Erik Kleinhans and Chris Wolhuter of the Asrin Pro Cycling team disrupted the victory pattern when they won Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday.
Erik Kleinhans and Chris Wolhuter of Asrin Pro Cycling encounter a herd of Blesbok during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon.
After having faced the disappointment of a puncture while leading Stage 2, the two South Africans were on mission for some reprieve on Friday’s 108km stage, the penultimate of the 2015 edition of the race.
They attacked at halfway and charged across the finish line in a time of 04 hours 11 minutes 00 seconds.It was the first stage won by a team outside the SCOTT Factory Racing LCB stable, which won all five previous stages, either via Philip Buys and Arno du Toit, or Matthys Beukes and Gert Heyns. Beukes and Heyns finished the stage fifth, but retained their overall lead going into the final day.
The Dutch duo of 3 Bram Rood and Mos Gerben (KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen) finished second almost two minutes later after edging out the Italian pair of Robert and Emanuele Crisi (Celeste Kento Avvenia) in the finale.
In the women’s race, Esther Suss (SUI) and Catherine Williamson (GBR) claimed the stage win to extend their overall lead over stage runners-up, Robyn de Groot and Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) of Ascendis Health.
Esther Suss (left) and Catherine Williamson of Sasol Racing celebrate winning Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon.
“After having to deal with a puncture while looking good for a stage win on Tuesday, we decided to take a couple of days a bit easier and then try once more for a stage win. With the last day being so short, we decided today’s stage was our best option,” explained Kleinhans, a former multiple overall Cape Pioneer Trek winner.
“With the attractive cash prize on the summit of the first big climb we knew the other teams would be spending a lot of pennies early on. So we decided to climb steady and save ourselves a bit. We then rejoined the leaders just before halfway and went straight on the attack. Chris and I worked well together and managed to build a decent lead, which we then managed towards the end as we had a puncture, but nothing too serious like the other day,” added Kleinhans.
The chase group, including overall leaders Matthys Beukes and Gert Heyns (in yellow), during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon.
Suss and Williamson used their superior climbing ability to gain an advantage on the first climb, the tough haul to the top of the Swartberg Pass. But their advantage wasn’t significant as they crossed the summit less than a minute ahead of De Groot and Stenerhag. The Sasol Racing pair then gradually extended their lead but were constantly aware of the intense pressure being applied by the Ascendis Health team, producing the closest women’s category contest in the race’s history.
In the other categories, Rob Sim and Doug Brown (Trek Robert Daniel) won their fifth stage to retain their overall Veteran’s division lead, while Joao Mendes and Waleed Baker (PitstopSport24hrs) claimed another stage win to extend their lead in the Masters race. The Mixed division saw Kobus and Fienie Barnard grab another stage victory and confirm their commanding overall lead.
Riders descend a section of the Swartberg Pass early on during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon.
The Solo men’s race was once again a two-man battle with Craig Uria beating Richard Damant by just over two minutes to extend his lead going into the final day. The Solo women’s race saw Carmen Andrews claim her first stage win, but the overall lead still stays with Lara-Ann Everts-Van de Venter.
Saturday’s final stage is relatively short 68km leg from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn. Dubbed #RedstoneReward, it climbs a total of 950 metros and includes newly built sections of singletrack designed to give participants one last challenge before they finish.
For more information on the Cape Pioneer Trek, visit www.capepioneer.co.za. For race updates, follow @CapePioneerTrek on twitter and for photo galleries, like Cape Pioneer Trek on Facebook.
Erik Kleinhans and Chris Wolhuter of Asrin Pro Cycling descend the Swartberg Pass during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon.
