So many events, so little time! Whether you lace up, saddle up or chalk up, there is a Biogen-backed event for you to conquer in 2024!
As a dedicated supporter of passionate South African athletes across multiple sporting codes, Biogen is proud to continue its association with some of the most iconic events on the 2024 calendar.
Check out our guide to the biggest and best Biogen-backed events taking place over the coming months to plan your season, fine-tune that training program, and share in the excitement as we build up to the big day!
There’s something for everyone, from runners and cyclists to triathletes and functional athletes. So join us as we fuel your passion, ignite your competitive spirit, and quench your thirst for adventure with the most incredible and unforgettable race experiences and sporting events.
Biogen-Backed Races and Events 2024
February
Dates: 8-11 February 2024
The Marino Monster awaits at this iconic four-stage race. With breathtaking trails through the Bokkeveld and winding routes in the Witzenburg area, this race features some of the most unique scenery SA has to offer. As one of the first UCI events of the season, the event traditionally attracts big-name riders from around the world. Riders tackle routes through rocky outcrops and steep climbs on a mixture of hand-built, smoothly sculpted, and rough and loose trails. Riders also get to enjoy true ‘Karoo hospitality’ with a world-class race village at Kaleo Guest Farm.
Date: 10 February 2024
Swim, bike and run in picturesque Langebaan as the Club Mykonos Resort hosts the Blue Lagoon Triathlon. The event is an ideal early season race offering Standard and Sprint triathlon race distances. Athletes will take to the lagoon for the swim before tackling the coastal road towards Saldanha Bay on the bike leg, and end off with a lapped run inside the quaint and colourful seaside resort. Entrants can also opt for various Aquabike events, which consist of a swim and bike leg.
Date: 18 February 2024
Fully stocked water points, a finisher’s medal, and an exciting prize giving await riders in the 116 km Super Classic presented by Ensure and 62 km DS 24 Challenge. There is also a new 8km fun ride on the day. The race serves as a seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2025 and the 2024 Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg.
All proceeds go directly to Retina South Africa, an organisation that supports South African patients losing their vision due to retinal blinding conditions. Retina South Africa is the only patient-led NPO working to support and empower South Africans with retinal vision loss by creating awareness, advocating for better services for visually disabled people, and ensuring that international trials and treatments are available to all eligible South Africans.
Dates: 22-25 February 2024
This 3-day social MTB event raises funds for the African Icons (NPC) charity that benefits widows and orphans of South African police officers killed in the line of duty. All funds raised go to support the education of and to provide financial support for these families. African Icons supports the Widows and Orphans Fund and SAPSET.
The event hosts some of SA’s most epic cycling events and invites some of the country’s (and the world’s) highest-profile athletes to act as ‘African Icons’, attracting ordinary cyclists to open their wallets and their hearts and come and ride with these icons.
March
Dates: 7-10 March 2024
The 46th Cape Town Cycle Tour, the biggest timed bike race in the world, provides a glorious day out for tens of thousands of cyclists, no matter the weather. For just one day of the year, human power rules the roads of the fairest cape. It’s not all about riding legally on freeways, though. In the months following the Cycle Tour, millions of rand are ploughed back into the communities the 109km route crosses through the ongoing work of the event principals, the Pedal Power Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont.
Dates: 23-24 March 2024
The next instalment of this exciting premium functional fitness event will comprise teams of 2 (male/male or female/female or male/female. Teams can compete in four divisions, including Scaled, Intermediate, Masters, and Rx’d. There will be 5 workouts over the weekend. The leaderboard is determined purely by the standings of the teams after the 5 workouts. The workouts will test the athletes’ ability to strategise for the best team performance while having a ton of fun. The DJ and MCs will keep the crowd entertained and up to date with all the action all weekend.
April
Dates: 19-21 April 2024
Run. Have Fun. Eat. Sleep. Repeat! Participating in the Tankwa Trail is a weekend of pure joy, encompassing all kinds of exhilarating emotions. Runners can immerse themselves in the trails, passing by rugged rock formations, luscious fruit plantations, and the tranquil Koue-Bokkeveld scenery as their backdrop.
Dates: 20-21 April 2024
Nelson Mandela Bay hosts Africa’s most renowned triathlon. An IRONMAN Championship race that pulses with South African spirit, experience the breathtaking courses and feverish support at this postcard-perfect beachside destination. The 2024 ISUZU IRONMAN African Championship offers Men’s and Women’s Age Group Qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France on September 22, 2024 (women), and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 26, 2024 (men).
