31/08/2026
At Sani2C, some of our people were riding. Some were coordinating hundreds of moving parts behind the scenes. Others were making sure our customers had an unforgettable experience. Together, their stories reveal the spirit that powers Unitrans every day. This is Arno’s story…
“A year ago, I wasn't even a cyclist. And if I'm being honest, I wasn't entirely convinced I should be doing Sani2C either." Arno laughs. "When I look back, the whole thing feels a little improbable."
When he talks about Sani2C, he doesn't start with the race. He starts with the people. The people who encouraged him to ride. The people who invited him in. The people who saw something in him before he saw it himself.
"I got a call from one person asking me to be a riding partner. Then that changed. Then somebody else asked me. Then that changed too."
Nothing really went according to plan. But somewhere in the chaos, Arno found himself exactly where he was supposed to be.
"I've always liked the idea of finding opportunity in chaos."
The race delivered plenty of both. Then came day two. Nearly 100 kilometres. Almost 2,000 metres of climbing. The kind of day that leaves even experienced riders questioning their decisions. For Arno, it came with an added challenge.
"I'm terrified of heights."
Which is unfortunate when you're riding along mountain trails overlooking the Umkomaas Valley. For most riders, the views are breathtaking. For Arno, they were something else entirely.
"There were definitely moments where I wasn't particularly comfortable." He laughs. "But that's probably the point."
Because somewhere between the climbs, the descents and the moments where every instinct is telling you to stop looking down, something shifts. You stop focusing on the distance. You stop focusing on the fear. And before you know it, you've done something you weren't entirely sure you could do.
When the race was over, Arno found himself thinking less about what he'd achieved and more about how he'd got there.
The encouragement. The support. The people who shared their knowledge. The people who created opportunities. The people who helped him believe he could do something he hadn't thought possible.
And that's when the question changed.
It stopped being: What's next for me? And became: Who's next?
"What if it's somebody in a workshop?"
"What if it's somebody working in the field?"
"What if it's somebody who doesn't think they belong in a race like this?"
Because somebody once did that for him. Somebody opened a door. Somebody gave him an opportunity. Now he wants to do the same for someone else.
"That's the real story for me," he says. "Not that I finished Sani2C. That somebody gave me the chance to start."
