Tanqua Kuru rides high in SA’s cycling boom
“It is not just about speed - it is about spirit."
As South Africa rides a wave of sporting triumphs and a growing appetite for grit-driven adventure, one race continues to carve out a distinctive place in the country’s cycling culture.
Now in its fifth year, the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race has emerged as a standout event in South Africa’s rapidly expanding gravel cycling calendar – not just for its challenging terrain, but for its unique combination of physical endurance, creative spirit, and radical hospitality.
On the weekend of May 23 to 25, riders gathered in the Tankwa Karoo for the race’s milestone edition. Among the riders were well-known names like Dan Craven and Martin Freyer, who crossed borders to be part of the experience.
Riders arrived on gravel bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, and whatever machine matched their spirit and grit. At Tanqua Kuru, it is not about the gear; it is about the journey.
With gravel cycling participation doubling globally since 2020, and local events multiplying in the wake of the sport’s popularity (fuelled in part by South Africa’s own growing reputation in the international road and mountain biking circuits), Tanqua Kuru offers something rare; a race that is as much about community as it is about competition.
“In a year when South African cycling is gaining serious global attention, we are proud to be the race that reminds people why they started gravel riding,” said race founder Jeremy Crowder.
It is not about speed – it is about spirit. We started Tanqua Kuru to create something personal, a little wild; and to capture that magic, more than distance or difficulty, that keeps over 60% of our riders coming back year after year.
As South African sport finds itself at the forefront of global conversations – from rugby world dominance to a resurgence of local cycling legends – Tanqua Kuru is proof that the future of South African sport is not only big stadiums and medal counts.
It is also dusty back roads, shared sunsets, and the races that leave a mark long after the tyres stop turning.
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