The Wild Ride powered by NUVO® has been ‘out there alone, racing the tide’ for 27 years with the 2026 edition officially being the 26th event as the 2020 event was run as a tour later in the season due to the Covid pandemic. For the first time in the event’s history, it did not reach the finish at Umngazi and was terminated at the end of day three due to the extreme weather conditions.
An unseasonal cold front had been predicated for days before the race started and as the time grew closer, the rainfall and wind grew progressively worse. However, participants enjoyed the first two days in typical glorious weather for the wild coast at this time of the year.
Riders set off from Morgan Bay on Sunday 26th July in the pre-dawn light and made their way across to the Great Kei River – a 6km neutral zone and pleasant warm-up – to the official start point on the western banks of the Kei River, having crossed on the ferry. The racing teams soon disappeared over the first hill, aptly named ‘Sunrise Surprise’ whilst the rest of the field of eighty or so riders enjoyed a more leisurely start and soaked up the Pondo vibe. Although not rated a perfect day by the regulars, the riding conditions were most enjoyable and the river crossings wade-able at waist height (in recent years these rivers have been a swim). A head wind picked up later in the day and with the tide pushing in, this made for hard going especially for the slower teams. Defending champions Craig Woods and his son Gary were first to reach Kob Inn in a comfortable time of 2h39.37. Second place (and first mixed team) went to seasoned endurance couple Martin and Jeannie Dreyer just over eight minutes back whilst Mark Malherbe and Ryan Stroberg took third place.
Day two dawned with a perfect sunrise over the ocean and the promise of a good day ahead. Riders set off from Kob Inn at seven thirty after a proper breakfast to fuel them for the vigorous terrain to come. Tufty grassy hills, tacky beaches, river crossings and some hefty hills to slog made for tough going but the scenery distracts from the physical exertion. Thirty-five kilometres may not sound like much but the riders knew all about it by the time they reached the Haven. Team Woodsies again made light work of it, extending their lead to arrive at the Haven in a brisk 2h17.46 with the Dreyer’s not far behind in 2h24.19. Team Ocean Mavericks Martin Hall and Angelo Wilke Paige showed their talents not only lie in rowing and jumped ahead of Malherbe and Stroberg to take third place on the day.
Race organisers pre-empted the cold front and made the wise decision to get the back-up truck out of the Haven before the rain started to avoid getting stuck there. Riders were issued with a plastic bag and asked to pack only essentials and what they needed for the next day so the truck could leave for Coffee Bay and ensure that they would have their kit bags and dry kit for the next day. Sure as predicated, the first rain squall arrived during the early hours of the morning causing many riders to wake with a sense of trepidation about what lay ahead. However, the mood was charged with a sense of adventure and positivity, knowing the only way to conquer the day ahead was with the right attitude! After a hearty breakfast at the Haven, riders braced themselves for a testing morning and lined up outside the gate ready to take off in earnest.
The field soon spread out with the leading teams making light work of the arduous conditions. The rain came and grew heavier and small streams became torrents gushing down the steep valleys. Every rider had a tale of their own to tell and aside from a few sketchy moments, everyone arrived at Ocean View Hotel in Coffee Bay drenched and cold but mostly smiling! Father-son duo Craig and Gary were the only team to break three hours (2h59.40) for the 50km or so in treacherous conditions. The NUVO® Youngsters, Malherbe and Stroberg, won a cheeky sprint finish ahead of the potent mixed team of the Dreyer’s to claim second place (3h34.12) by a mere three seconds. The last teams home were out there for over eight hours – longer than the winners overall time for the first three days – so hats off to them for persevering in the extreme conditions and still arriving home in good spirits. As Ryan Stroberg (representing ) mentioned at the final awards evening; day three was a true test of South African grit and adaptability to conquer whatever is in front of us and still remain positive.
Race Director Glen Haw made the call to stop the event after day three. With more heavy showers forecast for the evening and into the next day, three major river crossings on day four (and several smaller ones) would become too risky to get the field of eighty riders safely to the finish at Umngazi River Bungalows. This came as a relief to most riders. Only the hard-core Dreyers decided they would ride regardless and get a good training day bagged for their next big endurance quest in Turkey in October.
