Events

Woolcock, Kleinhans new leaders at Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek

· By Matt · 43 comments

The brutal terrain of the Kammanassie Mountains in South Africa’s Western Cape province left their mark on the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Tuesday when SCOTT Factory Racing’s Philip Buys (RSA) and Matthys Beukes (RSA) charged to the stage win; and RE:CM’s Waylon Woolcock (RSA) and Erik Kleinhans (RSA) moved into the overall lead.

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SCOTT Factory Racing’s Philip Buys approaches the summit of a steep climb on his way through the Kammanassie Mountains on Stage 4 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Thursday.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon

At just 70km, the stage from De Rust to Herold was short, but influential, with 1950 metres of vertical ascent and steep, stony climbs and descents through the remote Kammanassie Mountains testing the remaining 354 riders to their limits.

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Eventual stage winners, Matthys Beukes (front) and Philip Buys of SCOTT Factory Racing lead the bunch during the early part of Stage 4 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Thursday.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon

Buys and Beukes, both highly skilled riders with cross-country racing backgrounds, used the tricky terrain to their advantage and rode clear of the front group just after 20km into the stage. They clocked a winning time of 03 hours 12 minutes 04 seconds. Defending champions, Westvaal Bells Cycling’s Nico Bell (RSA) and Gawie Combrinck (RSA) finished second 2:50 back, with Woolcock and Kleinhans on their wheels.

Woolcock and Kleinhans only needed to wipe out an eight-second deficit to move into the lead, but they gained 4:35 on overnight leaders, FedGroup Itec’s Brandon Stewart (RSA) and Konny Looser (SUI) and now take a 4:27 lead into Friday’s penultimate stage. Asrin Cycling’s James Reid (RSA) and Jens Schuermans (BEL) lost time on Thursday, but are still in third place overall, 16:42 off the pace.

RE:CM Davinci’s Annika Langvad (DEN) and Ariane Kleinhans continued their dominance of the women’s division, winning their fifth consecutive stage and extending their overall lead in process.

Biogen SA’s Robyn de Groot (RSA) and Ischen Stopforth (RSA) rode strongly to secure second place on the stage, 20 minutes down on the winners and five minutes ahead Wheeler BMC’s Esther Suss (SUI) and Jane Nuessli (GBR), who remain second overall, one hour and six minutes off Langved and Kleinhans.

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Team RE:CM Davinci’s Annika Lanvad leads teammate, Ariane Kleinhans through a river during Stage 4 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Thursday. Langvad and Kleinhans won the stage and extended their overall lead.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje/Nikon

“We planned to win the stage today. Matthys and I both felt good early on and we used the rough terrain as best we could. We didn’t ride everything, but we rode for longer than the other teams on each climb and that counts for 20 or 30 seconds each time,” explained Buys.

“Today was a day for the dual suspension bikes. The first three teams were all on dual suspension bikes. This terrain is where the difference comes in and as the race gets longer we’re probably not as weary as the guys that chose hardtails,” said Beukes, adding that an overall podium place was now in their sights.

“This was my first time through the Kammanassie. It was a shock to the system, but I was kind of mentally prepared for a tough ride today. From 20 to 40km it was seriously steep and rocky and very difficult to get any kind of rhythm,” said Woolcock.

“We could see Konny was taking strain on the very first climb today. So when we reached the tech zone with about 15 kays to go, I told Erik that it’s a gradual climb all the way to the finish and we should increase the pressure a bit. It worked. Brandon stayed with us, but Konny cracked and Brandon was forced to drop back to him,” explained Woolcock.

In the highly competitive Mixed category, there was an overall lead change. Asrin Cycling 2’s Nizaam Esa (RSA) and Catherine Williamson won the stage, but it was their stablemates, Asrin Cycling 3’s Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) and Craig Gerber (RSA), runners-up on the stage, that reclaimed the race lead from the Dutch Cube Nutswerk MTB team of Birgit Lavrijssen and Marco Minaard.

The Klein Karoo Vets’ team of Wynand Muller (RSA) and Gerrie Beukes (RSA) won their second consecutive stage, but are still a distant second on General Classification behind Cube Nutswerk 2’s Micha de Vries (NED) and Rik van den Hanneberg (NED). In the Masters race, Wilde 3’s Izak Visagie and Lieb Loots won their fifth consecutive stage and remain firmly in the overall lead heading into the penultimate stage on Friday.

In the Solo men’s race, Adriaan Louw (RSA) secured another stage win to extend his overall lead, while Bettina Uhlig (GER) grabbed the overall lead in the Solo women’s race with dominant stage victory.