Date: 20 April 2024
The Cycle Lab Mountain Bike Series is the premier inter-schools MTB league in Gauteng, following an XCO short track format, with 5 races set out for the 2023 season. Open to all public and private high schools from U13 to U19 age categories, with the full support and sanctioning of Schools Cycling SA and, by association, Cycling SA.
May
Dates: 3-5 May 2024
The Glacier Waterberg Traverse is a three-day mountain bike stage race that takes place in the spectacular bushveld of the Waterberg. Summerplace Game Reserve, in Limpopo, hosts the event and is only 2.5 hours from Johannesburg, offering a healthy slice of rural bliss where you can enjoy renowned MTB trails with breathtaking views and the possibility of game encounters. The non-competitive atmosphere of the race encourages riders to slow down and spend quality with loved ones.
Dates: 24-26 May 2024
This is South Africa’s ultimate race with 361km and a maximum of 36.1 hours to complete it. While this race remains a mountain bike race in our opinion, participants now have the flexibility to take it on with a gravel- or mountain bike, so choose wisely! If you are not up for the full Challenge you can take on The Half or opt for The Relay in a team of 4.
Date: 25 May 2024
The Cycle Lab Mountain Bike Series is the premier inter-schools MTB league in Gauteng, following an XCO short track format, with 5 races set out for the 2023 season. Open to all public and private high schools from U13 to U19 age categories, with the full support and sanctioning of Schools Cycling SA and, by association, Cycling SA.
Dates: 31 May – 2 June
Africa’s top male and female CrossFit athletes and teams will compete for a spot at the 2024 CrossFit Games at this Official Regional Semifinal event, taking place at Emerald Resort & Casino in Vanderbijlpark. The event is not merely the last qualifying stage before the CrossFit Games; it’s also a chance for the CrossFit community to do what it does best: support and cheer on athletes from around the world vying for an invitation to the Games. Whether you’re competing, attending the event live, or watching from home, the Semifinals are a fun opportunity for everyone to participate in the quest to find the Fittest on Earth.
June
Dates: 1-2 June 2024
Durban is a natural paradise known for its sun-kissed beaches and subtropical climate. The IRONMAN 70.3 Durban is the perfect peak-season race for international athletes and mid to late-season race for South Africans. A fairly flat and fast course, this race is a first-timer and club favourite. The 2024 ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Durban offers Age Group Qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on 14-15 December 2024 in Taupō, New Zealand.
Dates: 6-9 June 2024
The 97th Comrades Marathon will be an Up Run, starting at the Durban City Hall at 05h30 and finishing at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse. As with previous Up Runs, the race distance will be approximately 87km. This will be the 49th Comrades Up Run. Entrants will have 12 hours to cross the line to secure their finisher’s medal. It is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race and remains one of the toughest road races on the planet.
Dates: 13-16 June 2024
WOD Wars is the first, biggest and most fun-filled festival of fitness in Durban. You’ll be going head-to-head with some of Durban’s strongest competitors doing various challenges that test every aspect of your fitness.
July
Date: 20 July 2024
The Cycle Lab Mountain Bike Series is the premier inter-schools MTB league in Gauteng, following an XCO short track format, with 5 races set out for the 2023 season. Open to all public and private high schools from U13 to U19 age categories, with the full support and sanctioning of Schools Cycling SA and, by association, Cycling SA.
August
Dates: 3-4 August 2024
The next instalment of this exciting premium functional fitness event will comprise teams of 3 (male/male/female). Teams can compete in four divisions, including Scaled, Intermediate, Masters, and Rx’d. There will be 5 workouts over the weekend. The leaderboard is determined purely by the standings of the teams after the 5 workouts. The workouts will test the athletes’ ability to strategise for the best team performance while having a ton of fun. The DJ and MCs will keep the crowd entertained and up to date with all the action all weekend.
Dates: 9-11 August 2024
The Tsitsikamma – with its deep gorges, fertile plains, and wild coastline – is undoubtedly one of the country’s most spectacular destinations in South Africa to visit and ride a bike. Starting at the quaint Storms River Village, the event is firmly family-focused, providing fun on and off the bike for riders of all ages. Rather than a race, it is considered by entrants as a ride or a tour. A relaxed three days on the bike are punctuated by lingering stops at the Biogen-powered water points, with Beer and Barrel Belgian craft beers offered at the final water point of each stage.
