The Lesotho Sky takes riders through the heart of the landlocked country for a 390km journey over six days.
Photographs of this year’s event can be viewed below.
Images courtesy of Wayne Reiche.
Day one
Stage one of the Lesotho Sky gave participants a taste of what to expect as they set out on the 59km route.
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- Riders take on real mountain biking on the first day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- The Lesotho Sky mountain bike race features 9 050m of ascent over six days. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A group of riders wade through a shallow river during the first day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A rider hydrates en-route during the first day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A team make their way through the rugged Lesotho Mountains during the six-day Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Young spectators watch the action with interest during the first day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- The Lesotho Sky takes riders through rough terrain as well as the communities of Lesotho. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A different type of spectator – a dog pictured during the first day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Two riders make their way through a rocky section during the first day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
Day two
The second day of the race took riders from Ramabanta to Roma, following last year’s route in reverse.
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- A small river cuts through the trails during the second day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Narrow tracks and rough terrain made for exciting yet challenging riding during the second day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders make their way past a lone figure during the second day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders will have climbed a total of 9 050m once they’ve completed the six-day Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- An onlooker watches the Lesotho Sky day two proceedings from the back of a donkey. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A participant wades through a shallow river during the second day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders navigate the Lesotho Sky trails, which follow man and animal-made tracks through the mountainous region. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- There were 100 eager participants at the start of the Lesotho Sky this year, here they wait to start the second day. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Participants at the Lesotho Sky take take a somewhat different kind of bath, taking a moment to relax while enjoying the spectacular mountain scenery after two days of riding. Photo: Wayne Reiche
Day three
The cancellation of day three’s ride provided an opportunity for some relaxed fun on the bike.
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- Spectacular thunderstorms led to the third day of the Lesotho Sky being cancelled. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A young cyclist looks on as riders enjoyed some relaxed fun during day three of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Although the third day of racing at the Lesotho Sky was cancelled, participants enjoyed some muddy riding nevertheless. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Lesotho Sky participants wade through muddied waters after severe storms flooded what were originally shallow rivers. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Severe storms did little to dampen the smiles during the third day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Stage three of the Lesotho Sky was cancelled due to thunderstorms, but it didn’t stop participants from rider. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- It was racing as normal on day four of the Lesotho Sky after thunderstorms led to the cancellation of yesterday’s stage. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A rider with a different kind of partner makes his way along a rocky outcrop on the third day of the Lesotho Sky, which was a neutral day due to thunderstorms. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A single onlooker watches as riders pass hum by during the third day of the Lesotho Sky, which was cancelled due to thunderstorms. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A faithful follower takes the lead during the neutral stage three of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
Day four
Day four of the Lesotho Sky, the queen stage, was a tough route that threw icy and wet conditions at riders.
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- After stormy conditions on the third and fourth day of the Lesotho Sky, the clouds finally cleared. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders raced down a short but muddy descent as they made their way to the finish during the fourth day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders, cameramen and cows – the Lesotho Sky delivered rough mountain biking with a few unique features thrown in. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- The bike wash was in full force after the muddy fourth day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Despite grey clouds and muddy trails, riders were in good spirits during the fourth day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Participants carry and push their bike up a short slope, having waded through a muddied river during the fourth day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- What had been shallow streams quickly rose after rain on the third day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders speed down a slippery slope during the fourth day of the Lesotho Sky mountain bike race. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Frankie du Toit leads the way down a muddied track during the fourth day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
Day five
The fifth day of the Lesotho Sky presented a beautiful sunny day over 63km.
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- Frances du Toit leads some of the riders during the fifth day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Three of the Lesotho Sky riders posed for a photo before the start of day five of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Pictured here is one of the riders getting ready for the start of day five of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A last minute phone call had to be made before this rider started day five of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Pictured here is one of the riders waving at the camera during day five of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Riders had to cross a river on day five of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Day five was a bit tough for some of the Lesotho Sky riders. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- An image of the amazing views day five presented to the Lesothy Sky riders. Photo: Wayne Reiche
Day six
The final day of Lesotho Sky saw the rain return, but it did little to dampen the spirits as teams set out to complete 38km and the total of 369km over the six days.
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- Wet and icy conditions greeted riders as they lined up to start the final day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A traditional lead-out escorted riders as they set out in wet conditions on the final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A rider wheelies along the wet trails on the final day of the Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Mud splattered riders wear grim faces of determination as they make their way to the finish of the 38km final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Despite the cold and the mud, riders were smiling as they tackled the final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- After 369km of riding and much mud, the top three men’s team celebrate their completion of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Women’s team Ila Stow and Frankie du Toit celebrate, henads held high, as they cross the line on the final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Just one of the muddied faces on the final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- A rider smiles and fro underneath a spattering of mud, having completed the final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
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- Evidence of a hard day out during the final day of Lesotho Sky. Photo: Wayne Reiche
