MTB racing disciplines can seem confusing when you barely grasp the difference between hardtail and full suspension bikes. 

Marathon MTB races entail long distances that range anywhere from 10km to 100km. They usually take place off-road and on trails with contrasting degrees of difficulty and technicality. 

Events are done over one long lap, multiple shorter laps, or on a point-to-point basis with different starting and ending points, and typically take place in one day or over multiple days, depending on the lap set-up and distance.

Most marathon MTB events attract professionals, amateurs, and everyone in-between. As a result, the starting line is usually a melting pot of different skill levels and goals, with a lively after-race social scene.

Getting started

• Your first port of call is going to be the right bike. Various factors go into choosing the right bike for the different races you participate in. Read through our post on choosing the right bike here. 
• Next, you’ll need a training plan. MTB training should start well in advance, as marathons require a mix of endurance and strength training. The trails aren’t solely focused on technical ability but some stretches do require certain skills and power to get through. Marathons are long, sometimes arduous races that need endurance and stamina to finish. 
• Fine-tune your mental muscles just as much as your body. Traversing long, undulating, and technical terrain is mentally exhausting. Prepare properly with a few long endurance-style training days to give yourself an idea of what to expect.
• Implement a great nutrition and hydration plan fully during your training sessions. It should become second nature on the day. Read up on what to incorporate in our post on proper race-day nutrition. 

Why choose Marathon Mountain Bike racing?

Marathon racing is a great way to enjoy all aspects of mountain biking. We might be biased when it comes to these events, what with hosting one of South Africa’s best multi-day stage races in our backyard!

A great marathon mountain biking event includes a balanced mix of technical skills, endurance, and strength over different sections of trails. 

The atmosphere of a multi-day race can’t be beaten. There’s a huge social scene and camaraderie that takes place throughout the weekend. Which gives you a chance to meet like-minded enthusiasts and enjoy more of the MTB community than you normally would. 

The thought of traversing upwards of 50km on a single day is daunting, but it can be done with proper preparation even as a beginner. 

Compared to one-day shorter lap races, longer events that cover varying terrain give you a greater opportunity to enjoy the views and scenery of the area. It’s also a good way to gauge which aspects of mountain biking you most enjoy. 

Where is Marathon Mountain Bike racing headed?

South Africa has so much to offer in terms of our diverse landscape that there is no shortage of well-organized and well-attended events on offer. 

The future of marathon MTB racing is rock-solid with a huge focus on multi-day events. Riders get to fully immerse themselves in the sport, social scene, and landscape. 

Many primary and high schools offer mountain biking as part of their extra-curricular program and as a result, are broadening the scope of sports to choose from, giving the riding community a batch of fresh, eager participants every year. 

The Sabie Xperience 2023 – Sabie Xperience 2023 is a multi-day marathon-style stage rage that has been going strong for over 20 years and does a great job of blending long weekend travelling with focused sports adventure for all to enjoy. Check out their website for more info.