Friday’s Stage 5 is another 70km stage, taking the riders our of the semi-arid Klein Karoo region, over the Outeniqua Mountains and into the lush coastal forests to the finish in George. There’s a good chance of light rain, which will add to the challenge. By Friday, the riders will have traversed three different eco-regions, the Great Karoo, the Klein Karoo and the Garden Route, a unique element of the event.

“We’ll be conservative tomorrow. Anything can happen and we want to minimise those risks and hold onto the lead. Some teams are still after stage wins, so I’m sure the racing will be furious,” said Woolcock.


Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek

Stage 4: 70km from De Rust to Herold:

Open men

1 SCOTT Factory Racing – Philip Buys (RSA); Matthys Beukes (RSA) 03hrs12min04sec

2 Westvaal Bells Cycling – Nico Bell (RSA); Gawie Combrinck (RSA) @ 2:50

3 RE:CM – Waylon Woolcock (RSA); Erik Kleinhans (RSA) @ 2:54

4 FedGroup Itec – Brandon Stewart (RSA); Konny Looser (SUI) @ 7:30

5 Asrin Cycling – James Reid (RSA); Jens Scheurmans (BEL) @ 11:11

Open Women

1 RE:CM Davinci – Ariane Kleinhans (SUI); Annika Langvad (DEN) 03:48:50

2 Biogen SA – Ischen Stopforth (RDSA); Robyn de Groot (RSA) @ 20:08

3 Wheeler – BMC – Jane Neussli (GBR); Esther Suss (SUI) @ 25:04

Mixed

1 Asrin Cycling 2 – Nizaam Esa (RSA); Catherine Williamson (GBR) 04:05:28

2 Asrin Cycling 3 – Jennie Stenerhag (SWE); Craig Gerber @ 11:23

3 Bridge Peptosport – Gerhard Ebersohn (RSA); Christine Jansen van Rensburg @ 20:22

Veteran

1 Klein Karoo Vets – Wynand Mulder (RSA); Gerrie Beukes (RSA) 3:50:01

2 Cube Nutswerk 2 – Micha de Vries (NED); Rik Van den Hanenberg (NED) @ 1:38

3 Cannondale Blend Vets – Martin Epstein (RSA); Stefano Madies (RSA) @ 15:15

Master

1 Wilde 3 – Izak Visagie (RSA); Lieb Loots (RSA) 04:03:18

2 Bridge Masters 1 – Con Malherbe (RSA); Greg Anderson (RSA) @ 9:18

3 Brug Meesters – Charles Nienaber (RSA); Ergee du Toit (RSA) @ 12:17

Amateur

1 Klein Karoo Express – Kobus Barnard (RSA); Cornelius Muller (RSA) 03:45:11

2 Contego Giant 2 – Sakkie Hannekom (RSA); Hannes Hannekom (RSA) @ 2:46

3 Scott Saffa Power – George Nel (RSA); Franso Steyn (RSA) @ 10:26

Solo men

1 Adriaan Louw (RSA) @ 03:34:57

2 Craig Boyes (RSA) @ 6:30

3 Thomas Kozak (CZE) @ 18:11

Solo women

1 Bettina Uhlig (GER) 04:10:55

2 Aileen Anderson (RSA) @ 13:05

3 Dalene van der Leek (RSA) @ 35:33

General classification after Stage 3

Open men

1 RE:CM – Waylon Woolcock (RSA); Erik Kleinhans (RSA) @ 15:53:54

2 FedGroup Itec – Brandon Stewart (RSA); Konny Looser (SUI) @ 4:27

3 Asrin Cycling – James Reid (RSA); Jens Scheurmans (BEL) @ 16:42

4 SCOTT Factory Racing – Philip Buys (RSA); Matthys Beukes (RSA) @ 18:22

5 Westvaal Bells Cycling – Nico Bell (RSA); Gawie Combrinck (RSA) @ @ 32:27

Open women

1 RE:CM Davinci – Ariane Kleinhans (SUI); Annika Langvad (DEN) 18:05:24

2 Wheeler – BMC – Jane Neussli (GBR); Esther Suss (SUI) @ 1:06:37

3 Biogen SA – Ischen Stopforth (RDSA); Robyn de Groot (RSA) @ 1:33:18

Mixed

1 Asrin Cycling 3 – Jennie Stenerhag (SWE); Craig Gerber 19:42:30

2 Cube Nutswerk MTB – Birgit Lavrijssen (NED); Marco Minnaard @ 12:23

3 Bridge Peptosport – Gerhard Ebersohn (RSA); Christine Jansen van Rensburg (RSA) @ 1:29:08

Veteran

1 Cube Nutswerk 2 – Micha de Vries (NED); Rik Van den Hanenberg (NED) 18:01:50

2 Klein Karoo Vets – Wynand Mulder (RSA); Gerrie Beukes (RSA) @ 1:21:53

3 Cannondale Blend Vets – Martin Epstein (RSA); Stefano Madies (RSA) @ 1:36:53

Master

1 Wilde 3 – Izak Visagie (RSA); Lieb Loots (RSA) 18:53:14

2 Stone Hammer – Malcolm Dods (RSA); Wizner Zbigniew (RSA) @ 1:44:42

3 Brug Meesters – Charles Nienaber (RSA); Ergee du Toit (RSA) @ 1:45:48

Amateur

1 Contego Giant 2 – Sakkie Hannekom (RSA); Hannes Hannekom (RSA) 18:31:26

2 Scott Saffa Power – George Nel (RSA); Franso Steyn (RSA) @ 17:02