#4 Date: 17 August 2024
#5 Date: 31 August 2024
The Cycle Lab Mountain Bike Series is the premier inter-schools MTB league in Gauteng, following an XCO short track format, with 5 races set out for the 2023 season. Open to all public and private high schools from U13 to U19 age categories, with the full support and sanctioning of Schools Cycling SA and, by association, Cycling SA.
September
Dates: 21-22 September 2024
The Cycle Lab Mountain Bike Series is the premier inter-schools MTB league in Gauteng, following an XCO short track format, with 5 races set out for the 2023 season. Open to all public and private high schools from U13 to U19 age categories, with the full support and sanctioning of Schools Cycling SA and, by association, Cycling SA.
October
Dates: 1-5 October 2024
The Cape Pioneer is a mountain bike race with soul. It is known for world-class organisation, great trails and great friends, offering a route unmatched in diversity. The 2024 race boasts a shorter route, but the individual stages will be as challenging as they are rewarding! Over the past 15 years, riders explored the Karoo and Coast, journeying from Prince Albert to Riversdale, and from Calitzdorp to Mossel Bay. They crossed rivers, conquered vast mountain ranges, and faced natural disasters. This expedition has led organisers to unveil the best route yet – a challenging, diverse, scenic, and ultimately rewarding experience along the Karoo and Garden Route
Date: 19 October 2024
The Prince George Monumental 100 Miler is the most diverse one-day race you’ll ever experience. It is a monumental race from the dark side of the Swartberg Mountain Range at the Northern slopes of the Great Karoo through the Klein Karoo region over the Montagu Pass with dense forest plantation and a finish at the coast in George. The vast landscapes and diverse overload of these non-technical routes are the perfect race for all mountain and gravel bike enthusiasts, with ample opportunity to appreciate the unique surroundings you’ll be exposed to.
Dates: 31 October – 3 November 2024
Four days of adventure await at the Biogen-backed Dryland Traverse. The four-day trail running stage race showcases the classic trails of the Klein Karoo. The race kicks off with an underground start in the world-famous Cango Caves and follows trails that traverse the mighty Swartberg Mountains – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – offering breathtaking views of the Great and Klein Karoo, and trails that run past the renowned Raubenheimer Dam.
November
Dates: 2-3 November 2024
The annual Biogen Pete Marlin Surfski Race takes place off the East London coastline in November. The weekend consists of a singles race on Saturday and a doubles race on Sunday.
Dates: 9-10 November 2024
Steyn City is offering mountain bikers the opportunity to explore the incredible network of mountain bike trails constructed inside the estate walls normally reserved exclusively for residents. Enter the 10km or 25km races on Saturday or the longer 50km event on Sunday.
Dates: 14-17 November 2024
Experience the richness, contrasts, colours and sounds of the City of Jo’burg by being a part of the prestigious Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg. Starting at FNB Stadium, the iconic route will take you along 97km of thrilling Jo’burg terrain that you get to own for a day with full road closure! Cycle past legendary landmarks through streets usually bustling with traffic and enjoy the city’s rich diversity from a radically different vantage point.
Dates: 16-17 November 2024
Mossel Bay offers the scenic beauty of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains and the azure blue sea, rolling green hills and pastures, rich agriculture, and culture. Fynbos, aloes, dolphins and whales, a place one can only describe as paradise – a tourist’s dream. Mossel Bay’s history is unique and was pivotal to the development of the rest of South Africa.
Stay tuned for confirmed dates
The next instalment of this exciting premium functional fitness event will pit individual athletes each each other across four divisions, including Scaled, Intermediate, Masters, and Rx’d. There will be 5 workouts over the weekend. The leaderboard is determined purely by the standings of the each athlete after the 5 workouts. The workouts will test the athletes’ ability to strategise for the best performance while having a ton of fun. The DJ and MCs will keep the crowd entertained and up to date with all the action all weekend.
The Battle will celebrate 10 years of competition in 2024. The most inclusive functional fitness event in Africa is centrally located in Fourways, Gauteng at Monte Casino, which offers amenities and a large support base, with hotels at event special rates, food vendors, family and adult entertainment and a lot more. While this CrossFit Licensed event falls outside of the regular CrossFit season does not serve as a qualifier for the CrossFit Games, it provide athletes with a chance to compete. BST CrossFit has been the organisers of The Battle since its inception. The Battle is a truly CrossFit event, by CrossFitters, for CrossFitters.
