She Sends Dominates the 2025 Tankwa Trek: A Clean Sweep for Lill and Courtney

She Sends Dominates the 2025 Tankwa Trek: A Clean Sweep for Lill and Courtney

The 2025 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, delivered four days of thrilling racing in the Koue Bokkeveld, with the women’s category showcasing world-class performances. Candice Lill and Kate Courtney of She Sends put on a dominant display, winning every stage and sealing an emphatic overall victory by more than 40 minutes.

Stage 1: A Fast Start Sets the Tone

From the opening 30km prologue-style stage, She Sends set the benchmark, riding aggressively to claim the magenta First Ascent leaders’ jerseys. They stormed ahead early, forcing the competition to chase. Spaghetti M&G’s Greta Seiwald and Martina Berta were the closest challengers but lost nearly two minutes by the finish. Ghost-LIV Racing’s Tyler Jacobs and Sara Cortinovis finished third, followed by Efficient Infiniti’s Sarah Hill and Vera Looser, and Safari Essence Titan Racing’s Bianca Haw and Danielle Strydom rounding out the top five.

Stage 2: Witzenberg’s Technical Trails Test the Field

Day two’s 88km stage featured relentless singletrack and mechanical drama. She Sends remained unshaken, riding smoothly through the Witzenberg Valley while Spaghetti M&G suffered an untimely mechanical. The Italian duo fought back but couldn’t match Lill and Courtney’s raw power. Meanwhile, Ghost-LIV Racing and Efficient Infiniti engaged in a fierce battle, with Hill and Looser overtaking Jacobs and Cortinovis in the final kilometers to snatch second place. She Sends’ winning margin extended further, cementing their grip on the overall classification.

Stage 3: Conquering the Merino Monster

The Queen Stage of the Tankwa Trek, featuring the iconic Merino Monster climb, was where She Sends truly flexed their climbing prowess. Lill and Courtney charged ahead, claiming the Queen of the Mountain hotspot en route to their third consecutive stage win. Spaghetti M&G, after battling punctures in previous stages, rebounded to claim second. Ghost-LIV Racing, Jacobs, and Cortinovis secured third, while Hill and Looser retained fourth in the general classification. By the end of the day, Lill and Courtney had amassed a staggering 34-minute lead, making the final stage a formality.

Stage 4: Closing in Style

With their overall victory nearly secured, She Sends stayed relentless on the final 57km stage, wrapping up a perfect four-stage sweep. Their final winning margin of 40 minutes and 37 seconds over Spaghetti M&G left no doubt about their supremacy. Ghost-LIV Racing secured the final podium spot, followed by Efficient Infiniti and Kolisi/Songo Foundation’s Ila Stow and Cherise Willeit.

Final Standings – UCI Women’s Category

General Classification after Stage 4:

🥇 She Sends (Candice Lill & Kate Courtney) – 12:43:17

🥈 Spaghetti M&G (Greta Seiwald & Martina Berta) – 13:23:55 (+40:37)

🥉 Ghost-LIV Racing (Tyler Jacobs & Sara Cortinovis) – 13:33:15 (+49:58)

4️⃣ Efficient Infiniti (Sarah Hill & Vera Looser) – 13:51:45 (+1:08:28)

5️⃣ Kolisi/Songo Foundation (Ila Stow & Cherise Willeit) – 14:23:25 (+1:41:08)

The Takeaway: A Masterclass in Stage Racing

Lill and Courtney’s dominance was unmatched, with their combination of technical skill, endurance, and teamwork proving unstoppable. Their clean sweep of all four stages and the Queen of the Mountain prize underscores their sheer superiority in the women’s field.

For the women’s peloton, the 2025 Tankwa Trek was a showcase of resilience, grit, and world-class racing. While She Sends reigned supreme, fierce battles raged behind them, with teams pushing the limits on some of South Africa’s toughest terrain.

With this victory, Lill further cements her place as a Tankwa Trek legend, now boasting five career titles at the event. Courtney’s return to stage racing proved successful, and their partnership delivered an unforgettable performance.

Until next year, the Koue Bokkeveld remains the ultimate proving ground for the toughest women on two wheels!

Images by OakPics Sports Photography