Freedom Trail Podcast

In this episode of the  Freedom Trail Podcast , Steve Burnett sits down with 2026  Freedom Challenge  winner  Tim Deane  to unpack the highs and lows, his preparation and experience on the trail. Tim takes us behind the scenes of his winning race, sharing the countless decisions that ultimately led him to the finish line first. From race strategy and night time navigation...

With the launch of Race Across South Africa earlier this year, many people are asking how does it compare to the Freedom Challenge? Which one should I choose? There is only one rider who has completed both the  Freedom Challenge  and  Race Across South Africa . This year,  Greg Fisher completed both epic events less than two months apart. In this episode of the  Freedom Tr...

There may be less dots out there on Freedom Challenge 2026, four after today, but what a year it's been. With Tim Deane surging out of Vuvu to do Lahana's pass at night and keeping his lead, and then needing to chase down Franco Olivier's time to Diemersfontein. As always, Freedom reminds us that this race has never only been about who gets home first. Sometimes the most powerful finish line stori...

In this episode Steve Burnett and Mike Roy talk to Gill and John Graaf after they made the hardest choice. THE HARDEST CHOICE How do you make the decision to stop, to call it, to accept that you are going no further. The trail is there in front of you. The pull to get on your bike and ride is like an uncontrollable force in your soul. Physically you are strong and fit.  You still have th...

In this episode of the  Freedom Trail Podcast ,  Steve Burnett , one of the great storytellers and long-time students of the Freedom Challenge, unpacks this year’s race and explore how the event has evolved over the years. Full Freedom Challenge route description for a 21 day ride by Mike Woolnough Click here to dot watch the race Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Join the Fre...

Franco Olivier arrived at the Freedom Challenge ready to take on the trail alongside his adventure partner, Clare walker but unfortunately her race was cut short due to injury. Suddenly riding solo, Franco was set loose on the Freedom Trail and made the most of the opportunity. His strong portaging and impressive efficiency meant that when he was on the move, he moved exceptionally well. Riding st...

We all know how important the mental game is when it comes to endurance challenges. Greg Fisher, who completed both  Race Across South Africa  and the full  Freedom Challenge  this year, shares  five mental tips and tricks  he used to help make it such a successful year on the Freedom Trail for him. They helped in get through the tougher stuff and were very useful in...

Steven Burnett (Race No. 35) sits down with Rooi Buffel Mike Roy to unpack the tactics, strategy, and unfolding race dynamics of the 2026 Freedom Challenge. Can Tim overhaul Franco Olivier's benchmark time from the second batch while chasing from the racing batch? What will it take? And how is John Bowen positioning himself as he closes in on Diemersfontein? Join the conversation as they break dow...

 When you join the Freedom Challenge community, whether it be a rider or supporter, something changes And as a returning rider, it's not necessarily only the moments on the trail that draw you back, but it's almost like the life you choose is what keeps you connected. Because when you have got that daunting goal of race to Rhodes or the Full Freedom Challenge, or even race across South Africa it i...

One of the remarkable things about the Freedom Challenge is that although it looks like a bike race on the surface, it so often becomes something so much bigger. Spend enough time on or spectating the trail, and you'll begin to realize that there are lessons riders learn out there that rarely stay on the trail. They spill into life. Because in many ways, the Freedom Challenge is a condensed versio...

In carrying on the theme of what makes Freedom what it is, we are gonna hear from Mike Woolnough. He is permanent race number 16, and he has done over 20 Freedom Challenge events. He has guided multiple Freedom Challenge meanders, thank you, Mike. From a distance, the Freedom Challenge appears to be about riding bikes across our country. Distances measured, elevation accumulated. Riders leaving in...

When people look at the Freedom Challenge from the outside, they often see the big numbers first. Over 2,000 kilometers, tens of thousands of meters of climbing, endless mountains, river crossings, hike or bike, freezing nights and early mornings, and sleep deprivation. Those numbers are impressive, but they don't tell the real story because the most remarkable thing about the Freedom Challenge is...

 There's a steady rhythm out there on the trail, with the day's cadence being set by the climbs and the river crossings and support station stops. Where the trackers tell one story of kilometers covered and support stations reached, positions gained or lost. But every dot, every rider is navigating their own journey through fatigue, uncertainty, triumph, and even occasional despair. Overcoming fat...