Cape Pioneer Trek 2015
Stage 5, 108km from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp
Leading results
Men:
1 Erik Kleinhans (RSA) / Chris Wolhuter (RSA) – Asrin Pro Cycling 4:11:00
2 Bram Rood (NED) / Mos Gerben (NED) – KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen 4:12:51
3 Robert Crisi (ITA) /Emanuele Crisi (ITA) – Celeste Kento Avvenia 4:12:55
4 Dylan Rebello (RSA) / Thinus Redlinghuys (RSA) – Team Jeep 4:13:16
5 Matthys Beukes (RSA) / Gert Heyns (RSA) – SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 1 4:13:16
Women:
1 Catherine Williamson (GBR) / Esther Suss (SUI) – Sasol Racing 4:50:40
2 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) / Robyn de Groot (RSA) – Ascendis Health 4:55:19
3 Marlene Lourens (RSA) / Desiree Loubser (RSA) – Fair Cape 6:11:40
Veteran men:
1 Rob Sim (RSA) / Doug Brown (RSA) – Trek Robert Daniel 4:37:41
2 Leon Erasmus (RSA) / Bradley Hemphill (RSA) 4:55:57
3 Greg Anderson (RSA) / Deon Kruger (RSA) Bus Boys 5:00:02
Master men:
1 Joao Mendes (RSA) / Waleed Baker (RSA) – PitstopSport24hrs 5:15:14
2 Jozef de Meyer (BEL) / Renaat Verbeke (BEL) – L4 5:20:31
3 Dirk Labuschagne (RSA) / Andre Taylor (RSA) – Rothwell-Risksolve 5:36:03
Mixed:
1 Fienie Barnard (RSA) / Kobus Barnard (RSA) – Klein Karoo Mixed 5:00:35
2 Dalene van der Leek (RSA) / Igna de Villiers (RSA) – Sasol Mixed 5:10:00
3 Katja Cauwenbergh (BEL) / Ken van den Bulke (BEL) – Topbike 5:12:43
Solo men:
1 Craig Uria (RSA) 4:33:01
2 Richard Damant (RSA) 4:35:11
3 Raoul de Jongh (RSA) 4:40:46
Solo women:
1 Carmen Andrews (RSA) 5:39:17
2 Lara-Ann Everts-Van de Venter (RSA) 5:44:20
3 Katja Steenkamp (RSA) 5:56:15
Riders ascend the Swartberg Pass during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon.
General Classification after Stage 5
Leading results
Men:
1 Matthys Beukes (RSA) / Gert Heyns (RSA) – SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 1 19:12:29
2 Robert Crisi (ITA) /Emanuele Crisi (ITA) – Celeste Kento Avvenia 19:30:34
3 Bram Rood (NED) / Mos Gerben (NED) – KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen 19:38:57
4 Philip Buys (RSA) / Arno du Toit (RSA) – SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 2 19:50:36
5 Dylan Rebello (RSA) / Thinus Redlinghuys (RSA) – Team Jeep 19:50:53
Women:
1 Catherine Williamson (GBR) / Esther Suss (SUI) – Sasol Racing 22:07:16
2 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) / Robyn de Groot (RSA) – Ascendis Health 22:14:23
3 Marlene Lourens (RSA) / Desiree Loubser (RSA) – Fair Cape 27:47:35
Veteran men:
1 Rob Sim (RSA) / Doug Brown (RSA) – Trek Robert Daniel 20:48:53
2 Greg Anderson (RSA) / Deon Kruger (RSA) – Bus Boys 22:23:20
3 Frank Schmaehling (GER) / Felix Prinz (GER) – Epic Fighters 22:54:06
Master men:
1 Joao Mendes (RSA) / Waleed Baker (RSA) – PitstopSport24hrs 23:38:14
2 Jozef de Meyer (BEL) / Renaat Verbeke (BEL) – L4 L5 25:17:02
3 Dirk Labuschagne (RSA) / Andre Taylon (RSA) – Rothwell-Risksolve 26:06:55
Mixed:
1 Fienie Barnard (RSA) / Kobus Barnard (RSA) – Klein Karoo Mixed 22:38:13
2 Dalene van der Leek (RSA) / Igna de Villiers (RSA) – Sasol Mixed 23:36:06
3 Monica Glover (RSA) / Danny Fowler (RSA) – The Bicycle Service Company 23:39:48
Solo men:
1 Craig Uria (RSA) 20:36:31
2 Richard Damant (RSA) 20:50:06
3 Sven Kleine (RSA) 21:16:56
Solo women:
1 Lara-Ann Everts-Van de Venter (RSA) 26:17:58
2 Carmen Andrews (RSA) 17:14:56 27:03:46
3 Katja Steenkamp (RSA) 30:00:30
For full results visit www.capepioneer.co.za.
