Podium battle intensifies at Cape Pioneer Trek

[Matt]

Although shortened and rerouted due to rain damage on the original 75km route, the penultimate stage of the seven-day race saw continued high levels of tension among the General Classification podium contenders. Bell and Combrinck won the stage overall, just ahead of overall leaders, Kevin Evans and David George (Nedbank 360Life), who confirmed they’re riding defensively and cautiously and minimising any need to take risks.

 

The big losers on the day were Melt Swanepoel and Matthys Beukes (Cango MTB.com), who finished 11 minutes back and lost second place on General Classification to Bell and Combrinck.

 

The women’s race was equally dynamic, with Stage 4 winners Speedy and De Villiers finishing six minutes ahead of Stopforth and Williamson (Bridge bizhub Ladies) to take the lead for the first time. Stopforth has been ill for two days and was on the brink of withdrawing overnight, but decided to start the stage on Friday, managing to get the finish with a shot a finishing the tour and, depending on her recovery, the overall title.

 

“There was a big climb early on today, so our strategy was to start hard and try and get away from Melt and Matthys,” said Bell. “David George actually pushed the pace hard up there and we followed. Matthys was able stay with us, but had to drop back to Melt after a while.

 

“We really gave it our all today. We wanted second place on GC and we wanted another stage win. We also wanted a big enough cushion for the last day so that we can take fewer risks and hopefully challenge for another stage win. We have a 10-minute margin, but that’s not much in mountain biking. We lost more than that on Stage 2 when my derailleur hanger broke,” added Bell.

 

For Speedy and De Villiers, claiming the race lead was a significant motivation while the stage win was a bonus.

 

“We went into a lead from the first climb and then just focussed on keeping out of trouble while going as hard as we could. Our lead is less than a minute over Ischen and Catherine, which makes the women’s race exciting right until the end. It’s good for women’s racing and for the Cape Pioneer Trek. It’s been more of a race than a survival test.”

 

With two stages of mechanical nightmares behind them, the top Veteran pairing of Nico Pfitzenmaier and Robert Sim (Robert Daniel Momsen) were once again racing at the front of the race, finishing the stage third overall and extending the lead in their category.

 

“On Stage 1 we cut a tyre and had to tube it. Then we hit thorns and eventually ran out of spare tubes and inflator bombs. It was soul destroying. Then on Stage 3, Robert dented his rim, which again forced us to tube and again we had to deal with punctures. Riding without problems for the last two days has been a huge relief,” explained Pfitzenmaier, a German who lives in Cape Town.

 

“I’ve done a lot of stage races around the world and this year’s Cape Pioneer Trek is by far the best. It sets a new standard. The route has been challenging, but fun and the organisers really care about every single rider. Nothing is left to chance. Everything is just so well executed. Everything,” added Pfitzenmaier.

 

The Swiss team of Barti Bucher and Ernst Engeli (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie), put in another impressive performance to finish the stage in eighth place overall, extending their Masters category lead further, while Mixed category leaders, Kathrin Stirnemann and Sandro Soncin (BH – Halbike – Tigers) of Switzerland won a third consecutive stage and tightened their grip on the lead in that division.

 

Timo Cooper secured another stage win in the Solo men’s race, while Diana Carolin’s stage win saw her move into the lead in the Solo women’s race after gradually closing the gap each day on previous leader, Desiree Loubser.

 

Saturday’s final stage was originally planned to be an 84km leg from George to Oudtshoorn, but may be shortened and rerouted to avoid areas affected by heavy overnight rain. No matter what the final route, it’s unlikely to be regarded as a procession with a number of podium places still up for finalisation.

 

Follow @BridgeCPT on twitter for regular updates. On Facebook, visit Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012. See a full gallery of event images and more insight here: http://blog.capepioneer.co.za/ For additional event information, visit www.capepioneer.co.za

 

Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012

Stage 5 – Herold to George

75km; 1 693 metres ascent (shortened)

Leading results

Open Men:

1 Nico Bell – RSA / Gawie Combrinck – RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 02:13:22

2 Kevin Evans – RSA / David George – RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 02:13:25

3 Matthys Beukes – RSA / Melt Swanepoel – RSA (Cango MTB.com) 02:24:21

4 Mattijs Eversdijk – NED / Liwald Doornbos – NED (Cube Nutswerk 2) 02:26:16

5 Chris Wolhuter – RSA / Oliver Munnik – RSA (Asrin Cycling) 02:28:42

 

