The 2025 edition of the King Price Race to Sun delivered an exciting day of racing, with Hayley Preen and Marc Pritzen emerging victorious after fiercely contested elite races. The King Price Race to the Sun, known for its flat and fast route through the North West, saw riders tackle the 161km course. Adding to the excitement and the pace was the new second half of the route featuring the standout Sediba Kwele Reserve.
Elite Women’s Race: Preen Seizes Opportunity in Dramatic Finale
The women’s race unfolded as a tactical battle, with pre-race favourite Sarah Hill (Team Efficient Infiniti) setting a strong early pace before fading after 132km. This left Hayley Preen (Team Honeycomb 226ers), Sam Sanders (Team Efficient Infiniti), and Cherise Willeit (Team Toyota Specialized) to contest the victory in a gripping three-way showdown.
The trio worked cohesively to establish a decisive gap around the 130km mark, but the race took a dramatic turn in the closing kilometres. Willeit, who had led into the Sun City approach, missed a critical turn along with Sanders, allowing Preen to claim the win in 5:23:46. Sanders finished just four seconds behind (5:23:50), with Willeit a further four seconds back in third (5:23:54).
For Hayley, the victory marked a triumphant return after a recent collar bone injury. “It was a long day, but we worked well together. I’m happy to feel strong on the bike again and come away with the win,” said Preen.
Willeit, visibly disappointed, reflected on her missed chance.”I’m really disappointed, it’s been a long time since I’ve been in a position to win a Faces event”, she admitted. “I gave everything, but today wasn’t my day.”
Elite Men’s Race: Pritzen Dominates with Long-Range Attack
The men’s race was defined by Marc Pritzen’s (Team Honeycomb 226ers) astonishing solo breakaway, which he launched at the 70km mark and maintained to the finish. The defending champion built an unassailable lead, crossing the line in 4:30:11, a full seven minutes clear of the chasing group.
Pritzen credited his team for their role in his victory. “You need the team to disrupt the chase and help you maintain a gap,” Pritzen explained. “Without them, the bunch can catch you much faster”.
The reduced-tarmac course played to his strengths, he added. “There wasn’t as much tar this year, which made it easier to control the gap. The gravel and climbing sections were tough, but they broke up the rhythm of the bunch.”
In the battle for the remaining podium spots, Jaco van Dyk (Team Honeycomb 226ers) claimed second place in 4:37:18, edging out Jan Withaar (Team Insect Science) in the sprint finish with just one second separating the rivals at the line (4:37:19).
A Tale of Two Halves
This year’s route was a story of two distinct halves. The first section followed the picturesque Hartbeestpoort Dam Wall and the canals, offering fast, flowing sections where riders could settle into their rhythm. The second half transformed into a rugged ‘bush’ experience, with challenging gravel sections, sand and the new Sediba Kwele testing riders’ endurance and technical skills. This contrast created a unique race dynamic, forcing teams to adapt their strategies as the terrain shifted dramatically.
Exceptional Support and Community Spirit
Beyond the elite racing, the day was a celebration of cycling camaraderie. The Magalies Citrus water points were exceptional, offering everything from traditional bananas to hot pancakes, juices, chicken and popcorn, keeping riders fueled and motivated throughout the course. The halfway mark and 50-miler start added to the vibrant atmosphere, with riders of all levels sharing in the challenge and excitement.
A special mention must go to Sanddrift Laerskool, whose assistance with car transfers ensured all vehicles were in Sun City before 1 pm. The most efficient organisation to date. As part of our commitment to giving back, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the school.
The 2025 King Price Race to the Sun lived up to its reputation as one of South Africa’s most gruelling and exciting one-day races. Hayley Preen’s comeback victory and Marc Pritzen’s commanding solo triumph provided the standout performances, while the new route and exceptional support ensured a memorable day for all riders.
Results
100 Miler
| Elite Men | Elite Women |
| 1. Marc Pritzen | 04:30:11 2. Jaco van Dyk | 04:37:18 (+7:07) 3. Jan Withaar | 04:37:19 (+7:08) | 1. Hayley Preen | 05:23:46 2. Sam Sanders | 05:23:50 (+0:04) 3. Cherise Willeit | 05:23:54 (+0:08) |
| Senior Men | Senior Women |
| 1. Andreas Kuhn | 05:25:39 2. Henry Torr | 05:47:57 (+ 22:18) 3. Charles Brittain | 05:47:58 (+ 22:19) | 1. Janel Visser | 06:37:23 2. Sune Oosthuizen | 07:05:30 (+ 28:07) 3. Marijke Kurten | 07:19:38 (+ 42:15) |
| Sub Vet Men | Sub Vet Women |
| 1. Dusty Day | 04:52:52 2. Gawie Combrinck | 04:52:59 (+ 00:07) 3. Thinus Redelinghuys | 04:53:26 (+ 00:34) | 1. Bianca Nel | 05:50:28 2. Christelle Snyman | 06:07:23 (+ 16:55) 3. Jessica Edwards | 06:24:33 (+ 34:05) |
| Vet Men | Vet Women |
| 1. Massimo Guglielmi | 05:01:53 2. Martin Pieterse | 05:01:55 (+ 00:02) 3. Egon Campbell | 05:02:32 (+ 00:39) | 1. Nadia Stuckler | 05:40:06 2. Claire Malik | 05:57:28 (+ 17:22) 3. Cháni Maré | 06:02:52 (+ 22:46) |
| Master Men | Master Women |
| 1. Dan van Hemert | 05:03:22 2. Johann Naude | 05:09:31 (+06:09) 3. Christopher van Rooyen | 05:10:37 (+07:15) | 1. Belinda van Wyk | 06:10:58 2. Carien Visser | 06:37:23 (+26:25) 3. Lize-Mari Kreusch | 06:48:21 (+37:23) |
| Grand Master Men | Grand Master Women |
| 1. Dirk Nel | 05:29:57 2. Tom Ackerman | 05:30:56 (+00:59) 3. Fredrick Viljoen | 05:39:13 (+09:16) | 1. Colleen Jacobs | 06:42:38 2. Catharina Neethling | 06:46:44 (+04:06) 3. Cheryll Smith | 07:20:29 (+37:51) |
50 Miler
| Overall Men | Overall Women |
| 1. Wium du Toit | 02:39:19 2. Liam Espach | 02:39:23 (+00:04) 3. Reuben Jonker | 02:39:58 (+00:39) | 1. Megan Botha | 03:07:11 2. Sasha-Lee Sauer | 03:24:19 (+17:08) 3. Abigail van Schalkwyk | 03:43:56 (+36:45) |