{"id":4662,"date":"2025-06-22T12:07:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T10:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/?p=4662"},"modified":"2025-06-22T12:07:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T10:07:55","slug":"kap-sani2c-nonstop-250kms-with-24-hour-cut-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/22\/kap-sani2c-nonstop-250kms-with-24-hour-cut-off\/","title":{"rendered":"KAP sani2c nonstop – 250kms with 24-hour cut-off"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0KAP sani2c nonstop<\/a>\u00a0is not your average mountain bike race. Covering 250 km of uninterrupted, rugged terrain from Glencairn Farm at the foothills of Sani Pass in Underberg, to the beach at Scottburgh, this is one of the most demanding one-day endurance events on the South African calendar.\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s nonstop takes place from\u00a020-22 June<\/b>, and has once again attracted a determined field of mountain bikers who are hungry for a challenge that demands not just physical endurance, but mental resilience and teamwork. Riders take on the bulk of the trails that make up the three-day KAP sani2c stage race route, in a single push, riding through the night, navigating trails by torchlight, and relying on support crews to refuel and re-motivate them along the way.\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

We spoke to veteran cyclists Kevin Benkenstein and Oliver Munnik, who will be lining up at 2 am on Saturday morning. Endurance specialist Kevin \u2018Benky\u2019 Benkenstein is no stranger to long days in the saddle, and he returns to nonstop with Matt Wilkinson as teammate.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Oliver \u2018Pinner\u2019 Munnik, a well-known mountain biker who has completed many sani2c races over the past 20 years, takes on what will be his longest ride, partnered with Cam Roach who won the amateur category at KAP sani2c just two months ago.\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite daunting. I don\u2019t often enter something not knowing if I\u2019ll be able to finish it, especially if we\u2019re pushing the pace. Previously, my longest ride was about 200 km, from Matjiesfontein to Prince Albert, with 3,000 metres of climbing. So this is a big step up.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

nonstop is a completely different beast to sani2c. While there are warm meals and refreshments waiting at the sani2c race villages Mackenzie Club and Jolivet – nonstop allows for a mere pitstop, and then a push to ride through the night, past the fatigue towards the sun rise. The goal is reaching the coast before the 24-hour cutoff, testing even the strongest rider\u2019s stamina and grit.<\/p>\n

Pinner continues: \u201cThe major difference with a one-day race is that you don\u2019t get the mental or physical reset that comes with a multi-day stage race. In a stage race, you finish a stage and you can switch off, recover, and refocus. With nonstop, you have to stay on top of everything mentally, physically, mechanically. You have to keep your spirits up, and you\u2019ve got to motivate your partner when they\u2019re down, and hope they do the same for you.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

A team effort that tests more than fitness<\/u><\/u><\/h3>\n

After finishing third in February\u2019s Atlas Mountain Race –\u00a0 a 1,304 km unsupported trek across Morocco, in just over four days –\u00a0 you might assume that 250 km would be a breeze for Kevin Benkenstein, but as he explains, each format presents its own challenges.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, a four-day, five-day or seven-day race is more my ballpark, but it\u2019s fun to do different types of events. The format –\u00a0 having your support crew, and riding as a team –\u00a0 makes it unique. It\u2019s not quite self-supported, but semi-supported – by someone you choose. It\u2019s like having your own little family for the day,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Unlike most ultra-endurance events, sani2c nonstop allows, and encourages, a support crew. These supporters meet riders at designated checkpoints, providing food, mechanical assistance, and a boost in morale.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Munnik has done the research and is prepped for the ride: \u201cI\u2019ve got lots of batteries, a big spotlight on the bike, and a headlamp. I\u2019ve spoken to some adventure racers and nonstop veterans and they all said two things: prepare for the cold, and make sure you have a head torch. That headlamp is key, because it moves with your gaze, not just where the handlebars are pointing.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the racing side, Pinner says: \u201cI know Kevin and Matt are racing together, and they\u2019re definitely the favourites for the fastest time. But who knows, Cam and I might pull something out of the bag and surprise ourselves.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

An ultra with soul<\/u><\/u><\/h3>\n

nonstop is a small, relatively low-key, and retains a raw, old-school feeling. Riders are out in nature, with their teammates, taking on a legendary route with only the rising sun and their resolve to guide them.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cIt reminds me of the early days of ultra racing –\u00a0 a bit more relaxed, grassroots,\u201d says Benky. \u201cThere aren\u2019t big bunches like in stage races. You\u2019re often alone with your teammate or mates, and that allows you to really soak in the moment.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

And those moments can be unforgettable.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cLast year we hit the Umko Drop just as the sun rose –\u00a0 so we had that real hero light on the way down, and then beautiful sunshine coming through into the valley as we were going along the river. It was just the two of us – we were completely alone and that was really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, despite the relative calm, Benky believes there\u2019s potential for this event to become fiercely competitive. \u201cIf the right guys show up, I think it could be a sub-10-hour race. But I also love that it\u2019s small. It has space to grow, but I hope it keeps its uniqueness.\u201d<\/p>\n

A mountain biker\u2019s game<\/b><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s way too much singletrack for a gravel bike,\u201d laughs Benky. \u201cAnd I like that it\u2019s got that adventurous spirit. The bike world has changed, and people want experiences now. nonstop fits perfectly into that shift.\u201d<\/p>\n

sani2c nonstop continues to carve out its place as one of the most challenging and rewarding endurance events on the continent. Whether you\u2019re aiming for a sub-12-hour finish or just to beat the sunset to the beach, one thing is clear: this is a ride you won\u2019t forget.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

For more information visit:\u00a0www.nonstop.sani2c.co.za<\/a><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Follow KAP sani2c nonstop and watch live coverage on Instagram:\u00a0sani2cnonstop\u00a0<\/a><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Track your riders and see results on Sportraxs:\u00a0https:\/\/app.sportraxs.com\/en\/event\/sani2c-nonstop-2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo credit: Anthony Grote<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0KAP sani2c nonstop\u00a0is not your average mountain bike race. Covering 250 km of uninterrupted, rugged terrain from Glencairn Farm at the foothills of Sani Pass Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4664,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4662"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4663,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4662\/revisions\/4663"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runridedive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}