After completing the gruelling NorthCape4000, Arrie Rautenbach is preparing for another endurance challenge, this time using the Western Cape trails to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease.
Cape Town, South Africa (06 November 2026) – After recently completing an extraordinary 4,062.5km journey across Europe while living with Parkinson’s disease, Arrie Rautenbach is preparing to get back on his mountain bike for the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz from 13 to 15 November.
Riding alongside longtime cycling friend Stephen Parker, Arrie will take on the three-day stage race with a purpose that goes beyond the finish line: showing that a Parkinson’s diagnosis does not have to put an end to adventure, ambition or the things that make life meaningful.
His latest challenge follows the remarkable NorthCape4000, which saw him cycle from Rovereto in Italy all the way to Norway’s North Cape. The route covered more than 4,000km, included over 30,000 metres of climbing and required more than 660,000 pedal strokes.
And he did it while managing the daily realities of living with Parkinson’s disease. Now, the scenery may be closer to home, but the challenge is no less exciting.
The FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz will take riders through some of the Western Cape’s most beautiful mountain-biking terrain, starting at Lourensford Wine Estate and travelling via Oak Valley before finishing at Benguela Cove near Hermanus.
“I haven’t competed in an MTB stage race in more than 10 years, so our goal is simple: to finish in one piece and spread awareness of Parkinson’s among fellow athletes along the way,” says Arrie.
Through his participation, he hopes to challenge misconceptions about the condition and encourage others to see that a diagnosis does not necessarily mean giving up on the activities, goals and adventures they love.
That message is also at the heart of the Arrie Rautenbach Parkinson’s Foundation, which was established to promote awareness and education, encourage earlier diagnosis, support people living with the condition and contribute to research into better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Looking ahead, Arrie hopes to take on MUNGA before pursuing an even bigger goal, that’s to complete an ultra-distance cycling challenge on every continent, for as long as he is able to ride and maintain his balance.
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