Matt Beers is a sincere and grounded individual. Conversations with him are always direct, honest, and full of purpose. He’s passionate about riding, racing, and winning, and openly acknowledges his weaknesses, working tirelessly to improve them.
His cycling career began in an unusual way—a motorbike crash 10 years ago. During rehab, his extraordinary power numbers revealed untapped potential, and the rest is history. With 3 Cape Epic victories, a stint on a WorldTour road team, and multiple South African titles and podium finishes across marathon, cross-country, and gravel disciplines, Matt has cemented his reputation as a powerhouse. As captain of the Toyota Specialized team, he’s both a formidable competitor and a media favorite at any race.
Over nearly a decade of professional racing in various formats, Matt has competed at the highest levels but has yet to find a single niche that perfectly suits him. Not ideally built for the demands of XCO or road racing, and with marathon racing offering limited exposure outside of a handful of iconic stage races, Matt found himself at a crossroads in 2024. With nothing left to prove at Cape Epic and at least five prime racing years ahead, he needed a fresh focus.
Looking back, Matt considers 2024 his most successful year yet, highlighted by a breakthrough victory on the prestigious US gravel tour. Fresh off the plane from the States, we caught up with him for a chat in his happy place: cruising Chapman’s Peak Drive in his team Toyota Hilux.
Hear why he’s so fired up for 2025, what keeps him loyal to South African races, and what he believes will propel his career to the next level.
