Published 6 hours ago
South African DJ and producer Prince Kaybee (Kabelo Motsamai) just pulled off an incredible physical feat.
From Saturday, June 13, to Monday, June 15, he conquered the inaugural HiPace Cycle Challenge, cycling a massive 600 kilometres from Johannesburg to Durban in just three days.
But for him, this wasn't just a fitness challenge; it was a deeply personal journey of survival and reinvention.
Two years before the challenge, Kaybee was an avid long-distance runner and motorsport lover until a horrific motorcycle track crash changed everything. The accident left him with severely fractured ankles and wrists, requiring four surgeries and months of immobility.
When doctors told him his joints were permanently damaged to ever run competitively again, Kaybee refused to give up on fitness. He took up cycling as a low-impact therapy tool.
What started as painful rehab quickly turned into a fierce passion, setting the stage for his cross-province tour.
The brutal 3-day route
To complete the 600km goal, Kaybee had to ride roughly 200 kilometres per day, shattering his previous personal best of 158km.
On the first day, he fought heavy headwinds across the flats from Midrand into Bethlehem, even proving he is still a rockstar by performing a DJ gig that night after riding all day.
The second day was the most brutal leg of the journey, forcing him to tackle the steep, mountainous climbs of the Drakensberg and the infamous Oliviershoek Pass on his way to Pietermaritzburg.
Finally, on day three, he followed the famous Amashova race route down to the coast, crossing the finish line at Durban South Beach to a crowd of cheering fans.
To survive the massive calorie burn, Kaybee shared that he had to pause his famous "One Meal A Day" (OMAD) intermittent fasting routine, temporarily adding carbs and recovery supplements to his diet.
Proving the doubters wrong
The journey was documented on Instagram and YouTube, where Kaybee shared raw, behind-the-scenes moments of his struggles against the wind and mountains.
He also used his platform to shut down critics who said his bike couldn't handle the climb: "'But you can’t do endurance with that bike, its too windy, there's too many climbs'. WATCH ME! Tomorrow its the last day, leaving from Estcourt to Durban. FINALLY.❤️."
For Kaybee, the mental battle was just as important as the physical one. Reflecting on the ride, he shared an inspiring message for anyone trying to rebuild their life after a crisis:
"HiPace is bigger than cycling. It's about proving that setbacks don't have to define you. After my accident, I had every reason to stop. Instead, I chose to rebuild... Your mental state is like a muscle... when there's a flat tyre, we don't stop.
"When it's raining, we don't stop. Whatever happens, we don't stop."
Beyond the personal victory, the HiPace challenge also had a purpose, with a portion of the tour's sponsorships and proceeds being donated to a local charity.
After just 2 days of rest, Kaybee is back in the gym, he recently shared on Instagram: " I’m at the gym today for the first time after cycling 600KM, man, I am at my peak cardiovascular and strength levels. I have never in my life been this fit.❤️"
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