{"id":74662,"date":"2026-01-17T18:47:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T16:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=74662"},"modified":"2026-01-20T20:30:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:30:09","slug":"hatherly-and-preen-open-their-2026-seasons-with-victories-at-the-hell-of-the-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/hatherly-and-preen-open-their-2026-seasons-with-victories-at-the-hell-of-the-south\/","title":{"rendered":"Hatherly and Preen Open Their 2026 Seasons with Victories at the Hell of the South"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alan Hatherly and Hayley Preen started their 2026 seasons with stellar victories in the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. The 120-kilometre race from Chandelier Game Lodge, near Oudtshoorn, to the Pine Creek Resort, in Great Brak, featured a revised route that lent itself to faster times. As did the cool weather on Saturday, the 17th<\/sup> of January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alan Hatherly, of Giant Factory Off Road Racing, defended his Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, title with a stinging attack within the final 20 kilometres of the 20th edition. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dryland Event Management had estimated that removing two infamously rocky climbs, within the first 40 kilometres, would keep riders on their bikes rather than forcing them into running and speed up the course. For the UCI Men, the best guess was that it would be 15 minutes faster, though that proved conservative. Or perhaps Hatherly and Co. simply put in the best traverse of the Attakwaskloof in the event\u2019s 20-year history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hayley Preen, of ChemChamp Honeycomb, won the 2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, ahead of Samantha Sanders and Bianca Haw. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the smoother opening kilometres helped us stay fresh longer,\u201d Marc Pritzen, who played a key role in the race, speculated. \u201cLast year we went hard on the climbs and then sat up; this year we kept a consistent pace all the way to the start of the King of the Mountain climb,\u201d Hatherly noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Route amendments for the 2026 edition led to a fast first 40 kilometres, which the top UCI Men ticked off in under 90 minutes. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This led to a very fast 40 kilometres. \u201cNormally, if we went hard, it would take us 1 hour 45 to 1:50 to the first feed zone,\u201d Tristan Nortje added. \u201cThis year, we were there in under 90 minutes, and it didn\u2019t feel like we were going that hard.\u201d That water point was 10 kilometres earlier, at the 40-kilometre mark, and just before it, Nortje endured a puncture. \u201cI felt my front wheel going slowly soft, then knocked the rim on a corner, and I knew I had to stop. Initially, I couldn\u2019t find the hole; I had to bomb it, then plug it, and then stop at the feed zone for a new wheel.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marc Pritzen took the King of the Mountain Hotspot prize in a move that provided the decisive split in the peloton. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nortje left the feed zone 2 minutes behind the rest of the contenders and would never see the front of the race again. \u201cBefore I knew it, we were nearing the top of the climb into the Attakwaskloof,\u201d Pritzen recalled. \u201cI had told myself I wouldn\u2019t sprint for the King of the Mountain Hotspot, but when I accelerated, and nobody came with me, I decided to go for it. It didn\u2019t seem like we had a gap, but over the top, there were suddenly only four of us in the lead group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the reason for that could have been due to punctures behind. Andreas Seewald punctured as the descent began, but was able to minimise his time losses. \u201cIt was a first race of the year mistake,\u201d the European Marathon Champion confessed. \u201cBut fortunately, it didn\u2019t cost me too much energy, and I was able to catch the leaders again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Punctures in the Attakwaskloof put an end to Jakob Hartmann, of Singer KTM\u2019s, day, but did not prevent his teammate, Andreas Seewald, from racing to fourth. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pritzen had led Hatherly, Wessel Botha, and Travis Stedman into the Attakwaskloof, but a crash put Stedman out of the group. The African Marathon Champion suffered a lapse in concentration, taking a feed at an inopportune moment and crashing hard. The Toyota Specialized Imbuko man was able to continue, though he would eventually finish 13th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A fall prevented Travis Stedman from contesting the finale, having made the decisive split in the Attakwaskloof. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once out of the Kloof, the road surfaces improved, and Seewald bridged back to the leading trio. Nortje had ridden through the chase groups, but remained 2 minutes off the lead with 50 kilometres to race. From that point, it was clear that the winner would be one of Pritzen, Hatherly, Botha, and Seewald.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alan Hatherly (left), Wessel Botha (second from left), Marc Pritzen (second from right), and Andreas Seewald (right) filled the top four places. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d been rolling through but not putting too much into my turns on the front, because I knew exactly what was coming,\u201d Botha grimaced. \u201cWhen Alan [Hatherly] attacked on the second last climb, I couldn\u2019t go with him. But Marc [Pritzen], Andreas [Seewald], and I were able to hold the gap steady over the top. We could just not bring him back, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alan Hatherly\u2019s victory draws him level with Matt Beers on two Hell of the South titles, with only Christoph Sauser, Matthys Beukes, and Kevin Evens ahead of them on the overall winners\u2019 list with three crowns. