Matt Posted October 16, 2012 Share The top South African duo earned R100 000 (US$ 12 000) for reaching the finish line of the gruelling stage first, recording a time of 03 hours 54 minutes 15 seconds. Second place went to Melt Swanepoel and Matthys Beukes (Cango MTB.com) with Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell (Westvaal Columbia) rounding out the top three places overall after having to deal with a broken rear derailleur hanger. The scenario on the cool, partly cloudy day was similar in the women’s category with 2011 winners and overnight leaders, Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson (Bridge bizhub Ladies) finishing first ahead of – and extending their overall lead over – Yolande Speedy and Yolande de Villiers (Klein Karoo Chicks). Timo Cooper stormed to a dominant victory in the Solo men's category and extended his lead overall after Stage 2 of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media The riders, who hail from Europe, Great Britain, Australia and Southern Africa, tackled the event’s queen stage with a sense of caution. Just 85km in distance, the third day of racing required they climb a total of 2 760 vertical metres, mostly over the rough terrain characteristic of the semi-arid Karoo region. The final climb to the mountain top finish took in the 12km long Swartberg Pass, a dramatic twisty gravel road that climbs at a relentless gradient for a total of 1 100 metres. The early part of Stage 2 saw the leading riders stick together before the major climbs splintered the field on Day 3 of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media “Obviously the prizemoney was a good motivator today, but we’re always going to give our best in every stage we race. Frustratingly, what we earned today was a fraction of what professional golfers earn but kudos to the organisers and sponsors for upping the ante in mountain bike stage racing,” said George. George and Evans must finish the event and score a minimum number of points (awarded to the top five teams on each stage) in order to qualify for the handover of the generous stage prizemoney put up by title sponsor Bridge, a financial solutions company, when the event ends on Saturday. Dutch riders Mattijs Eversdijk (front) and Liwald Doornbos (Cube Nutswerk 2) finished fourth overall on the stage and moved up to fifth position in the General Classification of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media A lead group of 15 riders developed early on but at 30km into the 85km stage, Evans and George began to increase the pressure and moved into the lead on their own. They extended their lead by the finish to almost nine minutes and will go into the remainder of the seven-day tour with a margin of 10:39 over Swanepoel and Beukes. “We wanted a buffer just in case of mishaps so pushed from far out for the win. It was a challenging stage for sure with some technical ascents and descents and a lot of climbing. We are one of the few top teams in the race on full-suspension bikes which really has been to our advantage,” added George. Germans Max Fridrich and Nadine Rieder (Ergon 24H Racing Team) claimed victory in the Mixed category, while the Swiss team of Barti Bucher and Ernst Engeli (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) won the stage and extended their lead in the Masters division. David George and Kevin Evans (Nedbank 360Life) negotiate one of the many turns on the Swartberg Pass during Stage 2 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race. They won the stage and collected a generous prize purse of R100 000 (US$ 12 000). They took at total of 44 minutes to ascend the formidable 12km/1100m climb.Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media The South African-German pairing of Robert Sim and Nico Pfitzenmaier made up for time lost on Stage 1 with an impressive fifth place overall on Tuesday to reclaim their lead in the very competitive Veteran category. Timo Cooper and Desiree Loubser claimed the stage honours in the Solo men and women’s categories respectively and lead those divisions overall. Wednesday’s Stage 3 takes in a 109km route from Prince Albert, through the Karoo to De Rust, climbing a total of 1 555 metres and ending with the famous 8km singletrack descent into Meiringspoort. Cheered by local school children, race leaders Kevin Evans (nearest camera) and David George (Nedbank 360Life) lead the field off the start line for Stage 2 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race. Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media Regular race updates are posted on twitter @BridgeCPT as well as daily photo galleries on Facebook – Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012. There's a daily race summary and information on the event website – www.capepioneer.co.za as well as find fresh, insightful updates on the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek blog: http://blog.capepioneer.co.za/ Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012Stage 2 – Calitzdorp to Swartberg Pass85km; 2 760 metres ascentLeading resultsOpen Men:1 Kevin Evans – RSA / David George – RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 03hr 54min 15sec2 Matthys Beukes – RSA / Melt Swanepoel – RSA (Cango MTB.com) 04:03:073 Nico Bell – RSA / Gawie Combrinck – RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 04:14:414 Mattijs Eversdijk – NED / Liwald Doornbos – NED (Cube Nutswerk 2) 04:24:255 Chris Wolhuter – RSA / Oliver Munnik – RSA (Asrin Cycling) 04:25:28 Women:1 Ischen Stopforth – RSA / Catherine Williamson – GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 04:51:342 Yolande de Villiers – RSA / Yolande Speedy – RSA (Klein Karoo Chicks) 05:02:323 Sarah van Heerden – RSA / Jackie Church – RSA (Wilde 2) 05:23:13 Mixed:1 Max Fridrich – GER / Nadine Rieder – GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 04:37:452 Kathrin Stirnemann – SUI / Sandro Soncin – SUI (BH – Halbike – Tigers) 04:45:143 Craig Gerber – RSA / Jennie Stenerhag – SWE (Newlinesport) 04:51:32 Veteran:1 Robert Sim – RSA / Nico Pfitzenmaier – GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 04:25:022 Micha de Vries – NED /Willem van Heerdt – NED (Cube Nutswerk 1) 04:49:053 Rex Benson – RSA / Mark Langman – RSA (Bridge USN) 04:54:59 Masters:1 Barti Bucher – SUI / Ernst Engeli – SUI (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) 04:29:572 Neville Ackermann – RSA / Charles Nienaber – RSA (Bridge Masters) 05:13:263 Tony Conlon – RSA / Peter Stopforth – RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 05:29:41 Solo Men:1 Timo Cooper – RSA 04:13:582 Heinz Zoerweb – AUT 04:15:463 Petrus Malherbe – RSA 04:24:50 Solo Women:1 Desiree Loubser – RSA 05:42:342 Diana Carolin – RSA 05:46:143 Dianna Ineman – SUI 06:07:29 General Classification after Stage 2Open Men:1 Kevin Evans – RSA / David George – RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 08hr 24min 20sec2 Matthys Beukes – RSA / Melt Swanepoel – RSA (Cango MTB.com) 08:35:193 Nico Bell – RSA / Gawie Combrinck – RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 08:47:084 Chris Wolhuter – RSA / Oliver Munnik – RSA (Asrin Cycling) 09:09:445 Mattijs Eversdijk – NED / Liwald Doornbos – NED (Cube Nutswerk 2) 09:31:53 Women:1 Ischen Stopforth – RSA / Catherine Williamson – GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 10:11:442 Yolande de Villiers – RSA / Yolande Speedy – RSA (Klein Karoo Chicks) 10:31:123 Sarah van Heerden – RSA / Jackie Church – RSA (Wilde 2) 11:10:09 Mixed:1 Max Fridrich – GER / Nadine Rieder – GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 09:37:062 Kathrin Stirnemann – SUI / Sandro Soncin – SUI (BH – Halbike – Tigers) 09:50:233 Craig Gerber – RSA / Jennie Stenerhag – SWE (Newlinesport) 10:03:17 Veteran:1 Robert Sim – RSA / Nico Pfitzenmaier – GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 09:35:422 Micha de Vries - NED /Willem van Heerdt – NED (Cube Nutswerk 1) 09:42:513 Rex Benson – RSA / Mark Langman – RSA (Bridge USN) 10:08:51 Masters:1 Barti Bucher – SUI / Ernst Engeli – SUI (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) 09:31:302 Neville Ackermann – RSA / Charles Nienaber – RSA (Bridge Masters) 10:21:363 Tony Conlon – RSA / Peter Stopforth – RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 11:16:51 Solo Men:1 Timo Cooper – RSA 04:43:32 Petrus Malherbe – RSA 04:52:113 Jonathan Wallace – RSA 05:06:10 Solo Women:1 Desiree Loubser – RSA 11:39:312 Diana Carolin – RSA 11:54:083 Dianna Ineman – SUI 12:12:47 For full results, visit www.capepioneer.co.za Click here to view the article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil6 Posted October 17, 2012 Share R100 000 for a days work is not too bad!Glad to see sponsors putting their money behind Mtb'ing in SA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awesme Posted October 17, 2012 Share Awesome going Nedbank 360Life team. G Edited October 17, 2012 by awesme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcza Posted October 17, 2012 Share I think it's poor that more of the top teams are not competing. Saw a tweet from one of the top guys yesterday that his festive season has started. Go Evans & George! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woolf Posted October 17, 2012 Share Thought they only win the money from that stage if they complete the race. Wasn't there some restriction to that effect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcza Posted October 17, 2012 Share Thought they only win the money from that stage if they complete the race. Wasn't there some restriction to that effect? Correct - they have to finish with a certain number of points. Points are awarded daily but unless they DNF the money is theirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranswurm Posted October 17, 2012 Share Thought they only win the money from that stage if they complete the race. Wasn't there some restriction to that effect? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woolf Posted October 17, 2012 Share hopefully Schumacher isn't in the field... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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