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The Lesotho Sky Nominate-a-Mate competition is back! This is your chance to be the friend your friends think you are. We all have that one buddy who deserves a win, whether they’re going through a tough time or they’re not getting the recognition they deserve for their awesomeness. Click here to view the article

The entries for the 2017 Lesotho Sky officially opened at 12pm today. After the roaring success of the 2016 stage race, the 7th edition of the Lesotho Sky promises to sell like 1X11 conversions. Click here to view the article

The final stage of Lesotho Sky 2016 took place at Semonkong Lodge, nestled next to the Maletsunyane River high in the Maluti mountains. The drive to the start of the stage was an experience of its own: nearly an hour of the most incredible winding passes. You could almost feel the air getting thinner as we headed skywards. Click here to view the article

Today made the preceding stages of Lesotho Sky look like a picnic in the park. It was not our lucky day. The legs were feeling a bit better, morale was high, and we were looking forward to a slightly shorter ride, keeping things in our comfort zone. Click here to view the article

Day 4 of Lesotho Sky saw us tackle another hefty stage, riding 78 kilometres from Roma to Ramabanta Trading post via Bushman’s Pass and the infamous Three Witches. It was another day of digging deep for us. I had forgotten to pack my legs and had to be dragged up every single incline, gasping like a fish out of water. This was not ideal since we had to climb over 2300 metres during the stage, and some heroic pulling was required. Click here to view the article

Today’s stage saw us ride 87 kilometres from Malealea Lodge to Roma with what ended up measuring around 1900 metres of vertical ascent. It is the longest stage of the race and took us into a very dark place. Click here to view the article

Day 2 of Lesotho Sky saw us take on the infamous Malealea Monster in a 55km loop from Malealea Lodge with 1,430 metres of ascent. This was probably my favourite day from last year, featuring beast climbs followed by incredible, fun, and sketchy descents, keeping the climbing to reward ratio high. The Malealea Loop did not disappoint today. Click here to view the article

The Lesotho Sky takes a different format this year and starts with a bang - there is no short prologue to ease riders into the thin air of the Maloti mountains. The race starts with the gruelling ride from Ramabanta Trading Post to Malealea Lodge over 69 kilometres with 1800 metres of vertical ascent.* After months of anticipation and days of travel to get to Ramabanta, we were eager to get going, despite the bone-chilling temperatures predicted for the week to come. Click here to view the article

The theme song of Top Gun is playing in the background, seven fighter jets break the sound barrier overhead, Maluti lagers flow aplenty. That's how we imagined the route launch for today, but our budget is tight, so this press release will suffice. Click here to view the article

In April we launched our Nominate a Mate Campaign. Mountain bikers could nominate their friends, good-looking colleagues, superfit parents or mountain-bike legends to win a team entry to Lesotho Sky 2016. Click here to view the article

Want to be a better friend? In need of some serious brownie points with your fat mate who you dropped on the last climb? Tell us why your friend has what it takes and both of you could be riding the 2016 edition of Lesotho Sky for free. Click here to view the article

Following Rourke Croeser’s positive tests for EPO and Phentermine, he has subsequently been stripped of his title for the 2015 Lesotho Sky. This judgment sees his team mate Max Knox also losing his title. The title for the 2015 race therefore goes to Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys. We appreciate the spirit in which these riders and other elite competitors approached the race. Click here to view the article

If you are considering to enter for the Lesotho Sky 2016, you’d better get going. As the event is growing in legendary status, the entries are selling out faster than two fatties on a tandem down Chapman’s Peak. Click here to view the article