 Welcome back to the Freedom Trail Podcast, your window into the stories, struggles, and triumphs unfolding across South Africa on the Freedom Challenge. We are now one week into Freedom Challenge 2026, and so far, the trail has been showing its kinder side, showing off some spectacular sunrises and providing solid riding conditions. The support stations are buzzing from the Oaks all the way to Kr...

The riders are rolling and the adventure has begun. Freedom Challenge 2026 is underway. And Freedom family, just to think, there is something very special about these opening days of Freedom when the riders are standing on that freezing start line, sometimes carrying years of preparations and dreams with them, and that feeling that nobody really knows what lies ahead, what the mountains are gonna...

When we think of ultra distance racing, it's normally one bike, one trail, one rider, but in this instance it's just so much more. This family story of pulling together during shared suffering and shared overcoming has just become so inspiring, and in a setting deep in South African culture. In the story we hear today, we chat to Tim van Coller. He is 74-year-old previous Freedom Challenge finishe...

 Hello Freedom Family These past 15 days feel like an absolute binge on life. Watching Race Across South Africa unfold, has been deeply human, it's been raw, and it's been impossible to look away from. Thank you for joining us in following those dots and listening and tuning in to the Freedom Trail Podcast as we've been cheering on and inspired by the massive efforts put in by the men and women ta...

 Hello, freedom Family, It is the second last day of the inaugural Race Across South Africa, day 14. The Fourth Lady and the fifth lady came in today side by side, Becky Sands and Charlene May as well as Miguel. The three of them finished together having written the last section together. It ended up being an emotional moment for Becky when you're pushing so hard and that relief and joy to get to...

 Hello, freedom Family Welcome to the Freedom Trail Podcast, with all the news from day 13 of race across South Africa. We had 11 finishes receiving their bokkies at Dimersfontein Wine Farm today. Ingrid Avidon came in second place at half past eight this morning, finishing in 12 days and 30 minutes. She left McGregor at 10:30 last night and rode through the night to get here this morning. "Yeah,...

 Hello, Freedom Famil Today, day 12 of Race Across South Africa. We've had an incredible 14 riders reach the finish line, 23 still muscling it out there, and eight DNFs and unfortunately 1 DNS. Guy Miles often rides to the start of an event and his plan was to ride to the start of rasa, ride it, and then ride home. He lives in Wartburg and with his loaded bike on the final descent into the race vi...

 Hello, freedom Family. On day 11 of Race Across South Africa, a 2000 kilometer journey riding east to west across the southern tip of Africa. What a privilege and let's dive right into the special moments. On the finish line today in ninth position, came in Riaan Meintjes. Riaan knows the Freedom Trail well and has done each of the four segments as well as the full Freedom Challenge, and let's he...

Hello Freedom family, Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the Freedom Trail podcast, where we hear firsthand from the riders on day 10 of Race Across South Africa. Before we dive into the rider experiences out there, Mike Woolnough shares what it's like to ride mid-pack on Race Across South Africa. "We've seen some of the top guys come in and it looks like they've just written around th...

 Hello, Freedom Family. Today, on day nine of Race Across South Africa, was the race for second place. Pierre Lambert made his move at check point 2. He arrived at check point 2 with the group and left before the rest of them, with Nick and Duncan ahead of him. He worked hard to stay ahead. Then last night while sleeping at Montagu. Zane overtook him in the early morning. Zane then put in a hard e...

Hello, freedom Family What a day it was for the Freedom Trail today. Drikus Coetzee took line honours in the inaugural Race Across South Africa, devouring the course in seven days, 12 hours and three minutes. He arrived at the finish line, humble and still in good shape, and shares with us some stories from the trail. "It's something special. I think lots of international guys can come and do this...

 Hello, freedom family. Happy Sunday to you all. Just to think on day seven while we were making our morning coffee, maybe around seven o'clock in the morning. These guys and girls had already been at it for three or four hours, five hours, maybe even. And now as we take our tea to bed tonight and cuddle up in our nice, warm, cozy beds, they are still out there. Some of their days are just excepti...