Berg & Bush brings singletrack and smiles
For almost two decades, the Standard Bank Berg & Bush mountain bike events near Winterton in KwaZulu-Natal – the 2-Day and the Descent – have been thrilling mountain bikers from around South Africa (and an increasing number of international riders who can’t resist South African hospitality!). The 2025 edition proved no different. With Standard Bank’s […]
The Berg & Bush Descent: Sunshine, Singletrack, and Stage Race Magic
The Standard Bank Berg & Bush is one of my favourite mountain bike stage races on the calendar, and when the opportunity arose to join the Descent this year, I didn’t think twice. This year, the route for Stage One had to be changed due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on the farms in […]
Trails and Tales from Berg & Bush
Last year Berg & Bush established itself firmly on my list of must-do South African mountain bike events. It goes without saying that I leapt at the opportunity to do it again, and fled the miserable Cape winter without looking back. There are three reasons why this event hits the spot: The Season It falls […]
Standard Bank joins Berg and Bush as new title sponsor
The Berg & Bush, one of South Africa’s oldest and most loved mountain bike stage races, is thrilled to announce Standard Bank as their new title sponsor for a period of three years. The Standard Bank Berg & Bush will take place this June in the shape of the three-day Descent (16-18 June) and the […]
Berg & Bush Descent: One for the Bucket List
Disclaimer: before reading this please note that I have not done a stage race since Tankwa Trek in 2020, and the froth is overflowing. Don’t read this if you don’t want to pack your bags and go and ride bikes. Prior to Berg and Bush I was convinced my love affair with stage racing had […]
7 iconic scenes from the 2017 Berg & Bush
The Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush took place in early October this year, with something to please every level of mountain bike rider. The Berg & Bush has it all, a three-day mountain bike ride in the shape of the Great Trek, a race in the shape of the Descent, and a relaxed, family-style MTB […]
Sun’s out funs out at Berg and Bush day three
After a few days of overcast conditions, the sun finally came out at the 2017 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush Descent. It shone particularly brightly on the men’s and ladies overall race winners, who were in command from day one to day three. The men’s title was claimed by Phil Buys and Matthys Beukes (Pyga […]
Top trails on Berg and Bush Descent day two
Phil Buys and Matthys Beukes (Pyga Euro Steel) took a giant bunny hop towards claiming the 2017 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush Descent title with a commanding ride on day two of the event. In the ladies race, Sam Sanders and Amy Beth McDougall (Valencia Ladies) consolidated their overnight lead with another stage win (2:28:07), […]
Muddy good fun at Berg and Bush Descent
Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck (NAD Pro MTB) crossed the line first on a reconfigured day one of the Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush Descent, the three-day stage race taking place in KwaZulu-Natal’s central Drakensberg region. Photo credit: Em Gatland. The Mpumalanga pair finished in a time of 2:26:04. Second went to Andrew Hill and […]
Kleinhans and Beers win 2016 Berg & Bush
In a star-studded local field at the 2016 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush, it was Erik Kleinhans and Matt Beers (Red E Topeak Ergon) that stood head and shoulders above the rest. Leading from start to finish, the recently-formed team took the overall honours after three days of furious racing in KwaZulu-Natal. Erik Kleinhans and […]
Berg and Bush Stage 2 blitzed by leaders
The elite field at the 2016 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush charged through the 60km Stage 2 course with such ferocity that some in the race village wondered if the final batch of riders might be able to watch the winners come in. Erik Kleinhans and Matt Beers claimed the 60km Stage 2 of the […]
Elite riders scorch Berg & Bush Day 1
The conditions at the start of the 2016 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush were cool. The riding from the elite bunch, though, was scorching hot. Setting the scintillating pace was one of the strongest pro fields ever assembled at the Berg & Bush Descent. Matt Beers and Erik Kleinhans (Red E Topeak Ergon) won the […]