Triumphant 20th Sabie Xperience celebrates Uncle D’s legacy

From April 29 to May 1, mountain bikers from across the country descended upon Sabie for the 20th annual Sabie Xperience, a well-organised and popular race that has become a fixture in the mountain biking community.

Despite the global challenges presented in the past two years, the event was a massive success, with a total of 375 riders taking part in the main race, and an additional 228 participating in the one-day Sabie Classic, also held on April 29.

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The Sabie Xperience was founded by Dennis Lawrie, affectionately known in the riding community as ‘Uncle D’, who sadly passed away in 2021. His son, Denzil, has taken over as organiser and has worked tirelessly to continue his father’s legacy.

“It was an unbelievable event. The weather was beautiful, the vibe was amazing, whether you were on the route, at the finish line, or at a refreshment station, and there was a smile on everyone’s face. It was fantastic seeing everyone enjoying themselves, and that’s exactly what Uncle D’s vision was,” Denzil said afterwards.

The Sabie Xperience is known for its demanding but beautiful routes, which take riders through some of the most stunning landscapes in the region, traversing over York Timbers and Safcol property.

This year’s race featured a challenge route of 160km with a 4 350m elevation and a lite route of 110km total and a 2 600m elevation, both set over three days.

Riders faced steep climbs, thrilling single tracks and challenging terrain, but were rewarded with spectacular views and a true sense of achievement.

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The wooden medals from 2022 to 2024 add a special touch to the event, with each representing a unique aspect of Sabie. Individually they function as coasters, and when put together, they form a wooden trivet. Last year’s medal featured a waterfall, this year’s features trout, and next year’s medal will feature a pine tree.

In addition to the medals, riders were treated to goodie bags that included a booklet with discount vouchers from various local establishments. The winners of all the categories walked away with collective prize money to the value of R120 000.

“A race like this is definitely not a one-man job and can only be made possible with the help of everyone behind the scenes; my dream team, the marshals, refreshment station operators, volunteers, and especially the long list of wonderful sponsors who contributed enormously to the success of the race,” Denzil said.

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The Sabie Classic, an equally impressive and long-standing race, featuring routes ranging from 10km to 65km, which took riders through some of the same beautiful landscapes as the Sabie Xperience, was just as successful and added to the festive atmosphere.

Beyond the races themselves, there were plenty to do for riders and spectators alike. A market featuring local crafters and vendors was held throughout the weekend, The Acoustics and Stix Dumisa provided live entertainment in the afternoons, and there was plenty to eat and drink.

The Sabie Xperience has always been pegged as a family-friendly race, with even the youngest riders taking part in the fun with a kiddies’ event. “That’s the future of mountain biking right there, and we’ll have to come up with exciting ideas to accommodate them even more,” said Denzil.

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Refreshment stations, which were sponsored and operated by local businesses, added to the atmosphere and provided a welcome pitstop for riders to rehydrate and re-energise. The event also aims to help local charities, with the Sabie Pride Project, the Simile Pride Project, and Operation Compassion all benefiting from the massive turnout.

Overall, the 20th Sabie Xperience was a true celebration of mountain biking and the spirit of adventure.

Despite the challenges, Denzil and his team pulled off a weekend that will be remembered for years to come.

“This year’s race was one for the books. It’s exactly what my father’s dream was: a big group of people out on their bikes, enjoying Sabie’s stunning scenery and just having fun. His favourite place on the route was Hartebeesvlakte, and while up there alone on the second day, I could feel him looking down on us with the biggest smile on his face,” he said.