PROJECT3 closed out the 2026 season in style at the Chicago Marathon and the numbers are wild.
71 PROJECT3 runners finished the race. 26 of them set brand-new personal bests in PUMA’s Sunny Lime kits, powered by the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 or Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4. Fifteen of those athletes improved by more than three minutes and will each walk away with a $3,000 performance bonus. Collectively, the group took a staggering 1 hour 32 minutes and 53 seconds off their previous marathon bests.
Top of the leaderboard
Fastest man: Alejandro Martinez Ambrosio (USA) – 2:17:32 (new PB)
Both take home $3,000 as PROJECT3’s first-place finishers.
The biggest jump of the day belonged to Hannah Bashan (USA). She dropped an insane 11 minutes and 53 seconds to finish in 2:51:51, earning her $6,000 total ($3,000 for the 3+ minute improvement + $3,000 for the largest overall time drop).
Lucas Maher, Lead Marketing of Running Athletes at PUMA, said: “We’re incredibly proud of every athlete who stepped up to race today. This cohort has delivered through every high and low all season, truly embodying what PROJECT3 stands for. We’re thrilled to recognise their relentless dedication and hard work today, and we’ll continue to help sub-elite runners chase their dreams. We can’t wait to kick off next season and reach even greater heights together.”
The bigger picture PROJECT3’s second year wraps with $405,000 in prize money distributed in 2026 (on top of $160,000 in its debut year). Next stop: Mumbai 2027, where 100 athletes will line up ready to chase the next set of PBs.
The Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 and Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 are available now at PUMA.com, PUMA stores, Totalsports and Sportsmans Warehouse.
About PUMA PUMA is one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing and selling footwear, apparel and accessories. Founded in 1948, PUMA helps the world’s best athletes and teams perform at their best with its innovative products. The company distributes its products in over 120 countries, employs more than 20,000 people and is headquartered in
The racing at the Nedbank Gravel Burn is hot, so it’s fitting that the medals and trophies are forged by fire. When all is said and done, when the dust has settled, and when the last embers of the final Burn Camp have been extinguished, the race winners will walk away with dazzling reminders of the intense effort required to succeed at a seven-day gravel race.
This year, the overall prize purse at the Nedbank Gravel Burn sits at $155 000, split evenly between the pro men and pro women. With opportunities to claim overall prize money and stage prize money – and a $2500 prize for the best overall climber – the top men and women riders could potentially enjoy a healthy payday at the conclusion of the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn.
“Not only is this an incentive to race with heart and guile for seven days,” says founder Kevin Vermaak, “but it also shows the commitment of the Nedbank Gravel Burn to reward our best riders equally. The top riders are out there, in the wild, throwing everything they can at the race, and the prize money recognises the intensity the men and women bring to the racing.” A further $2500 per winning rider is also on offer in the Toyota Power Climber competition (for the top climber of the week).
For the winners’ medals, the theme of fire, grit, and gold was incorporated by makers MetCon, the largest privately-owned precious metal refinery in South Africa. Only six have been made: gold, silver and bronze for the men’s podium, and the same three for the women.
Manufactured in-house in South Africa from 999.9 fine silver, each medal weighs 180g. First-place medals are plated in gold, second-place medals in rhodium and third-place medals in red gold. MetCon puts the approximate value of each finished medal at R30 000, including manufacturing, with the valuation subject to the daily silver price.
Making the medals took seven stages: design, tooling, casting, plating, polishing, quality control, and packaging. “Every stage was done carefully and with no shortcuts, because seven stages of racing deserve seven stages of craft,” says Grant Crosse of MetCon. “Each medal is presented in a handcrafted wooden box by Donkey Long Tong with a MetCon nameplate, along with a Certificate of Analysis and a story booklet about the full making-of story. The medals are made to be kept for life.”
And it doesn’t stop there. With extreme racing comes true reward at the Nedbank Gravel Burn. The overall Pro Men’s and Pro Women’s champions will receive the Fire Starter, created by South African fire-tool makers Donkey Long Tong in collaboration with MetCon. Each Fire Starter also incorporates a 42g ring of 24-carat gold, with black ceramic inlay tracing the route’s elevation profile.
Deeply rooted in South Africa’s history, gold remains an enduring symbol of worth. Incorporating this precious metal ensures the award carries tangible value alongside its athletic prestige. Victorious riders may choose to retain the piece or cash it in at market rates, which fluctuate over time.
