Sandra Sischka shares the incredible story of cycling from Portugal to Cape Town over two years with almost no prior bikepacking experience. From crossing the Sahara Desert to navigating conflict zones in West Africa, Sandra reflects on fear, freedom, hospitality, and the people she met along the way. This conversation dives into border crossings, survival, cycling culture, and what long-distance travel teaches you about humanity. Along the journey, she experienced overwhelming generosity, dangerous moments, and life-changing friendships. A powerful conversation about adventure, resilience, and seeing Africa beyond the headlines.

# === CHAPTERS ===================================

00:00 - Welcome Sandra Sischka

02:10 - Growing Up With Bicycles in Germany

06:00 - Why Sandra Sischka Chose Africa

10:15 - Planning the Route & Preparing for the Unknown

15:30 - Starting the Journey in Portugal

19:45 - Entering Morocco & First Impressions of Africa

27:30 - Hospitality, Family & Culture in Morocco

35:00 - Crossing the Sahara & Mauritania

40:00 - West Africa: Food, Borders & Daily Challenges

50:30 - Malaria, Recovery & Finding Human Connection

55:00 - Ghana, Travel Advice & Perspective on Africa

57:00 - Nigeria, Conflict Zones & Dangerous Decisions

01:02:00 - The Open Water Boat Crossing to Cameroon

01:08:00 - Jungle Routes, Wildlife & Cycling Through Cameroon

01:15:00 - What Africa Taught Sandra Sischka

# === LISTEN ON THE GO ===========================

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699

# === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO =========================

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# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling

What does it take to build the world’s biggest mountain bike stage race from scratch? In this conversation, Kevin Vermaak unpacks the untold story behind Cape Epic — from years of financial pressure and relentless risk-taking to creating an event that transformed cycling in South Africa and around the world. We also dive into the future of gravel racing, the vision behind Gravel Burn, and why Kevin believes the next era of cycling is only just beginning.

# === CHAPTERS ===================================

0:00 — The Vision Behind Cape Epic

2:45 — From London Banking to Building a Race

10:35 — Himalayan Expeditions & Adventure Mindset

19:05 — Five Years of Losses & Extreme Stress

20:23 — The Decision That Changed Cape Epic Forever

31:05 — The Reality of Building Something Big

36:50 — Riding Cape Epic for the First Time

41:25 — Selling Cape Epic & Building a Legacy

52:50 — Why Gravel Is the Future of Cycling

2:09:30 — The Big Vision for Gravel Burn

# === LISTEN ON THE GO ===========================

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699

# === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO =========================

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1

Website: https://activehobo.com/

Instagram: @theactivehobo

Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling

Simon Stofberg joins the Breakaway for an honest conversation about fatherhood, fitness, and finding your

way back — three and a half months in.

Also in this episode: Gallows 2026, the XCO Western Cape Schools League, a young Wellington rider's miraculous recovery.

# === CHAPTERS ===================================

0:00 Intro

0:28 What's on today: Gallows, XCO schools, and the Giro

1:29 Simon Stofberg: three and a half months into fatherhood

4:58 Life stood still: postpartum depression, emergency C-section, the dark first months

6:35 Light at the end of the tunnel

7:00 David's parallel: 18 months in with Gabriella

8:00 The all-in athlete personality vs. having a baby

11:20 First race with the family — and the panic attacks that came before it

14:13 The dopamine crash: going from 20 hours a week to nothing

15:01 48T vs. 44T — GRG media weekend to GRG with a newborn

17:00 Garden Route Giro debrief: Stage 1, Stage 2 blowup at Rooibos Pass

23:39 David's GRG — Day 1 power PB and Stages 5–7 riding with Dusty

26:08 Shout out to Dryland and the 36ONE weather situation

30:15 A young XCO rider from Wellington: broke his neck, three hours alone, making a recovery

33:28 XCO Western Cape Schools League: 926 boys, 280 girls

35:30 Titan Racing, Ford and Shimano back the next generation

37:30 Elite racing highlights — and why the YouTube footage is worth your time

39:01 Jan Vitor from Tech Science — the next guest David wants in the studio

39:43 Why Simon skipped Gallows, and what's next with Cam Roach

42:15 Gallows 2026: Poffada, The Hosepipe, and the climb to Heavens View

49:20 Finding an XCO schools correspondent: Boaf ⚠️ verify timestamp

51:11 Episode 17 wrap

# === LISTEN ON THE GO ===========================

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699

# === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO =========================

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1

Website: https://activehobo.com/

Instagram: @theactivehobo

Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling