgengwe - cap 31
• Arrie Rautenbach - cap 19
• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36
• Shaun Slabber - cap 6
• Tim van Coler - cap 45
• Brett van Coller - cap 44
• Zach van Coller - cap 49

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We have such respect for the guys and ladies out there who have tackled day six of Race Across South Africa.

It's not only about covering these huge distances for these riders, but overcoming all the curve balls that come with riding your bike across the country. From the storms and the mud and the bike issues. It's about how these guys and girls are able to adapt and roll with the punches. This bike race, anything can happen and how you are tested, how your resolve is tested to keep the right attitude and, know what you can control and what you can't control and how you approach those things you can't control, especially when you're tired and haven't slept and you're cold.

It is incredible. What some of these guys and girls are overcoming. And although this is in the scope of a bike race, it represents how you adapt and change and roll the punches in life.

Let's hear more of the stories that have unfolded today.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Zane de Decker - cap 26
• Duncan Luke van Niekerk - cap 40
• Nicolas Stathoulis - cap 23
• Sarah van Heerden - cap 4
• Clinton Halsey - cap 21
• Peter Maritz - cap 22
• James Parkin - cap 22
• Olebongeng Kgengwe - cap 31
• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36
• Shaun Slabber - cap 6

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It is day five of Race Across South Africa and we have got lots of excitement lined up, lots to share. Let's not delay and let's get stuck in.

Drikus has got into checkpoint three today.

"It's been quite rough, to be honest. This is a beast of a race. Beautiful landscapes, absolutely beautiful, but it's, it's a beast. We had some pretty nasty rain and mud, having to deal with that for 200 kilometers early in the race. I needed to change my brake pads as well. One of the brake levers also doesn't function and the rain. Luckily now it's all good. Some of the terrain has been rough. Some of it has been smooth.

I had a very long sleep at Peaton the previous point, just to take it all in and chill. I must be honest, I pushed the tempo till there, and then from there I had a seven hour sleep, which I never do. So from here on the plan is just to bring it home safe. Don't take any risk. Do more, eat more, sleep more, enjoy it, more, take in the scenery and just get to the finish line in one piece. That's, that's the main aim because, if you go to tempo, which I was riding at you can make a fault or mistake very, very fast, by just being sleep deprived or, you know, just pushing it a bit over the edge. And I don't want that. I wanna finish this being strong.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Drikus Coetzee - cap 43
• Zane de Decker - cap 26
• Nicolas Stathoulis - cap 23
• Duncan Luke van Niekerk - cap 40
• Willie du Plessis - cap 1
• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36
• Giles Clinton - cap 8
• Rebecca Sands - cap 3

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Thank you for listening in to the Freedom Trail Podcast as we follow all the action on day four of Race Across South Africa.

Paul Ingen once said to Chris and I, "who doesn't want to ride their bike across the country". That's precisely what RASA is all about and what these brave men and women are doing. The opportunity to have freedom ahead of you and tackle day by day the most exquisite scenery that South Africa has to offer. The photos coming out are just spectacular. This first section up until Rhodes is almost a third of the course, but it holds nearly half the elevation. It has been relentless out there.

After leaving this first section of rough tracks and quad shattering climbs, big thunderstorms have now rolled in over the Rhodes and Barkley East Jamestown area.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Drikus Coetzee - cap 43
• Zane de Decker - cap 26
• Duncan Luke van Niekerk - cap 40
• Willie du Plessis - cap 1
• Ingrid Avidon - cap 36
• Oliver Greaves - cap 11
• Merak Greaves - cap 10
• Greg Fisher - cap 29
• Sue Wadley - cap 14
• Shaun Slabber - cap 6
• Mark Fitzjohn - cap 28
• Cindy Rutherford - cap 41

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Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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I'm Julia Fisher, and today we are gonna be unpacking day three of race across South Africa, where riders tackle the Freedom Trail touring route, a tough, grueling to thousand kilometer cycle from just outside Durban in South Africa, all the way to Wellington in the Western Cape. Just on the outskirts of Cape Town. So these riders are essentially riding from Durban to Cape Town with a 15 day cutoff.

Fortunately, everyone has got to checkpoint one, which helds the first cutoff, which is gonna be at tomorrow at 8:00 AM and everyone has already come through there. So we are celebrating all the stamps of the Brevet cards as riders successfully reach the first checkpoint.

Last time we spoke, Drikus , the race leader had just arrived at Rhodes. He got in at 6:00 PM last night, and he ended up having an early sleep. He slept there at Rhodes until midnight. So the rider's strategy of where they sleep. It's quite important and I think it was a good decision for Drikus because the next stop is Barkley East and it's a small town and if he gets there in the middle of the night, it's not a guaranteed bad option. So I think he took the wise option, slept at Rhodes, and then when he left Rhodes at midnight, he went through Barkley East about half past three in the morning. And he has opened Checkpoint two at Kranskop. He got in at half past one today and he stayed there for four hours, leaving then at quarter past five this afternoon.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Willie du Plessis - cap 1
• Rudi Bassi - cap 30
• Nic Stathoulis - cap 23
• Merak Greaves - cap 10
• Oliver Greaves - cap 11
• Giles Clinton - cap 8
• Mark Fitzjohn - cap 28

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Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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We have riders spanning all the way from Rhodes to Two Springs at the moment. We've just got news from Rhodes that's Drikus, race leader, has arrived and he's looking great. Not sure yet of what his plans are from there.

The field goes all the way to Two Springs. A large group of riders staying there tonight, and these riders are making sure they are ahead of the three day cutoff at Checkpoint one. So the strategy of this group has been to sleep at Centocow night one, tonight at Two Springs and tomorrow they'll be at Malek, ahead of Thursday morning's cutoff at 8:00 AM. It is very durable if nothing bad goes wrong for that group.

Tonight we are gonna be joined by Kevin Benkenstein. He is one of South Africa's most accomplished and respected gravel bike riders. He came a few years ago to do the Freedom Circuit 700 kilometer route and he absolutely smashed it.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Giles Clinton - Cap 8

Guest: Kevin Benkinstein

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Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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It has been the brainchild of the original Freedom founder David Wadilove. He had always dreamt about having a race on the trail where a large section of the trail is raced with GPS enabled navigation, and today it has come into fruition in 2026.

To share the adventures of the trail we are launching today, episode one of the Freedom Trail Podcast, so all your faithful followers who are normally following on the voice notes during our event coverage. I hope it won't be too tricky to move across to receiving the podcast daily and in this way, we hope to share the love of the Freedom Trail to a wider audience. So welcome to our first episode of Freedom Trail Podcast.

I'm Julia Fisher and my husband Chris and I host the events and tours along the Freedom Trail.

And today on the start line we had 45 participants lining up for race across South Africa, including six internationals and five women, quite a hot and fiery men's race as well as ladies. So Drikus Coetzee is the race favorite. He has led out from the beginning. He is going far faster than we had anticipated, and he has Willie hot on his wheel. For most of the day Willie has been about 15 minutes behind. Drikus got to Centocow at a crazy four hours 15 minutes. He went past Centocow at quarter past 12 today, didn't even pull in there, and got through to Ntsekeni at ten past four. He spent 10 minutes at Ntsekeni and is now heading out for two Springs.

In the ladies race, we have the beautiful duo of Sarah Van and Ingrid Avidon riding together. They have ridden a few freedom events together. Ingrid has ridden, I think over 20 Freedom Challenge events, so she is no stranger to this trail. She loves it, and it is great to have them both, showing the men how it's done.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Willie du Plessis - Cap 1
• Nic Stathoulis - Cap 23

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Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.