3 Kivada Schorriemorrie – Ninko Doornbos (NED); Coen Hoogervorst (NED) @ 2:48:37

Solo men

1 Adriaan Louw (RSA) @ 16:57:02

2 Craig Boyes (RSA) @ 49:23

3 Tomas Kozak (CZE) @ 1:13:08

Solo women

1 Bettina Uhlig (GER) 21:25:29

2 Aileen Anderson (RSA) @ 36:05

3 Dalene van der Leek (RSA) @ 36:59

For full Stage 4 and overall results, visit www.capepioneer.co.za. For images, visit Facebook: Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek.

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Comments

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 5:41 AM

Lots of noise about attacks on the yellow while they had a mechanical....eish

 

Anyhow, the best team will win.

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 5:45 AM

Oh and did anybody watch the highlights of the stage where Looser had the mechanical....BS was kukking him out nicely on the camera hahahhaa "You should have had that bomb ready bru"

igknot

Oct 25, 2013, 6:46 AM

Mountain bike racing is a test of rider and equipment. If you breakdown it is your problem, You trade weight for reliability.

Nothing wrong with taking advantage of your competitors mechanical misfortunes.

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 6:53 AM

Mountain bike racing is a test of rider and equipment. If you breakdown it is your problem, You trade weight for reliability.

Nothing wrong with taking advantage of your competitors mechanical misfortunes.

 

Yip agree..mtb'ing is not only about fitness, your preparation, technical skills, equipment, trailside / emergency repair skills and tactics all get tested. Now before guys start flaming me about the "unwritten rule" I say they should unwrite this rule...its racing, and its all fair game. Bad luck se moer....you make your own luck. Its more exciting if they say gloves off, lets box and we wont get the violin tweets and reports and interviews.

 

Flame away

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 6:57 AM

Tough to call because Looser crashed and punctured. They then battled to plug the wheel and ended up waiting for a wheel from another team.

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 7:01 AM

Tough to call because Looser crashed and punctured. They then battled to plug the wheel and ended up waiting for a wheel from another team.

 

huh, why tough to call?

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 7:02 AM

huh, why tough to call?

 

Do you sit up and wait because he crashed?

 

Or do you continue to race because he punctured?

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 7:08 AM

Do you sit up and wait because he crashed?

 

Or do you continue to race because he punctured?

Ah ok....I say neither, if he crashed...its because he either lost concentration or ran out of talent. ATTACK

 

Puncture...did he run very lightweight tyres, not enough sealant, couldn't plug it because he didnt carry plugs, boot or tube or didn't have the experience to calm down and fix what needs fixing wasting time running around like a headless chicken...ATTACK

 

Less violin music...more racing

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 7:11 AM

Ah ok....I say neither, if he crashed...its because he either lost concentration or ran out of talent. ATTACK

 

Puncture...did he run very lightweight tyres, not enough sealant, couldn't plug it because he didnt carry plugs, boot or tube or didn't have the experience to calm down and fix what needs fixing wasting time running around like a headless chicken...ATTACK

 

Less violin music...more racing

 

Looser was running around like a headless chicken but Stewart was very calm.

 

Here is Kevin Evans' take on it - http://www.treadmtb....r-trek-stage-4/

igknot

Oct 25, 2013, 7:12 AM

Do you sit up and wait because he crashed?

 

Or do you continue to race because he punctured?

If someone is in need of you medical help, then you stop. Else you go on.

