The Comrades Marathon men’s race is set to be highly competitive with defending champion Tete Dijana, last up run winner Piet Wiersma, and other contenders like Edward Mothibi, Nikolai Volkov, and Joseph Manyedi all vying for victory. Seen here: Dijana winning the 2025 race just ahead of Wiersma. Picture: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
While the women’s race has an overwhelming favourite in Gerda Steyn, there are a number of contenders that could win the men’s title at the Comrades Marathon on Sunday.
Approximately 21,633 runners are registered to make it to the starting line in Durban to begin their long journey inland on the up run to Pietermaritzburg.
Tete Dijana will stand at the start line as the defending champion, but standing alongside him will be Dutch athlete Piet Wiersma, who won the last up run in 2024.
Dijana, though, is a three-time champion, having also triumphed in 2023 and 2022.