Women:

1 Yolande de Villiers – RSA / Yolande Speedy – RSA (Klein Karoo International Ostrich Chicks) 02:44:26

2 Ischen Stopforth – RSA / Catherine Williamson – GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 02:50:25

3 Sarah van Heerden – RSA / Jackie Church – RSA (Wilde 2) 03:10:53

 

Mixed:

1 Kathrin Stirnemann – SUI / Sandro Soncin – SUI (BH – Halbike – Tigers) 02:38:11

2 Max Fridrich – GER / Nadine Rieder – GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 02:41:20

3 Craig Gerber – RSA / Jennie Stenerhag – SWE (Newlinesport) 02:47:00

 

Veteran:

1 Robert Sim – RSA / Nico Pfitzenmaier – GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 02:22:03

2 Micha de Vries – NED /Willem van Heerdt – NED (Cube Nutswerk 1) 02:31:56

3 Gus Klohn – RSA / Marc Wiederkehr – RSA (Ansaldo STS Dunkeld Cycles) 02:51:51

 

Masters:

1 Barti Bucher – SUI / Ernst Engeli – SUI (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) 02:32:00

2 Neville Ackermann – RSA / Charles Nienaber – RSA (Bridge Masters) 02:45:38

3 Tony Conlon – RSA / Peter Stopforth – RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 02:50:26

 

Solo Men:

1 Timo Cooper – RSA 02:21:46

2 Heinz Zoerweb – AUT 02:22:03

3 Petrus Malherbe – RSA 02:31:58

 

Solo Women:

1 Diana Carolin – RSA 03:09:10

2 Desiree Loubser – RSA 03:20:44

3 Dianna Ineman – SUI 03:24:35

 

General Classification after Stage 5

Open Men:

1 Kevin Evans – RSA / David George – RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 17hr 49min 50sec

2 Nico Bell – RSA / Gawie Combrinck – RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 18:12:48

3 Matthys Beukes – RSA / Melt Swanepoel – RSA (Cango MTB.com) 18:23:18

4 Chris Wolhuter – RSA / Oliver Munnik – RSA (Asrin Cycling) 19:23:49

5 Mattijs Eversdijk – NED / Liwald Doornbos – NED (Cube Nutswerk 2) 19:46:47

 

Women:

1 Yolande de Villiers – RSA / Yolande Speedy – RSA (Klein Karoo International Ostrich Chicks) 21:46:09

2 Ischen Stopforth – RSA / Catherine Williamson – GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 21:47:05

3 Sarah van Heerden – RSA / Jackie Church – RSA (Wilde 2) 23:55:30

 

Mixed:

1 Kathrin Stirnemann – SUI / Sandro Soncin – SUI (BH – Halbike – Tigers) 20:33:12

2 Max Fridrich – GER / Nadine Rieder – GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 20:47:04

3 Craig Gerber – RSA / Jennie Stenerhag – SWE (Newlinesport) 21:26:25

 

Veteran:

1 Robert Sim – RSA / Nico Pfitzenmaier – GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 19:37:51

2 Micha de Vries - NED /Willem van Heerdt – NED (Cube Nutswerk 1) 20:07:25

3 Rex Benson – RSA / Mark Langman – RSA (Bridge USN) 22:30:53

 

Masters:

1 Barti Bucher – SUI / Ernst Engeli – SUI (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) 20:09:17

2 Neville Ackermann – RSA / Charles Nienaber – RSA (Bridge Masters) 21:56:19

3 Tony Conlon – RSA / Peter Stopforth – RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 23:09:53

 

Solo Men:

1 Timo Cooper – RSA 19:01:22

2 Heinz Zoerweb – AUT 19:22:42

3 Petrus Malherbe – RSA 19:46:07

 

Solo Women:

1 Diana Carolin – RSA 24:45:46

2 Desiree Loubser – RSA 24:53:57

3 Dianna Ineman – SUI 25:56:28

 

For full results, visit www.capepioneer.co.za

 

 

Riders skirt the edge of a dam during Stage 5 from Herold to George of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.

Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media

 

 

Kevin Evans (Nedbank 360Life) leads the front group up a steep climb during Stage 5 of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race on Friday.

Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media

 

 

Overall leaders, David George (left) and Kevin Evans (Nedbank 360Life) were content with second place on Stage 5 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race on Friday.

Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker/Slingshot Media

 

 

 

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['Dale]

I see there's a highlights package on Supersport.