Eldron

Oct 25, 2013, 7:13 AM

Less violin music...more racing

 

Agreed. In road racing where staying in "the peleton" has a much greater influence on racing and where attacks normally only happen on mountains or cross winds then then sure - there are unwritten rules which make sense.

 

Mtb is a much more solo and much more mechanical sport I reckon the unwritten rules need not apply.

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 7:13 AM

Looser was running around like a headless chicken but Stewart was very calm.

 

Here is Kevin Evans' take on it - http://www.treadmtb....r-trek-stage-4/

Yea, thank goodness for BS and his stage racing experience....

 

Ja read that article...don't agree with king kev since its in his interest to say what he said.

flat29

Oct 25, 2013, 7:18 AM

i agree. MTB is race on, no waiting for this or that. Last year with the epic when coolharvey had his chainbreaker break, you did not see the bulls team waiting for them. This is MTB, HTFU

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 7:19 AM

Yea, thank goodness for BS and his stage racing experience....

 

Ja read that article...don't agree with king kev since its in his interest to say what he said.

 

Did you see the highlights? Stewart telling Looser to "calm down"

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 7:23 AM

Did you see the highlights? Stewart telling Looser to "calm down"

Ja, was quite funny. The oke looked totally frazzled....he did see his ringpiece so could be a bit of adrenaline. Oh and where BS tells him he should have had the bomb ready.....classic

Eldron

Oct 25, 2013, 7:25 AM

Yea, thank goodness for BS and his stage racing experience....

 

Ja read that article...don't agree with king kev since its in his interest to say what he said.

 

I sort of agree with him. I guess the right thing to do is to keep riding the same tempo you were riding before the crash. "Attacking" the crasher seems a bit offside.

 

The difference between riding the same tempo and attacking is of coourse so "viewer defined" that each person will have their opinion on whether an attack happened or not.

 

Out of the saddle sprinting when the crashers are still going arse over elbow will probably not win you a strong fanbase though :-)

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 7:32 AM

I sort of agree with him. I guess the right thing to do is to keep riding the same tempo you were riding before the crash. "Attacking" the crasher seems a bit offside.

 

The difference between riding the same tempo and attacking is of coourse so "viewer defined" that each person will have their opinion on whether an attack happened or not.

 

Out of the saddle sprinting when the crashers are still going arse over elbow will probably not win you a strong fanbase though :-)

There seems to be mention of nico phitzenmayer..spelling?? influencing the racing on the day...and yes that is against the rules.

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 7:44 AM

Looks like they kissed and made up

 

Team RE:CM@Team_RECM59s

Camaraderie: RE:CM, Scott, FedGroup & Cannondale all helping each other out in the tech zone..

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 7:52 AM

Looks like they kissed and made up

 

Team RE:CM@Team_RECM59s

Camaraderie: RE:CM, Scott, FedGroup & Cannondale all helping each other out in the tech zone..

Ag no, we had the making of a nice friday fight club thread...so much for that :clap:

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 7:56 AM

Team RE:CM@Team_RECM3m

.@bridgeCPT WP2, 36km: Scott lead; Westvaal +4'50"; RE:CM +9'50"; FedGroup +17'15"; EAI, Asrin1 +27'00" #DevilsDescent

 

Apparently its raining, could still get interesting

rouxtjie

Oct 25, 2013, 8:00 AM

Team RE:CM@Team_RECM3m

.@bridgeCPT WP2, 36km: Scott lead; Westvaal +4'50"; RE:CM +9'50"; FedGroup +17'15"; EAI, Asrin1 +27'00" #DevilsDescent

 

Apparently its raining, could still get interesting

yebo....seems that is the ball game for fedgroup. Wonder how far westvaal is down on gc over RECM

jcza

Oct 25, 2013, 8:01 AM

yebo....seems that is the ball game for fedgroup. Wonder how far westvaal is down on gc over RECM

 

Westvaal 32 mins down on GC

 

Team RE:CM@Team_RECM7m

Riders coming through the tech zone with ZERO brakes, staff literally catching riders to stop them..

tunariaan

Oct 25, 2013, 8:02 AM

Mtb racing..may the best team win..many guys didnt make the first day due to top end light carbon rear derailers that broke in the mud..tought like for them..this is racing when your competitor brake down you take advantage and race even harder ..anyway it's raining hard in George..it's going to be another muddy day

Rudi Pollard

Oct 25, 2013, 8:02 AM

I see nothing wrong with what happened. If you crash or have a mechanical then that's your problem. Don't expect people to wait for you, because you had a little bad luck. This is MTB'ing after all, not some primary school rugby game where everyone's a winner...

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