Hayley Preen has won the 2025 edition of the 157-kilometre King Price Race to the Sea in near-perfect conditions from Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands to Benguela Cove on the Whale Coast, on Saturday, 6 September, 2025.
After a crisp start to proceedings, the temperature warmed through the morning, while a light wind ensured tactics came into play as well as sheer strength, allowing Preen a memorable second race title in an elite women’s contest that was fiercely contested for 137 of the 157 kilometres.
Catherine Colyn made the early racing and pushed Preen all the way to the Karwyderskraal Road. Colyn’s pace on Franschhoek Pass made the early split, which only Preen and Zanri Rossouw could follow.
The chasing peloton couldn’t reel in the women’s the front trio once they made the break away, and Rossouw, working well with Preen and Colyn, put 6 minutes into Sarah Hill and the chasers by the halfway mark. Rossouw had been in contention for victory until she hit a pothole at full speed, just before the feed zone at the 50-mile mark.
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While the Reach for Rainbows rider did not puncture, the jolt did force her to slow down on the subsequent descents. This left Preen and Colyn in the lead, but neither was willing to strike out alone into a south-easterly breeze.
With 20 kilometres to race, leaving the asphalt of the Hemel en Aarde road, Preen was able to open a slight gap on Colyn, then press home her advantage. Over the undulations of Karwyderskraal Road and on the descent to Escape Wines, the Honeycomb 226ers star extended her advantage.
Preen rode into Benguela Cove with a near 3-minute lead to take a confidence-boosting victory before she departs for America to contest the final three rounds of the Lifetime Grand Prix.
“It was a great day out, the weather was nearly perfect, and the road conditions were good,” Preen smiled. “I love racing here in South Africa with competitors I know, alongside my friends, and at events I enjoy. Winning the King Price Race to the Sea, again, is very special, and I’ll take not only confidence in my form but also in my equipment to the States when I fly out on Tuesday.”
Colyn crossed the line in second, 2 minutes and 59 seconds behind the newly crowned champion. Rossouw was third, 9 minutes back, ahead of Hill and Chloé Bishop in fourth and fifth. Along with her overall title, Preen also claimed the King Price Queen of the Mountain hot spot prize on Franschhoek Pass.
Leading 2025 King Price Race to the Sea Elite Women 100 Miler Results
1. Hayley Preen: Honeycomb 226ers (5:40:55)
2. Catherine Colyn: Old Mutual Vida e Caffè (5:43:54 | +2:59)
3. Zanri Rossouw: Reach for Rainbows (5:50:03 | +9:08)
4. Sarah Hill: Efficient Infiniti Insure (6:00:49 | +19:54)
5. Chloé Bishop: Sports Therapy Studios (6:06:28 | +25:32)
Original Copy: Seamus Allardice Media, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Hayley Preen, flanked by Catherin Colyn (left) and Zandri Rossouw (right), has won the 2025 edition of the 157-kilometre King Price Race to the Sea in near-perfect conditions from Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands to Benguela Cove on the Whale Coast, on Saturday, 6 September, 2025. Photo: James Heron
Photo 2 Caption: Honeycomb 226ers racer Hayley Preen won her second Race to the Sea title, adding the 2025 crown to her 2022 victory. Photo: Raymond Cox