Handmade using titanium, brass, Karoo olienhout and ostrich leather, the Fire Starter is a working piece of art. At the closing ceremony, the two champions will use their trophies to light the ceremonial fire.
After a week of watching each other’s wheels, they can finally get on with the serious business of celebrating. Donkey Long Tong’s involvement also includes a Nedbank Gravel Burn special-edition Jack Sack. The South African company’s handmade leather bag is designed to carry fire and braai tools, keeping the partnership connected to the fireside gatherings that are part of Burn Camp life.
Every age-group winner will also receive a Fire Starter, with a titanium shaft and the same practical purpose. Winning a category earns a trophy that can still be put to work around a fire years later.
For everyone who completes the race, a finisher medal on a hand-woven Xhosa ribbon marks their own journey to Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Follow the race: information, daily results, stories and highlights at www.gravel-burn.com
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a seven-day, 750km gravel stage race set entirely in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Starting in the historic Robert Sobukwe Town / Graaff-Reinet, the race journeys deep into remote semi-desert landscapes, with all riders staying together in the purpose-built Burn Camps. The route spans the Great Karoo and concludes in Big 5 territory at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Designed as a true pro-am experience, Nedbank Gravel Burn brings elite and age-group riders together in a shared journey defined by scale, remoteness and connection.
PUMA has just pulled the cover off the next big step in rule-breaking speed: the FAST-RB NITRO™ Elite 2.
This isn’t just another racing shoe. It’s a platform for exploring what’s possible when you stop playing it safe with conventional footwear design. Every element has been carefully engineered to maximise speed while still delivering that pure, authentic running feel we all chase.
The updated NITROFOAM™ ELITE cushioning packs in more energy return, while the refined geometry gives you a smoother, more responsive ride. The standout feature? Two fused carbon-fibre PWRPLATES that create a distinctive springboard architecture built for serious propulsion. Pair that with a reworked ULTRAWEAVE upper that’s lighter, more breathable and locks your foot in securely, plus the reliable PUMAGRIP outsole for multi-surface traction, and you’ve got a seriously impressive package.
Developed in PUMA’s NITRO™ Lab, the FAST-RB NITRO™ Elite 2 represents the next frontier of running. While it’s not race-legal, internal studies have shown levels of running economy that make this the most efficient shoe in PUMA’s entire road running line-up.
Romain Girard, VP of Innovation at PUMA, said: “With the FAST-RB 2, we set out to take rule-breaking to the next level. By simplifying the design and giving our NITROFOAM™ technology more room to perform, we’ve created a shoe that delivers the highest energy return we’ve ever recorded in our testing – all in an incredibly lightweight package. Two years of innovation, lab testing and collaboration with athletes have gone into refining the experience, bringing together groundbreaking performance and the pure joy of running.”
The FAST-RB NITRO™ Elite 2 launches on 28 October 2026, with limited pairs available worldwide on PUMA.com.
FAST-RB NITRO™ ELITE 2 TECH SPECS
Weight: 250g (UK 8) / 206g (UK 4.5)
Drop: 8mm
Product lifespan: 320km
Follow @pumarunning on Instagram for the latest PUMA running news.
Hollywood Athletics Club’s Purple Team turned its sold-out Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km into a showcase of organisational muscle and elite running firepower, with Neheng Khatala striking gold and three club athletes finishing in the men’s top seven at Nasrec on Sunday.
The third edition of the race attracted 12,000 participants across the 10km and 5km events, doubling last year’s turnout and turning the streets around the Johannesburg Expo Centre into a spectacular sea of purple.
For the Hollywoodbets Purple Team, the day was a powerful advertisement for its growing footprint in South African road running. Its elite stars delivered on the road while the organisers celebrated another milestone for an event that has rapidly become a major fixture on the racing calendar.
Nedbank Running Club’s Thabang Mosiako stopped the hosts from sweeping the men’s honours, defending his title in 30:43. Hollywood’s former Comrades Marathon champion Edward Mothibi, however, stole the spotlight with a superb second place in 30:51, matching third-placed Rebaone Obotseng’s time.
Thabang Mosiako successfully defended his title. Photo: Suppied
“I am really happy with my achievement today because it’s my second time running the Hollywoodbets Joburg. I think it was my third or fourth, but I have been maintaining a podium finish, so I can say I am very happy I managed to defend my title,” he said.
