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.
This past weekend, riders gathered in the otherworldly Tankwa Karoo for the race’s milestone edition, including 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 – whatever machine matched their spirit and grit. At Tanqua Kuru, it’s not about the gear, it’s 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 international road and mountain biking circuits), Tanqua Kuru offers something rare: a race that’s as much about community as it is about competition.
“In a year where South African cycling is gaining serious global attention, we’re proud to be the race that reminds people why they started gravel riding in the first place,” says race founder Jeremy Crowder. “It’s not just about speed – it’s about spirit.”
Built on intention rather than spectacle, Tanqua Kuru is known for its immersive rider experience. From whimsical waterpoints – think a desert Tiki Bar, an ice-cold Coke oasis, and a music-laced snack stop – to a setting so stark and beautiful it feels surreal, every detail is designed to surprise and delight.
“We started Tanqua Kuru to create something personal and a little bit wild,” says Crowder. “And it’s that magic – more than distance or difficulty – that keeps over 60% of our riders coming back year after year.”
In an era where mass participation events often prioritise scale over soul, Tanqua Kuru represents a return to meaning. Riders don’t just race here – they connect. They tap their cleats to music in the heart of the desert, swap stories over steak sliders, and savour ice-cold Coca-Colas pulled from a vintage fridge tucked away in the most unexpected place.
And for sponsors, the event offers something just as valuable: alignment with purpose.
“Tanqua Kuru reflects the pioneering ethos we live by,” says Andrew Pitman, CEO of Sling, a returning race sponsor. “It’s bold, community-driven, and authentic – values that resonate far beyond cycling.”
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 isn’t just big stadiums and medal counts. It’s also dusty backroads, shared sunsets, and the kind of races that leave a mark long after the tyres stop turning.
“There’s something about this race that gets under your skin,” said one returning rider. “You come here for the ride, but you leave with a story – and a family.” Another rider was overheard saying, “I came here to lose myself, instead, I found myself.”
