PIETERMARITZBURG – The road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg has always had a voice. On Sunday, that voice will roar again as 21,677 runners answer the call of the 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon, an 85.777km pilgrimage of pain, perseverance and possibility.
From the shadow of Durban City Hall to the finish at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse, South Africa’s most treasured ultra-marathon will unfurl like a living ribbon of dreams, carrying champions, challengers and hopefuls toward sporting immortality.
At the front of the pack, familiar faces return for another chapter in a saga that seems determined to keep rewriting itself. Remarkably, 19 of the top 20 finishers from the men’s and women’s races in 2025 are back, including defending champions Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn.
Race Director Sue Forge believes the ingredients are in place for another memorable contest.
“All the signs are that this should be another thrilling race, not just in terms of proven gold medallists, but also with the addition of a number of very fast marathoners and ultra-marathoners from both South Africa and abroad, including world-class 100km competitors. We’re looking forward to seeing who claims the podium spots and a share of the biggest prize purse in the history of the Comrades Marathon.”
The purse is substantial enough to make even the steepest climb seem a little less intimidating. Athletes will compete for a share of R8.21 million, including incentives and record bonuses, with the men’s and women’s winners each earning R925,000.
“We have made sure that the top contenders in the 2026 edition of the Comrades Marathon have 8.2 million reasons to give everything they have on the route from Durban to Pietermaritzburg,” said Forge.
“This race has always produced world-class performances, and this considerable prize purse reflects the status of both the race and the elite field we have running this year.”
Dijana’s Date with Destiny
Three-time champion Dijana arrives carrying both expectation and opportunity. The South African has conquered the Down Run in 2022, 2023 and 2025, yet an Up Run victory remains the missing jewel in his growing crown.
Standing in his path is a familiar nemesis. Dutch star Piet Wiersma won the previous Up Run in 2024 and has twice finished runner-up to Dijana. Their rivalry has become one of the race’s defining storylines, a duel as relentless as the hills themselves.
Victory would elevate Dijana into rare company alongside four-time winner Alan Robb and move him within touching distance of the sport’s pantheon.
Another athlete stalking history is Bongmusa Mthembu. The three-time champion already owns 11 gold medals and sits level with Bruce Fordyce in that category. One more gold would place him alongside Robb at the summit of the all-time gold medal standings.
The men’s field reads like a who’s who of ultra-distance excellence. Former winners Edward Mothibi and David Gatebe return, while Russians Nikolai Volkov and Vasilii Korytkin, Britain’s Alex Milne, Joseph Manyedi and Gordon Lesetedi all bring proven pedigree.
Adding intrigue are newcomers from the global ultra-running circuit. World 100km champion Aleksandr Sorokin makes his Comrades debut, while American record-holder Charles Lawrence arrives with formidable credentials. Frenchman Guillaume Ruel, one of the world’s fastest 100km runners, will also seek redemption after a disappointing outing last year.
South Africans George Kusche and Onalenna Khonkhobe have also emerged as serious podium contenders, giving local supporters plenty of reasons to believe.
Steyn Chasing Legendary Status
If Dijana seeks history, Steyn stands on the doorstep of legend.
The four-time winner enters the race buoyed by another commanding triumph at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, where she collected a seventh consecutive title with the ease of a runner gliding downhill on a cool morning breeze.
A fifth Comrades victory would move Steyn into a club so exclusive that its membership could fit into a family sedan. Only Elena Nurgalieva, with eight wins, sits ahead of her among women.
Steyn’s dominance has often made excellence look routine, a sporting oxymoron if ever there was one. Yet the chasing pack arrives armed with ambition.
Kenya’s Shelmith Muriuki impressed with third place on debut last year and could be poised for another leap forward. Irvette van Zyl enters in sparkling form after a course-record victory at Loskop 50km, while Dominika Stelmach, Carla Molinaro, Caitriona Jennings, Courtney Olsen, Jenet Mbhele and Melissah Gibson all return with valuable experience.
Former podium finisher Adele Broodryk is back after missing last year’s race, while Galaletsang Mekgoe and Jenna Challenor will be eager to rejoin the gold-medal conversation.
Zimbabwe’s Nobukhosi Tshuma has attracted significant attention following her podium finish at Two Oceans and intensive preparations in Kenya. She may yet emerge as the surprise package in a race that has a habit of rewarding bravery.
A Race Ready to Ignite
The elite men’s field features 97 runners, while 34 women have earned places in the elite start group. They will surge away at 05:00, setting the pace for thousands who will follow in their footsteps.
As the countdown reaches its final hours, the Comrades Marathon feels like a giant heartbeat echoing through KwaZulu-Natal. Records shimmer on the horizon. Rivalries simmer beneath the surface. Dreams stand on the starting line.
And somewhere between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, history waits patiently beside the road.