Mothibi’s performance was particularly impressive against a field packed with specialist 10km runners. The veteran showed that his endurance pedigree still carries plenty of firepower over shorter distances.
Hollywood’s Poloko Maphunye finished fourth in 30:54, while Stephen Mokoka, the experienced multiple South African record-holder, placed seventh in 31:29.
Edward Mothibi Photo: Supplied
Three Hollywood Athletics Club runners in the men’s top seven offered tangible evidence of the Purple Team’s depth, with Mothibi leading the charge and Maphunye and Mokoka reinforcing the club’s presence among the front-runners.
Khatala leads a purple podium charge
The women’s race provided an even bigger celebration for the hosts.
Lesotho’s 10km record-holder Neheng Khatala crossed the finish line in 33:40 to collect the R40,000 winner’s cheque and complete a memorable Durban-Joburg double after winning the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km in August.
The 2024 Olympian knew the hilly route would demand discipline and strength. Having won the Soweto Marathon two years ago, she recognised the challenge posed by the closing kilometres.
“I knew I did not have to go too fast; just manage my speed and balance the pace so I get to the finish because I did not want to be slaughtered at the end,” she said.
Emma Pallant-Brown, Neheng Khatala and Irvette van Zyl Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
UK-born Emma Pallant-Browne of Peak Running Club finished second in 35:04, followed by Hollywood teammate Irvette van Zyl in 35:17. South Africa’s golden girl of ultra-distance running, Gerda Steyn, completed a memorable club performance in fourth in 35:42.
Having three Hollywood athletes among the women’s leading four and five in the top 10 gave the Purple Team another reason to celebrate. Khatala’s victory, Van Zyl’s podium finish and Steyn’s fourth place underlined the strength of a line-up featuring talent across different racing distances.
The 2024 Olympian knew the hilly route would demand discipline and strength. Having won the Soweto Marathon two years ago, she recognised the challenge posed by the closing kilometres.
“I knew I did not have to go too fast; just manage my speed and balance the pace so I get to the finish because I did not want to be slaughtered at the end,” she said.
Khatala said winning in her club colours made the occasion particularly special, with the responsibility of representing her own team adding to the emotion.
Purple momentum heads to Mangaung
The club’s attention now shifts to the next challenge. Khatala, Van Zyl and Steyn are set to line up at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY Mangaung 10km next Sunday, where Khatala hopes to attract strong support from fellow Basotho.
For Hollywood Athletics Club, Sunday’s success was about more than prize money and podium photographs. A sold-out mass-participation event, a formidable elite contingent and three male runners in the top seven provided a compelling demonstration of the Purple Team’s competitive reach.
Nasrec belonged to the purple wave. The challenge now is to keep it rolling.
A rising star, a seasoned campaigner and a defending champion will bring three very different ambitions to the starting line when the sold-out Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km unleashes 12,000 runners at Nasrec on Sunday morning.
Twenty-two-year-old Sibusiso Msibi is hungry to announce himself on the big stage, Hollywood Athletics Clubveteran Stephen Mokoka is chasing another strong finish, and Nedbank Running Club speedster Thabang Mosiako must decide how much his body has left after a demanding marathon in Germany.
The third edition of the race starts at 07:30, with the winner’s prize climbing to R40,000, making it the richest-paying 10km race in South Africa. With the stakes rising and the field packed, the road to glory promises to be anything but a Sunday stroll.
Rising Star: Sibusiso Msibi
For Msibi, the race represents a golden ticket to a bigger stage.
The University of Johannesburg athlete, who won the 2025 ASA 4km cross-country title, has spent much of his development focusing on track and cross-country. His speciality is the 1,500m and 5,000m, and he is now stretching his ambitions onto the road.
Speaking at Friday’s pre-race media conference in Hyde Park, the Tembisa-born runner made no secret of his intentions.
“I feel if I do good on Sunday, it will open opportunities for me. This is special for me. I am going all out and I am expecting a podium finish.”
Msibi has watched Mokoka and Mosiako from afar, drawing inspiration from the very athletes he will now measure himself against. A 10km encounter with Mokoka at a Region 5 event last year left a lasting impression.
“I remember watching them on TV and wishing to be like them,” he said. “He actually spoke to me during the race, but at the time I was ‘suffering’. That told me to go back and work harder at training.”
His focus remains on cross-country and University Sports South Africa competition next year, while bigger road races are firmly on his horizon. Balancing studies and athletics adds another layer to his challenge, although he says he is coping.
The former South African half-marathon champion pocketed R37,500 for winning last year’s race. However, his marathon outing in Cologne, Germany, two weeks ago has complicated his Johannesburg campaign.
The 31-year-old is still assessing his recovery and rates his chances at 50/50, wary of pushing too hard and risking injury. His usual end-of-year peak has also been disrupted by bringing his marathon plans forward.
He has even identified Msibi as a serious threat.
“I don’t think I’m going to defend this title with this young man next to me because I saw he can sprint that final 5km,” Mosiako said. “I’m still in my marathon mindset so I’m going to go with the flow and then we’ll see how the race unfolds.”
“My target this year is to be able to maintain being in the top six from last year in Durban,” he said, reflecting on his recent results.
Mokoka also has reason to feel satisfied with his season after clocking 2:10:48 at the Cape Town Marathon, where he finished 13th.
At Nasrec, youth, experience and endurance will collide over 10 kilometres. Msibi wants a breakthrough, Mosiako hopes his marathon-weary legs can still deliver a title defence, and Mokoka has the experience to read every twist in the race.
The stopwatch will have the final say. For Msibi, though, Sunday could be the morning his name moves from the margins of South African distance running into the spotlight.
Venue: Johannesburg Expo Centre NASREC.
Start Times: The 10km race starts at 07h30. The 5km fun run follows at 08h00.
Race Pack Collection: Today (Saturday, 17 October) is the final day to collect your race number and pack. Collections are open at NASREC until 18h00. Note that there are strictly no race-day entries or number collections tomorrow morning.
Strict Rules: Running with headphones, earphones, or pets is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
Cut-off Times: The 10km route has a hard cut-off at 09h00 (1 hour 30 minutes course time), and the 5km cut-off is at 09h30.
The Tembisa-based runner won both Durban and Johannesburg in 2025, but says this year’s race will serve as a measure of where he stands against a strong elite field.
“Whenever I line up at a race, I want to win,” Mphahlele said. “But my fitness isn’t anywhere near where it was at this time last year. I’ll definitely compete for the win, but I’ll also use the race to see where my fitness is now and how I compare with the other athletes.”
Mphahlele returns to a fast, flat Durban course he favours, although his previous victory offers little comfort ahead of another fiercely contested race.
Last year’s win required a fight to the finish, and the defending champion expects the competition to be tougher this time.
“I enjoy the fast, flat course and expect the tactics to be similar to last year,” he said. “The standard was already very high, and the win didn’t come easily.”
The attractive prize purse adds another incentive to an elite race that has already attracted a sold-out field.
Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyersaid Mphahlele’s return would add further intrigue to the contest, particularly given his candid assessment of his preparation.
The elite women’s race starts at 09:45, with the elite men following at 10:00 at Snell Parade near Blue Lagoon Park.
For Mphahlele, the race offers two targets: another title and an answer to a more immediate question about his form.
At 16, Tayla Kavanagh began her journey over 10km. Nine years later, the South African star has stormed through the 31-minute barrier, turning a teenage running chapter into a history-making triumph.
Every great running story begins somewhere. For Tayla Kavanagh, it began at 16, with the 10km distance stretching ahead like an open road and a future waiting to be discovered.
Nine years later, the 25-year-old Hollywood Athletics Club Purple Elite star has made that same distance her own, obliterating the South African women’s 10km road record with a sensational 30:50 at the Brasov Running Festival in Romania on Sunday.
The stopwatch blinked. The record book trembled. South African athletics had a new landmark.
“I’m incredibly proud and it feels really special,” Kavanagh said after slicing 22 seconds off the previous national record of 31:12.
“I knew I wasn’t that far off the record previously so I came into the race with the mindset of running as fast as I could today. So breaking the record felt extra special and it was an absolute privilege to get the opportunity to line up and race against a world-class field.”
Her performance made her the first South African woman to break the 31-minute barrier over 10km. She finished fifth in a quality international field, clocking a time that will echo through the country’s distance-running community long after the finishing-line tape has fallen silent.
Kavanagh also shredded her previous personal best of 31:26 by 36 seconds. For an elite distance runner, that is a sizeable leap, the equivalent of finding another gear when the engine is already roaring.
And the timing was extraordinary.
