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The Race with GEES

3 Days of Mountain Biking through the Western Cape

 

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  • The 2025 FNB Wines2Whales:
  • 31 October - 9 November
  • THE RACE WITH GEES

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Route

The race with GEES!

The FNB Wines2Whales was born out of the desire to create a world-class 3-day stage race in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Since inception in 2009, the three events, aptly named after the wines of the area, have become a must-do event on the mountain bike calendar with riders from the farthest reaches of the country and the world.

Its biggest drawcard is undoubtedly the route, which has been perfected over the past decade (plus a few!). In 2025, the FNB Wines2Whales is switching back on itself and taking teams from the whales to the wines in the FNB Wines2Whales Switchback! But this is no simple route reversal, rather it is a reimagination of the route that offers incredible views, new trails, and completely different experiences to the original route. 

But what is "gees"?

"Gees" is a truly South African word meaning spirit in Afrikaans. It's word that's better experienced than explained and it's what we are all about. There's spirit in everything at the FNB W2W, from the good times in the race village to the shredding of the trails to the laughs and cheers during dinner.

But as we said, it's better experienced than explained, so come and discover the true meaning of "gees" at the FNB Wines2Whales. 

How to Enter

3 Days of GEES

View the Route

200 km | 4500m Climbing

Event Overview

An experience unlike any other

 

The all-conquering Toyota Specialized team completed their clean sweep of FNB Wines2Whales stage victories on the final day of the 2024 Shiraz race - from Oak Valley to Benguela Cove - on Sunday, 10 November. Matt Beers and Alex Miller’s margin of victory was 7 minutes and 42 seconds.

Stage 2 of the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz produced another dramatic day of racing. Toyota Specialized went on an early attack, but a crash with 15 kilometres to go could so easily have ended Alex Miller’s race.

Matt Beers and Alex Miller powered into an early lead and never let off the throttle on Stage 1 of the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz.

Beers On Ice for The Last Dance of the 2024 Season at FNB W2W

By Wines2Whales 11/07/2024, 2:45am HST

The final race of the South African mountain bike racing season is upon us, but before the elite riders can put their feet up and reflect on 2024 they have one final chance to win big at the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz race.

Malacarne Tows Dennda to FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage Victory

By Wines2Whales 11/06/2024, 4:30am HST

Santina Malacarne came up with an old-fashioned solution to the most modern of cycling problems and towed Lukas Dennda up the climbs, which enabled the Swiss pairing to maintain top spot on the Mixed Category podium, despite finishing Stage 3 in third.

The Unexpected Leaders of the FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage

By Wines2Whales 11/05/2024, 5:45am HST

Meet the unexpected heroines of the FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage, the women's race leaders Heather Collen and Kerry Ould and discover their E-Bike adventure.

 

Recent Videos

E-Bikes

RACE your E-Bike at FNB Wines2Whales

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Event Services

Transfers, Accomodation and more

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Experience riding South Africa’s favourite MTB trails

 

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Have you read the Rider Manual

The FNB Wines2Whales is three Gees-filled days of mountain biking 

To ensure you and your partner are fully prepared for the adventure, be sure to check the Rider Manual—it’s packed with everything you need, from schedules to packing tips and registration details. Clean air, freshly built bridges, world-class trails, and plenty of gees await you at the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales.

Recent Videos

2024 Rider Jersey

Introducing our Official Wines2Whales rider jersey, as voted by YOU!

Enter to get yours

CANVAS TENT AS STANDARD

Out with the old and in with the new! Each rider that chooses the standard tent option will be staying in a bigger and better canvas tent. 

View Packages

ORIGINAL ROUTE IS BACK

Our route team is hard at work rebuilding and repairing the old favourites after the 2023 flood damage. And in true W2W style, some new ones will be added. 

Men

RACING MEN

Cannondale Factory Racing
Alan HATHERLY
Simon ANDREASSEN

Amateur

Amateur Men

FAIRTREE DP WORLD CANNONDALE 1
Kusaselihle NGIDI
Damon TERBLANCHE

Mixed

Toyota Mixed

Seattle Coffee Co. Rola Motors
Darren LILL
Candice LILL

Masters

NTT Masters

Uncle Fish
Burger BESTER
Gerrit DE VRIES

Grand Masters

FNB Brokers Grand Masters

Tudor/LGE Midas
Igna DE VILLIERS
Andreas STUDER

Great Grand Masters

Great Grand Masters

Flash Great Grand Masters
Vaughan ULYATE
Jimmy MILLS

Exxaro

Exxaro Men

FAIRTREE DP WORLD CANNONDALE 1
Kusaselihle NGIDI
Damon TERBLANCHE

Exxaro

Exxaro Women

EXXARO ACADEMY LADIES 1
Refilwe MOGOROSI
Omphile MOTAUNG

Title Sponsors

Epic Series Technical Partners