Event Details 

DATE : Saturday, 16 May 2026
VENUE : Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk - De Rust, DE RUST
REGISTRATION   Friday: 17h00 – 19h00 / Saturday: 06h00 – 07h00
EVENT START TIME : From 07h40
DISTANCES :
MTB | 26km | 41.5km | 61.5km |  61.5km E-Bikes & Tandems |

TRAIL RUN | 9.5km | 19.5km |

ONLINE ENTRIES CLOSE ON: Thursday 14 May at 20H00

The 11th edition of the Meiringspoort MTB & Trail Run Challenge will take place on Saturday, 16 May 2026, at De Rust (Meiringspoort). 

The MTB event is a CSA sanctioned event and riders must therefore either have a current CSA Membership or License - if not you need to purchase a Temp Day License (R70). The Trail run is NOT a SWD league run and therefore runners do not have to wear any club clothing.

Enquiries

• MTB Event Specific: Henkie du Plessis 082 396 4094 / [email protected]
• Trail Run Event Specific: Pieter Schoeman 082 377 0547 / [email protected]
• Accommodation: Lizelle 062 348 0752 / [email protected]
• Online Entries: Juan Botes 071 678 7147 / [email protected]

Entry Fee

Food & Beverages

Steak Braai - Steakbraai with beer tent from 18h00 on Friday evening.

Refreshments - Beer tent and food stalls will be available at the venue on race day. 

Route & Profile Maps

(click on image for online map and route profile information)

7:40am	7:50am	8:10am	8:30am	8:00am	8:20am

MTB RULES

• This race will be held under the rules and regulations of CSA
• NO helmet, NO ride, NO Go Pro’s permitted
• Cyclists on ALL distances will need at least a CSA Membership
• If you are not in possession of CSA Membership, you will have to buy a day license (R70 each)
• Minimum age for 26km distance:  13 years and older;  41.5km : 15 years and older AND 61.5km distance: 19 Years and older
• A rider may receive technical assistance along the course from a fellow competitor but not from anyone outside of the course
• No following vehicles apart from the sweep vehicles of the race organizer will be allowed on the route
• If a rider is anywhere on a public road, general traffic rules must be obeyed
• Start chutes close strictly at 07:30 on race day for compulsory race briefing. Arrivals after this time will not be allowed to start. 
• MEDALS TO ALL FINISHERS.

MTB GENERAL

• E-Bikes & Tandems start at 07H40 as a separate 61.5km group
• Start & Finish at NG Church grounds, De Rust.
• First aid is available on most of the route and at the finish.
• Ablution facilities will be available at start and finish.
• Race results available at finish and at www.meiringspoortchallenge.co.za
• Pre entries close as soon as entry cap is reached or on 15 May 18H00 2025 whichever occurs first.
• Late and Race day entries, if available, will attract a R50 premium on the Friday and R100 premium on the Saturday.
• Substitutions on Friday will be an additional R100. 
• Donations in aid of the “Oudtshoorn Vaardigheidskool”, can be made, voluntarily, along with entry fees. 
• No substitutions will be allowed. No refunds.
• Steak braai Friday night form 18h00 at the church grounds. 

TRAIL RUN RULES

• The wearing of club clothes is not mandatory.
• Only the event race number will be worn on the front of the vest.
• Immediate disqualification if a runner tampers with the route markings.
• Immediate disqualification if a runner is caught littering.
• Immediate disqualification if a runner damages the trail or any vegetation.
• Minimum age for 9.5km is 14 years AND 19.5km is 16 years.
• No substitutions will be allowed. No refunds.
• The closing date for online-entries is at 20:00 on 14 May 2026 or as soon as the entry cap is reached.
• Start chutes close strictly at 07:30 on race day for compulsory race briefing. Arrivals after this time will not be allowed to start. 
• MEDALS TO ALL FINISHERS

 TRAIL RUN GENERAL

• Start & Finish at NG Church Grounds, De Rust.
• Cut-off times:  19,5km is 4 hours &  9.5km is 3hours.
• First aid is available on most of the route and at the finish.
• Ablution facilities will be available at start and finish.
• Pre entries close as soon as entry cap is reached or on 15 May 2025 whichever occurs first.
• Late and Race day entries, if available, will attract a R50 premium.
• Substitutions on Friday will be an additional R100. 
• Race results available at finish and at www.meiringspoortchallenge.co.za
• Donations in aid of the “Oudtshoorn Vaardigheidskool”, can be made, voluntarily, along with entry fees. 

PRIZE GIVING

Equal prize money for male and female cyclists/runners. Winners have to be present to receive prizes.