SHE STARTED AT 16. NOW SHE'S MADE HISTORY. At 16, @taylakavanagh started running 10km. At 25, she has smashed the SA record with 30:50, becoming the first South African woman under 31 minutes. 🇿🇦💜 Two national road records in 15 days. What a season!#TaylaKavanagh#RoadRunning… pic.twitter.com/AqDjxJ2K5s
Only 15 days earlier, she had rewritten the South African women’s 5km road record with 14:51 at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. Two national road records in barely a fortnight have turned her 2026 campaign into a purple patch of historic proportions.
“2026 has been a dream year come true for my running career,” she said.
“I’m so incredibly happy. I’m incredibly happy with my performance and I’m really proud of myself for putting myself in the race and racing competitively with the international ladies.”
The breakthrough has been years in the making. Earlier this season, Kavanagh claimed South African titles over 5 000m and 10 000m. Her 14:58.52 over 5 000m made her only the third South African woman to break the 15-minute barrier.
She has shown grit on the roads, too. At theHollywoodbets Durban 10km in August, an early fall threatened to derail her race. She picked herself up, found her rhythm and stormed to victory in 31:39, setting a course record.
In Brasov, she took that momentum and put the national mark through the wringer.
Her record-breaking run also raises an exciting question: how much faster can she go as she continues to test herself against the world’s best?
For now, the woman who began running 10km as a teenager is ready to trade racing shoes for recovery time.
“Breaking the SA record today means a lot to me,” she said. “I’m proud with what I have achieved, I’ll now be taking an offseason which I’m really looking forward to, for not just a physical, but also a mental break.”
She was equally quick to acknowledge the team behind her progress.
“I’m always so thankful for the support, encouragement and cheers I receive from my Hollywood Athletics Club. It’s incredibly motivating to have so much support behind you and it really does go a long way in helping you feel valued and appreciated.”
From her first 10km miles at 16 to a record-smashing 30:50 at 25, Kavanagh has travelled a remarkable road. Her latest performance is a milestone built on years of work, belief and the courage to chase a faster finish.
The teenager who once took on 10km has become the woman setting the pace for South Africa. The road ahead is wide open, and the stopwatch may yet have more surprises in store.
The global fitness brand brings its All-In-One trainers and wider strength, cardio and conditioning range to South Africa, giving consumers more options for training at home.
Expanding Access to Quality Home Gym Equipment
Force USA, a fitness brand built around making serious training more accessible without the need for a commercial gym budget or footprint, has officially launched in Sportsmans Warehouse nationwide.
Founded on the belief that effective training equipment should deliver more without taking up unnecessary space, Force USA created the All-In-One training category, bringing multiple training functions together in a single system. This approach allows users to build more complete training setups without the need for multiple machines or a large dedicated training space.
The launch marks a new retail partnership between Force USA and Sportsmans Warehouse, bringing the global fitness brand into the retailer’s offering for the first time. The partnership gives South African consumers a new way to access Force USA’s range and experience its approach to flexible, performance-led training.
“For years, people in South Africa who wanted commercial-grade training results have had to choose between a full gym membership or settling for entry-level home equipment. Force USA closes that gap. Our All-In-One trainers give people the depth of a fully equipped gym in a fraction of the space, and launching with Sportsmans Warehouse means South Africans can finally access that experience at home,” says Simon Heinrich, International Sales Manager at Force USA.
Built Around the All-In-One Trainer
Two products anchor the South African launch and demonstrate what sets Force USA apart:
C10 All-In-One Trainer & Sliding Bench: The C10 features a patent-pending central cable system, six pulley stations and dual 200-degree adjustable upright pulleys, together with the C10 Sliding Bench. Designed to offer a well-rounded training experience in one setup, it brings a broad range of training options to a compact footprint.
G3 All-In-One Trainer: The G3 combines a Smith Machine, Functional Trainer, Power Rack, Core Trainer and Multi-Grip Chin-Up Station, with optional upgrade kits available.
Together, the C10 and G3 demonstrate Force USA’s approach to bringing multiple training capabilities into a single system.
The Wider Range: Strength, Cardio and Conditioning
Beyond its All-In-One trainers, Force USA’s wider range covers strength, cardio and conditioning, offering equipment for different training goals:
Strength: The Force USA range includes versatile equipment designed to support a variety of strength-training needs, including the C10 Functional Trainer, G3 All-In-One Trainer and Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat.
