Greta Seiwald (left) of Decathlon Ford Factory Racing and Sara Cortinovis (right) of Unno Factory Racing completed a clean sweep of stage victories at the 2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen. Photo by Oakpics.com.
The 2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, delivered four days of decisive racing across the Koue Bokkeveld and Witzenberg Valley from 5 to 8 February.
Over 280 kilometres, the race tested speed, resilience, and decision-making, with punctures, crashes, and long climbs shaping the general classification in both UCI fields.
Despite two punctures for Andreas Seewald (pictured) the KTM Singer Racing 2 team were never at serious risk of losing their yellow First Ascent jerseys. Photo by Shift Media Co.
The UCI Men’s race remained open until the final stage. Toyota Specialized Imbuko claimed the opening stage, but Stage 2 changed the race when Andreas Seewald and Jakob Hartmann of Singer KTM Racing capitalised on crashes and punctures to take the yellow jerseys. A decisive performance on Stage 3 allowed them to defend a five-minute buffer going into the final day. Despite two punctures on Stage 4, strong team support ensured they secured overall victory. Travis Stedman and Jaedon Terlouw won the final stage and moved into third overall, while Johan van Zyl and Wessel Botha finished second after four steady performances.
Singer KTM’s Simon Stiebjahn (left), Andreas Seewald (2nd from left), Jakob Hartmann (2nd from right) and Martin Frey (right) crossed the final finish line in unison to celebrate the title. Photo by Shift Media Co.
In the UCI Women’s race, Greta Seiwald and Sara Cortinovis of Decathlon Ford Unno controlled the event from the opening stage. They won all four stages, including the Queen Stage over the Merino Monster, and finished with a final winning margin of 13 minutes and 32 seconds. Their advantage was built early on Stage 1, reinforced with a measured attack on Stage 2, and effectively sealed on Stage 3. On the final day, they chose to race aggressively rather than defend, extending their lead once more. Vera Looser and Samantha Sanders secured second overall after four consistent days, while Cherise Willeit and Ila Stow completed the podium.
Greta Seiwald led for most of the final stage, powering herself and Sara Cortinovis to a 7-minute margin of victory on the day. Photo by Oakpics.com.
Across all four stages, the Tankwa Trek once again showed why it is one of South Africa’s most demanding mountain bike stage races. Long climbs, technical descents, and sustained pace exposed weaknesses quickly and rewarded teams that raced with discipline. If you followed the race daily, you saw how quickly fortunes could change. If you are looking ahead, the 2026 edition set a clear benchmark for the level of racing the event continues to attract.
Marc Pritzen (leading) made life tough for this fellow UCI Men, creating an on-again/off-again pace which stung tired legs. Photo by Oakpics.com.
2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, Results:
UCI Men’s General Classification after Stage 4:
- Singer KTM Racing 2: Jakob Hartmann & Andreas Seewald (10:49:24)
- Insect Science: Johan van Zyl & Wessel Botha (10:52:44 | + 3:20)
- Toyota Specialized Imbuko B: Travis Stedman & Jaedon Terlouw (10:55:52 | +6:28)
- Honeycomb 226ers D2mont Merida: Marc Pritzen & Hermann Pernsteiner (10:56:02 | + 6:38)
- Singer KTM Racing 1: Simon Stiebjahn & Martin Frey (11:03:07 | + 13:43)
UCI Men’s Stage 4 Podium (from left to right): Johan van Zyl, Wessel Botha, Travis Stedman, Jaedon Terlouw, Simon Stiebjahn, and Martin Frey. Photo by Oakpics.
Stage 2 UCI Women’s Results:
UCI Anderson Transport Women’s General Classification after Stage 4:
- Decathlon Ford | Unno: Greta Seiwald & Sara Cortinovis (13:00:48)
- Efficient Infiniti Insure: Vera Looser & Samantha Sanders (13:14:20 | +13:32)
- Fortress Toyota: Cherise Willeit & Ila Stow (14:07:19 | +1:06:31)
- 1Of1 x Summerplace Racing: Lilian Baber & Malena Seer (14:21:40 | +1:20:52)
- Safari Essence Titan Racing: Danielle du Toit & Roxanne Kemp (14:25:40 | +1:24:52)
For the full results, please click here. For more information, visit www.tankwatrek.co.za.
Anderson Transport UCI Women’s Stage 4 Podium (from left to right): Vera Looser, Samantha Sanders, Sara Cortinovis, Greta Seiwald, Roxanne Kemp, and Danielle du Toit. Photo by Oakpics.com.
