Estonians win drama-filled Cape Pioneer Trek stage

Estonians Peeter Pruus and Peeter Tarvis triumphed on a drama-filled day to win Stage 2 and close in on the overall lead of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in George, South Africa on Tuesday.

Estonians Peeter Pruus and Peeter Tarvis captured the stage win and closed the gap on the overall leaders on Stage 2 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in George, South Africa on Tuesday. Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com

Pruus, the European marathon champion and Tarvis, the Estonian marathon champion of Team KOMO/RMW, clocked a winning time of 03 hours 45 minutes 58 seconds for the 99km leg from Mossel Bay to George. They came within 13 seconds of the overall lead, held by Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell (NAD Pro), who had to stop on numerous occasions with tyre problems, but still managed to finish a somewhat desperate second in 3:46:53.

There was a furious six-rider sprint for the final podium spot between Erik Groen and Jeroen Boelen (Stappenbelt Specialized), Konny Looser and Daniel Gathoff (Cape Brewing Co Elite.) and James Reid and Julian Jessop (Team Spur).

The Dutch pair of Groen and Boelen were awarded third after the finish-line photo was examined, their time 3:48:03. Looser and Gathoff were fourth and Reid and Jessop fifth, the former pairing still third in the overall contest.

“We were going to stay in the group at the beginning, but then we thought maybe we’ll try something on the long climb. But it turned out not to be much of a climb, even going downhill sometimes, so we stayed in the group almost until the third waterpoint, then I rode away with one solo rider,” explained Tarvis.

Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck (in yellow) survived a difficult day of mechanicals to cling to their overall race lead during Stage 2 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in George, South Africa on Tuesday. Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com.

“Then later the other Peeter attacked and he caught me. So we rode together a little bit off the front, but then the NAD Pro team caught us. But they had some problems with their bike and we got away again near the end,” explained Tarvus.

“One of our goals was to win a stage at the Cape Pioneer Trek. Now we have achieved that. We are very close to the lead now so we are going to go for the overall now,” said Pruus.

“We had some troubles but we chased back multiple times. Each time we got back there were attacks. It was chase, chase, chase! It was one of those days. It’s how mountain biking goes,” said a relieved, but weary Combrinck.

Mariske Strauss and Cherie Redecker secured their third stage win and extended their women’s category lead at the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in George, South Africa on Tuesday. Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com

The women’s race saw Cherie Redecker and Mariske Strauss (OMX Pro) extend their lead with a third consecutive stage win. They clocked a winning time of 4:19:13 ahead of Team Garmin’s Yolandi du Toit and Aurelie Halbwachs, who are second on the GC, just over 25 minutes down.

The Mixed division was once again a two-team battle between 2015 winners, Kobus and Fienie Barnard (Klein Karoo Mixed) and title challengers, Neill Ungerer and Yolande de Villiers (Ultimate Cycling). Ungerer and De Villiers managed to win their third successive stage bu just over three-and-a-half minutes, taking their overall lead to just under 10 minutes over the Barnards going into Day 4.

Competitors moved away from the coast and into the forests during Stage 2 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in George, South Africa on Tuesday. Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com

In the Veteran men’s race another close contest ensued with Iniel Hattingh and Vickus Boschoff (Klein Karoo Ko Op) grabbing the stage win just 38 seconds ahead of Fanie Venter and Igna de Villiers (LGE Midas/Businessprint). Although they showed some vulnerability on Tuesday, De Villiers and Venter remain the overall leaders by just over eight minutes.

Linus van Onselen and Izak Visagie (Anderson Masters) confirmed they’re in a class of their own. The won Stage 2 by a considerable margin and extended their overall lead in the Master’s category. It seems only disaster can prevent them from overall victory on Saturday.

Riders were treated to magnificent willderness areas during Stage 2 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in George, South Africa on Tuesday. Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com

Czech Republic rider, Jiri Krivanek, was the standout Solo men’s rider on Tuesday. He was at the very front of the race for most of the stage, finishing alongside stage runners-up, Combrinck and Bell in 3:46:53. Krivanek was more than 10 minutes faster than his nearest rival and now holds an emphatic 21:22 lead over second-placed Franco Pelser.

Nicky Giliomee once again made the Solo women’s division her own, winning the stage and extending her overall lead.

Wednesday’s Stage 3 starts and finishes in George, the capital of the Garden Route . It’s a relatively short 57km leg with 1150 metres of ascent. According to the organisers, 90% of the stage will be on singletrack, built and enjoyed by the local mountain bikers. High volumes of singletrack can create a challenge for less skilled riders. Expect the race’s shortest stage to deliver some surprises…

The stage will start at 07h30 Central African Time/06h30 Central European Time. To stay up to date with the action:
Follow @CapePioneerTrek on twitter for live tweets
Check out the Facebook page for daily updates and photo galleries – Cape Pioneer Trek
Watch online the live show #PioneerSpirit on Wednesday and 21 October at 18h15 CAT/17h15 CET: www.capepioner.co.za

For more indepth route descriptions and other information on the 2016 race, visit http://www.capepioneer.co.za

The top three men’s teams after Stage 2 of the 2016 Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in South Africa on Tuesday are (from left): Peeter Pruus and Peeter Tarvus (second), Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell (first) and Konny Looser and Daneil Gathof (third). Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com

The top three women’s teams after Stage 2 of the 2016 Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in South Africa on Tuesday are (from left): Yolandi du Toit and Aurelie Halbwachs (second), Mariske Strauss and Cherie Redecker (first) and Hannele Steyn and Katje Steenkamp (third). Photo credit: www.zooncronje.com