Cardio and Conditioning: The range also includes equipment such as the Stepper, designed for high-intensity cardiovascular conditioning, alongside other cardio and conditioning solutions for a complete training setup.
“The arrival of Force USA marks an exciting new addition to the Sportsmans Warehouse offering. We’re proud to bring the brand into our fitness range, giving our customers access to quality home gym equipment for those who want more from their training. With a focus on quality, versatility and performance, Force USA offers equipment designed to help take home training to the next level,” says Nicole Schumann, Marketing Manager at Sportsmans Warehouse.
Availability
The Force USA collection is now available to explore at Sportsmans Warehouse nationwide, in stores and online, giving consumers the opportunity to find equipment suited to their individual training goals. From building strength and improving conditioning to creating a more complete training setup, the range offers solutions for taking training further, without requiring a commercial gym environment.
Cycle Lab is proud to announce the opening of its newest store at The Falls Shopping Centre in the West Rand. A self-contained retail space paired with a full-fledged workshop, the launch marks the continuation of Cycle Lab’s mandate to bring world-class cycling facilities closer to the people who love the sport.
Launch Details
Launch Event: Opening dinner-time launch at 17:30 on 8 October 2026, featuring deep discounts across the range to kick off trading.
Location: The Falls Shopping Centre, West Rand, Johannesburg.
Trading Hours: Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00, and Sunday from 09:00 to 15:00. The store will be open 362 days a year, closing only on Easter, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Strategic Location & Riding Hotspots
The West Rand has become a firm favourite among Gauteng cyclists, with the Cradle of Humankind and Cradle Moon Mountain Bike Park among the region’s standout riding destinations, alongside a broader network of gravel and mountain bike routes across the area’s smallholdings and reserves. Positioned at The Falls Shopping Centre, the new emporium puts Cycle Lab at the heart of this riding community, easily accessible for both established riders and newcomers to the sport.
Why This Store Matters
Prime Location: The West Rand’s trails are rated among Gauteng’s best, providing instant access to the top riding that locals crave.
Ready-to-Go Workshop: From fitting to full repairs, the on-site workshop gives every rider the on-hand expertise that backs the brand’s reputation for “unintimidating” service.
Community Focus: A safe, welcoming space for riders of all levels, with the shop actively partnering with local clubs and training groups.
Expertise from Zero to Hero: Designed to make every visit welcoming and educational, helping newcomers overcome any intimidation when stepping into a bike shop.
“Our focus wasn’t to just open a store in the West Rand, we wanted to build a home for the local cycling community,” says Marketing Manager, Taryn Logan. “With the Cradle of Humankind and surrounding trails right on the doorstep, this is one of the most active riding regions in Gauteng, and the emporium lets us match that energy — with a full retail range, a proper workshop, and a coffee shop where people can actually hang around before or after a ride.”
“Whether it’s a family getting their kids on bikes for the first time, or someone chasing their next big upgrade, our team will be there with the range and the knowledge to help,” Logan adds. “We can’t wait to welcome the West Rand cycling community through our doors.”
Meet the Expert Team
The new store brings substantial industry depth to the West Rand:
Deane Poulter (Store Manager): A seasoned rider and mechanic with experience working at the Absa Cape Epic, Deane serves as the face of the shop and the technical backbone of the crew.
Ellick “Boeta” Steyn (Community & Technical Liaison): Brings 12 years of mechanical experience, including four years as a UCI professional mechanic, national duty at the 2024 Commonwealth Games and the 2023–24 Africa Championships, alongside UCI road and mountain bike team support.
Christo (Sales Lead): Brings fresh energy to the customer service experience.
Deon (Sales Team Lead): A top-performing Sales Consultant transferred from the Fourways store to ensure high service standards from day one.
James (Technical Specialist): Oversees bike fitting and repairs.
Much of the proven Fourways crew’s sales and technical experience has transferred across to ensure the store opens with a team local riders can trust immediately.
Premium Brands & Stock Selection
The emporium stocks road, mountain, gravel, eBike, and children’s bikes from Giant, SCOTT, Silverback, Liv, Marvel, Merida, Orbea, and Titan Racing.
Apparel & Helmets: Apparel is available from Ciovita, Wattz, Assos, and First Ascent, alongside helmets from MET, SCOTT, Leatt, Giro, and Oakley.
Tech & Nutrition: GPS bike computers and indoor trainers sit alongside nutrition from Biogen, Maurten, Cadence, and more to keep riders fuelled through the season.