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hatherly\u2019s attack with 20 kilometres to go took him 30 seconds clear, but he was not entirely confident either. \u201cI know how hard it is to close a gap, but I was starting to feel a bit flat in the last 10 kilometres\u2026 that corrugated road section into the headwind was very hard,\u201d Hatherly allowed. \u201cWinning here is a great way to start the season. Last year, it set me up well for the AlUla Tour, and I hope that will be the case this year too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatherly\u2019s winning time was 4 hours, 25 minutes, and 10 seconds, 21 minutes and 11 seconds faster than Botha\u2019s 2021 course record. The changes to the route mean that the Giant Factory Off Road Racing rider\u2019s time is a new benchmark rather than a new outright record. Pritzen crossed the line in second, just 23 seconds back, with Botha coming home inside a minute behind Hatherly. Seewald finished fourth, with Nortje completing the top five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Samantha Sanders was unable to match Hayley Preen\u2019s climbing prowess on the day. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the UCI Women\u2019s race, an efficient race through the opening 40 kilometres saw a group of 10 riders start the climb to the Queen of the Mountain Hotspot. \u201cI liked the new opening to the race,\u201d Samantha Sanders stated. The woman who dethroned her as the Hell of the South champion echoed those sentiments. \u201cIt was exciting, and the bunch stayed together for longer, so it was faster, which was good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the climbing began, Preen came into her own. \u201cI had planned to attack on the Queen of the Mountain climb,\u201d she said. \u201cI had hoped to go over the top solo and then take the descent more cautiously. And it worked out perfectly, they [Sanders and Bianca Haw] caught me as I turned onto the gravel road again, so I had company for the rolling roads into the headwind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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UCI Women\u2019s Podium (from left to right): Malena Seer, Bianca Haw, Hayley Preen, Samantha Sanders, and \u2060Felicitas Geiger. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preen, Sanders, and Bianca Haw worked together for nearly 30 kilometres before Preen attacked again. \u201cI had confidence in my climbing from the main climb earlier, so on a steep climb with around 30 kilometres to go, I attacked again and was able to get away solo,\u201d Preen reported. Once in the lead for the second time, there was no stopping the ChemChamp Honeycomb rider. \u201cLast year I died a million deaths in the closing kilometres, this year I felt really strong, and that\u2019s probably the biggest reason why my time is so much better this year than last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her winning time was 5 hours, 33 minutes, and 7 seconds, a time 50 minutes better than her 2025 effort. It is also within 7 minutes of Annika Langvad\u2019s course record, which has stood since 2017. Sanders was second across the Pine Creek finish line, 3 minutes and 29 seconds after Preen. Haw was third, ahead of Felicitas Geiger and Malena Seer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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UCI Men\u2019s Podium (from left to right): Andreas Seewald, Marc Pritzen, Alan Hatherly, Wessel Botha, and Tristan Nortje. Photo by Oakpics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more news, photos, and videos from the race, mountain biking fans can follow @attakwasmtb<\/a> on Instagram or like the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen<\/a>, Facebook page. For more information, visit www.atta.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, Results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UCI Men\u2019s Results:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Alan Hatherly: Giant Factory MTB Racing (4:25:10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u2060Marc Pritzen: Honeycomb 226ers (4:25:33 | +23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \u2060Wessel Botha: Insect Science (4:26:07 | +57)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \u2060Andreas Seewald: Singer KTM (04:27:09 | +1:59)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u2060Tristan Nortje: Toyota Specialized Imbuko (04:34:04 | +8:06)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UCI Women\u2019s Results<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Hayley Preen: ChemChamp Honeycomb (05:33:07)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u2060Samantha Sanders: Efficient Infiniti Insure (05:36:36 | + 3:29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \u2060Bianca Haw: Leatt (05:38:41 | +5:34)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \u2060Felicitas Geiger: Privateer (05:45:21 | +12:14)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u2060Malena Seer: 1OF1 Cycling (05:49:36 | +16:29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the full results from the 2026 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alan Hatherly and Hayley Preen started their 2026 seasons with stellar victories in the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. The 120-kilometre race from Chandelier Game Lodge, near Oudtshoorn, to the Pine Creek Resort, in Great Brak, featured a revised route that lent itself to faster times. As did the cool weather on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":74663,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[6,7,918],"featured_location":[338],"class_list":["post-74662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-attakwas","tag-attakwas-extreme","tag-dryland-events","featured_location-bottom-row"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74662"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74675,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74662\/revisions\/74675"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74662"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=74662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}