Africa Shines On World Stage

Not only have the Springboks covered themselves in glory over the past few months, but September and October have also been stand-out months for South Africa and Africa on the cycling front. Two of South Africa’s cyclists shone on the world stage and Rwanda made history by being the first African county to host the UCI Road World Championships.

South Africa’s home grown, Alan Hatherly beat off the competition to successfully defend his title in style in the elite men’s cross-country race at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in Valais Switzerland last month.

Hatherly, the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist, took command of the race on the second of nine laps and steadily built an unassailable lead. He crossed the finish line 48 seconds clear of Italy’s Simone Avondetto, who earned silver, while Tuesday’s short-track winner, Victor Koretzky, sprinted to bronze.

Koretzky and Christopher Blevins led after the opening lap, with Van der Poel surging impressively from 33rd on the grid to seventh. But it was Hatherly’s decisive solo move that defined the race. As he increased the tempo, Mathias Flückiger headed a small chase group, yet the 29-year-old from Durban continued to stretch his advantage with every lap.

By lap three, Van der Poel began to fade after his early efforts, slipping steadily down the order. The slick, root-strewn course made treacherous by rain and days of racing caught out many riders, but Hatherly remained composed and in control. Extending his lead to more than 90 seconds at one point, he cruised home to celebrate a commanding back-to-back world title.

It wasn’t just the men who delivered stand-out performances. South Africa’s, Tyler Jacobs powered down the finishing straight to claim victory in the U23 Elite Cross-country Short Track (XCC) at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Lake Placid, New York.

Navigating a super-fast, narrow, and damp course in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the 21-year-old South African raced with precision to secure a historic medal for both herself and her nation. She unleashed a perfectly timed sprint to take the win in 22:30 — a result that marked her first-ever World Cup victory. It was a breakthrough performance for the rising U23 star.

Between September 20 and 28, Kigali’s streets and nearby hills became the ultimate battleground for the planet’s elite cyclists when Rwanda hosted the UCI Road World Championships for the first time on African soil. More than just a race, the 2025 championships showcased Africa’s vast potential, challenging landscapes, and burgeoning cycling culture.

The elite men’s road race concluded the championships on Sunday, September 28. Spanning 267.5 km and featuring more than 5,475 meters of climbing, the course tested every facet of the riders’ abilities: endurance, tactical intelligence, and climbing power with the renowned Mur du Kigali climb emerging as the decisive battleground. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar and Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel were convincing winners in the road race and time trial respectively.

The women’s road race, held the day prior, produced a surprise winner as Canada’s Magdeleine Vallieres launched a decisive attack on the Côte de Kimihurura to seize the rainbow jersey. Both events highlighted how Rwanda’s distinctive terrain influenced race tactics, fracturing the peloton on the steep climbs and allowing the strongest riders to rise to the top.
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When it comes to accommodation there is not a lot worse than walking into your Airbnb and realising the only thing it has in common with the on-line photos… is the door. If this has happened to you, you know how a much anticipated holiday can be ruined when you finally get to your accommodation and it’s nothing like the photos on the website…and we don’t mean in a good way.

This is where FinishTime can really help you. Our teams are constantly travelling around Southern Africa timing events and so we’ve learned a lot about finding great places to stay. We want to share our knowledge with you so your time away ends up being the holiday you imagined. On the FinishTime website, under the “Where We Stay” tab, there is a list of accommodation that has been tried and tested by our staff. It covers places to stay throughout Southern Africa and extends as far afield as Mauritius, Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia. There is a short, honest review from one of our staff members about the accommodation and the facilities available.

So next time you are planning an exciting getaway, click on the link below to see if we’ve been there. That way you can be certain you won’t be disappointed.

https://finishtime.co.za/category/accommodation/

The FinishTime sporting calendars below come with a warning to check with the event organisers to ensure events have not been postponed or cancelled.

More event information, a regularly updated events calendar and results of all events timed by FinishTime can be found at www.finishtime.co.za and all results of events timed by FinishTime at results.finishtime.co.za

WINES2WHALES: Nov, 3-5 2025

With the reputation of being the most laid back and relaxed of the three events, The Pinotage (3 – 5 November 2025) sees the highest number of FNB Wines2Whales first-timers. The Pinotage also hosts the FNB Wines2Whales E-bike Race and Tour for riders who want to experience the FNB W2W with a little assistance.

SAVE ORION: Nov, 9 2025

The Save Orion Race that takes place in Pietermaritzburg, is an exceptional event that unites athletes and advocates for a common cause – to support the preservation of the iconic Orion Nebula. This unique race combines the thrill of running with a powerful message of environmental conservation and awareness.

IRONMAN 70.3 MOSSEL BAY: Nov 16, 2025

The ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Mossel Bay is a triathlon event that takes place in the scenic coastal town of Mossel Bay, South Africa. It chalenges athletes with a 1.9km swim ,a single-loop 90km bike course, and a 21.1km run, consisting of two and a half loops that pass landmarks such as the harbour, historic Central Mossel Bay, the Dias Museum Complex, and The Point, culminating below the Cape St Blaize lighthouse.