Components & Fitment: Component upgrades from PRO and saddles from Fizik and Selle Italia round out the store’s fitting and performance offerings.
Media & Contact Information
Cycle Lab invites riders from Johannesburg, the West Rand, and beyond to experience a store that blends world-class facilities, highly trained staff, and a culture that celebrates every twist of the route.
GQEBERHA: Glenrose Xaba may have arrived in Gqeberha with tired legs after her World Half Marathon Championship outing in Copenhagen, but the South African road-running sensation left the rain-soaked streets with another piece of history.
The Boxer Athletics Club star scorched her way to a breathtaking 31:16 victory in Saturday morning’s SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge, producing the third-fastest 10km time ever recorded by a South African woman.
The clock was cruelly close to another national record.
Xaba finished only four seconds outside her South African record of 31:12, set at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 7 July 2024.
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 26: Glenrose Xaba Boxer AC – AGN during the 2026 SPAR Women’s Grand Prix 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at Pollock Beach Grass Area Summerstrand on September 26, 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)
That performance in Durban saw Xaba shatter the long-standing national record of 31:13 held by iconic South African distance runner Elana Meyer for 23 years.
In Gqeberha, the weather offered little assistance. Overcast skies, humidity and persistent rain turned the course into a slippery test of speed and strength, but Xaba treated the conditions as little more than another hurdle to clear.
Her 31:16 was a powerful statement so soon after representing South Africa at the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen.
The stopwatch dangled history in front of her again in Gqeberha.
“I’m just happy and a little bit disappointed because I saw that I was not sure that I was in the SA record time when I was running,” Xaba said. “But when it was 50 metres to 100 metres, I saw that I was inside the record time, but when I crossed the finish line is where I got disappointed because I just missed it.”
There was little sympathy from the weather gods.
Yet Xaba described the course as “a bit challenging but very fast”, adding that she believed it could produce multiple records in future.
“I think it’s the route that can produce multiple records in future and if we can host the world champs, I don’t know when, road running, I think it will be the best route for us.”
Fresh from representing South Africa at the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, Xaba had every reason to feel the weight in her legs. Instead, she attacked from the gun.
“I just did from gunpoint because I was chasing a bonus time so that I can have the good results and good points,” she said. “I only did two races. This one is a dead one, so I’m chasing the points. I’m glad that everything went according to the way I did in the race.”
Behind her, teammate Karabo More produced one of the day’s biggest breakthroughs, finishing second in 32:21, a 12-second personal best.
More deliberately stepped beyond her comfort zone.
“I think my plan was to come here and run a PB. I’ve always been scared to go in front and go with the girls. So today it was all about risking it and seeing how far I can go,” she said.
“And it worked to my advantage because I was able to fight from start to finish. So for today I’m sure and proud that I started something I was able to finish.”
More said the weather was manageable and revealed how she approached the closing kilometres.
“My coach once told me, with the 10 kilometres, the most important kilometres of the 10 kilometres are the last three. So you need to run smart and try and push to the end.”
At seven kilometres, those words became her fuel.
“I knew then that you just have to move, regardless of how you’re feeling, just try and finish, you’re almost there.”
More said her ambition was to learn from racing closer to athletes of Xaba’s calibre.
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 26: Karabo More Boxer AC – AGN during the 2026 SPAR Women’s Grand Prix 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at Pollock Beach Grass Area Summerstrand on September 26, 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)
“At the end of the day you have to risk it and see where it’s going to take you,” she said. “Each and every kilometre was all about getting faster than the one I did.”
Ethiopian Selam Gebre of Nedbank completed the podium in 32:33, but the loudest statement belonged to Boxer AC.
For Xaba, however, the job remains unfinished.
She is chasing a fourth Grand Prix crown, but refused to assume history is already hers.
“I’m not sure yet that I’m going to win the Grand Prix,” she said. “But to make history, it will for me to be not my history alone. It will be the history of everyone that loved running.”
“It will be inspiration for the young ones and older ones that they look up to me.”
Her victory was not another routine entry in the record books. It was a reminder that South African women’s distance running has a formidable engine at its front, and Xaba continues to push the needle.
The stopwatch says four seconds separated her from her own national record.
The bigger picture says Xaba remains within striking distance of history.
And with the SPAR Grand Prix season gathering pace, the race against the clock has only begun.
The City of Gold now holds the final piece of the puzzle