Come join us on the 7th of March at 18h30-19h30 for an free talk about the 2016 Lesotho Sky MTB stage race, hosted by race founder (Christian Schmidt) and route director (Darol Howes a.k.a Dr Pain Cave) while enjoying some cold Maluti beers. Click here to reserve your spot at the talk on Monday 7 March 18h30 Lesotho, also know as the Adventure Kingdom, is a hidden gem for mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiast’s. Remote regions, with virtually no fences, are some of the contributing factors for the veinous network of livestock path’s and bumpy jeep tracks, that would make any free rider drool. If you lust for adventure; grab a backpack, a bike and just ride, otherwise book a fun, adrenaline fuelled event with all the best mountain bike trails Lesotho has to offer. To book your spot now visit: http://lesothosky.com/ Click here to reserve your spot at the talk on Monday 7 March 18h30 Lesotho covers 30,355 km2. It is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres elevation. Its lowest point of 1,400 metres is thus the highest in the world. Over 80% of the country lies above 1,800 metres. Lesotho is also the southernmost landlocked country in the world and is entirely surrounded by South Africa. Exclusive to Trail and Tar customers during the talk: Free Maluti beers for the first 12 people to attend the talk on the 7th. Register for the race on the 7th after the talk and get a free 6 pack of Maluti Beers plus save 7% on your race entry fee. Trail and Tar will be putting together a special travel package with exclusive discount offers to get you to and from event in one piece. More info coming soon. There will be the usual superfood smoothies, juices and Raw Pizza’s for sale at NRG, so come hungry. Fuel right, feel great: 10% off all packaged Superfoods at NRG during the talk. Click here to reserve your spot at the talk on Monday 7 March 18h30 Travel Package: Trail and Tar will be putting together an exclusive travel package to get you and your bike from Cape Town to Lesotho and back in as little time as possible. More information will be posted shortly. For more info please email sean@trailandtar.co.za or contact him on 072 211 8685. Enduro Planet will be be offering Mechanical support packages during the event. Exclusive 7.5% discount when booked through Trail and Tar. For more info please email sean@trailandtar.co.za or contact him on 072 211 8685.

Ever rode behind the wheel of a stranger on the slopes of Table Mountain with a peculiar little straw hat dangling underneath his seat? Click here to view the article

Affectionately referred to as the #MountainBikeKingdom, Lesotho is transforming itself into a unique cycling destination, right in the heart of our beloved country. Click here to view the article

The final stage of Lesotho Sky took us on a loop from Ramabanta Lodge and back. The stage seemed harmless: only 47km and 1400m ascent. Click here to view the article

Day 5 took us from Roma back to our starting point at Ramabanta Lodge. It was statistically by far the hardest stage of Lesotho Sky: 2600 metres of climbing over 84 kilometres. Sunrise saw me feeling sore and apprehensive, as I considered the ride ahead. Click here to view the article

Day 4 of Lesotho Sky took us from Malealea Lodge to Roma. A journey of 89km with over 1800m of climbing. Click here to view the article

Day 3 was dubbed the rest day. However, with only 55 kms and 1500 metres of climbing there was little respite to be had. Click here to view the article

The route for Day 2 took us from Ramabanta to Malealea Lodge via some truly epic mountain terrain. Click here to view the article

The Lesotho Sky prologue is traditionally a time trial event in Maseru but, due to an event clash, it was moved to the Semonkong Falls, 110 kms outside of Maseru, as a mass start. Click here to view the article

The 5th edition of the Lesotho Sky race is going ahead in just 2 weeks time. This year for the first time there is a SOLO category too. Click here to view the article

The Lesotho Sky Event is designed for riders that are passionate about mountain biking. Like veins of the mountains, a network of trails connects rural villages and communities and makes the experience of riding the Lesotho Sky Race like no other. Lesotho is a country free of fences and boundaries. This land belongs to the proud Basotho people and is there for anyone to enjoy and respect. This race was founded by proper mountain bike fanatics and prides itself with using 100% natural single track in a place where the only other mode of transport is feet and hooves. Click here to view the article

After recently working with Brian Strauss to build a XC track at the Lesotho Sun in Maseru, I realise how much “natural riding” terrain Lesotho has to offer. He walked around our purposed track and could not believe his eyes! Something that I had taken for granted on every ride. Having a new set of trained trail eyes gazing at my back yard riding terrain has once again awakened my appreciation for the humble Lesotho dirt. Click here to view the article