The winter edition of Mountain Bike mag is on shelves now!

The international XCO World Cup racing season is underway—and what a start it's been for our debutant, Luke Moir. Fresh out of the U23 ranks and already on the podium in Brazil! What an incredible result for this talented and popular rider, who’s racing as a privateer on funding from family friends and smaller brands that believe in him. What a way to vindicate their faith and kick off his pursuit of a much-needed racing team.

Read all about his spectacular race in Brazil that earned him his first cover feature. We take a look at his lesser-known bike weapon and hear from his coach, Barry Austin—mentor to the stars—on why he knew Luke had this kind of result in him. What an exciting career lies ahead 🏁🇿🇦

We all live to ride trails, which is why Mountain Bike mag dives deep into both local and international destinations in every issue. You'll read about our week traversing Kenya’s Great Rift Valley—a profoundly memorable African experience that felt like riding into the set of The Lion King, all the way to the magical Maasai Mara.

For those with the curiosity—and the budget—to explore further afield, we uncover a lesser-known corner of Asia. Discover why Kyrgyzstan is dubbed the "Patagonia of Asia," with its snow-capped peaks and green valleys offering beauty, challenge, and adventure in equal measure.

If epic mountains and fascinating cultures are your thing, you’ll also enjoy the story of three Namibian riders tackling the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. A hugely memorable ride—but not for the faint-hearted.

We also head down the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal and up to the north coast of Spain, exploring both on full-suspension and gravel bikes. So many trails, so little time.

We love getting to know the riders making waves. Meet a 15-year-old shredder on the rise, and catch up with fast-flying pro XCO rider Bianca Haw, who’s cranked her way back into the leading women’s pack with an exciting comeback.Yes—her dad Glen is the founder of sani2c, which turns 21 this year. Read all about the iconic race that put singletrack stage racing on the map. The event has done so much for the deserving local community and never disappoints its riders. If you’re not lucky enough to be riding it this year, you can still experience the incredible route—from the Drakensberg mountains to the sea—via our detailed course description through forests, dairy farms, and river valleys.

Lastly, maybe you've seen the debates online—or wondered yourself—about whether the Cape Epic is becoming more accessible for less-skilled roadies, or conversely, more technical to challenge pros on TV. We’ve seen the transformation and heard all the opinions, so we went straight to the source: the route designers. Find out what they had to say about how the event has evolved over the past 21 years, in our Last Word feature on page 130.

There’s all this and so much more—gear reviews, rider profiles, expert advice, stunning photo galleries, and a winter racing calendar to keep you amped for the trails through the cooler, darker months.

Find our quarterly, coffee-table keepsake mag on shelves across Southern Africa. At less than R1 per large-format glossy page, you’ll find it at Woolworths, Exclusive Books, selected Spars and PnPs, and leading bike shops. Prefer the convenience of digital? Download it now at https://joom.ag/Dmjd.