Martin Dreyer had the following words to say after the event; ‘Participating in the NUVO® Wild Ride, we haven’t had such fun times on & off the bike since we can remember. What was noticeable, was the race organisers having the best interests of the riders at heart with all their decision making. Traversing the most spectacular coastline & overnighting in cosy hotels, makes this ride the Holy Grail of Mtb’ing’
So, day four became a ‘wild ride’ of a different sort as the participants were transported by local taxi service through to the finish, where the festivities continued and riders could enjoy the warm Umngazi hospitality.
Whilst the 2026 Wild Ride powered by NUVO® will long be remembered for the extreme weather and an unfinished adventure, this was a temporary adversity when one considers the daily hardships of the people of the wild coast. The Wild Rides’ mandate has always been to give back and make a difference to this beautiful region the participants get to play along for four days of the year. Through the Wild Ride Education Company (WREC) and its supporters, 57 classrooms have been built in the region since 2006. The latest completed projects include two classrooms and a kitchen at Phaphamani Pre-School, along with a classroom and office at Bulungula College. Fundraising collected this year will support upcoming school infrastructure projects.
RESULTS
Men’s Teams: Craig & Gary Woods (Woodsies) 7h57.04, Martin Hall & Angelo Fabio Gelo Wilke Paige (Ocean Mavericks) 9h55.13, Mark Malherbe & Ryan Stroberg (NUVO® Youngsters) 10h04.46.
Mixed / Women’s Teams: Martin & Jeannie Dreyer (Team NUVO®) 8h46.13, Lana Cronje & Jenna Snyman (EDMG 2) 10h49.52, Cobus & Midee Potgieter (EDMG 4) 11h56.08
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anecdote from ‘the fines master’ and defending champion, Craig Woods:
Not a race, for most, but… group a bunch of guys and girls on a line, start a stopwatch and see what happens. For us, the race starts at the “go”. For most, it develops as positions settle and the challenge of catching or riding away becomes too strong to ignore. For still others it’s a race against the tide, a race to catch the wide beaches and cross shallow rivers. And then still those who target to survive. Get through. Conquering the days’ journey.
The Wild Coast lived up to its name in July 2026. Serving up sunshine, pristine beaches and blue seas as we started on the wild side of the Kei River, how that would change over the coming days. Amazing riding, good food, the debunking of newbie amnesty from the fines master saw the perfect end to a perfect start.
Day two from Kob Inn to the Haven was even better. The Wild Coast delivered a tail wind that caressed us home over the first of ‘the mothers’ and across perfectly tide timed rivers. A few adventurers out there had a canoe ride over the Mbashee to be welcomed at the Haven which really is that; a haven in the wilds it was becoming, as the Jekyll and Hyde personality of that beautiful coast started to change. With our kit headed out so the truck would not get stuck, provided with a plastic shopping bag for what we would need for the night and following day, not a complaint from any of the field, happy to trust the organisers, and willing to take on the rain battered day we hoped would not materialise.
Day three and the rain came down. It was a blur of water everywhere. Pouring from the sky, streaming out the hills, running down the paths, and gushing down the once quiet streams. We managed to get through ahead of the flooding but again, this field, exceptional by their adventurous spirits and never say can’t minds conquered the day having swum rivers and forged torrents in human chains with that “collective responsibility” bond that saw all starters finish with smiles and stories. News of the final stage cancelled, we were happy to acquiesce . Rain pelting still, the dinner done and fines raised, meant all racing was done. But there is always one: The Dreyers could never lie down and on their solo, they made a very detoured and soaking way to the end whilst we all took the much harder and more daunting, Eastern Cape taxi’s to Umngazi.
Day 4 was about the destination, the luxury of Umngazi, the food and fine dining. Spirits high, the participants all raised further funds for WREC and kicked off stage five; the very jolly final stage in the pub. Heads were shaved, a debt of Farmer Glens eyebrows not collected, or rather deferred to registration dinner 2027. Some raced, some rode, some survived, but everyone, to the last, created memories and friendships that only a common cause, a shared journey and a combined goal could achieve.