The sixth edition of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race taking place in South Africa from October 12 to 18 will deliver a next-level experience for the 500 entrants, both the podium chasers and those aiming just to finish the event within the cut-off time.
Annika Langvad (left) and Ariane Kleinhans of Team RECM approach the finish line on stage two of the 2013 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek at the summit of the Swartberg Pass. Photo: Zoon Cronje / Nikon
The seven-day race, which follows a different route each year, will take participants over 550km through three different eco-regions in South Africa’s Western Cape province – the Great Karoo, the Klein Karoo and the Garden Route.
This year’s edition will be the first as a UCI-graded event, which ensures minimum standards relating to the racing end of the field, including the prize money amount and depth, as well as the awarding of UCI rankings points to top finishers.
The route for the 2014 edition will be announced next month. Although it changes every year, it will still include the event’s trademark mountaintop finish of stage two (day three), which sees riders ascend the formidable, majestic Swartberg Pass.
This will be the first year that the first women’s team to the summit finish will receive the same prize money as the men.
Bridge, the event’s title sponsor, has committed a total of R250 000 (about US$25 000 to the stage, with the first men and women’s teams each receiving R125 000 (about US$12 500). It’s the richest single stage prize in mountain bike racing.
“I’m absolutely delighted about the news of the equal prize money on the big mountain-top finish stage,” said Swiss Marathon champion, Ariane Kleinhans, who, with RECM teammate Annika Langvad, won the event’s Queen Stage and the women’s race overall in 2013.
“It is a demonstration of the organisers’ respect towards us ladies’ performances and their motivation to increase female participation in our great sport. Equal prize money will attract more top riders to the race and push us to a higher level. Us ladies will definitely do our best to make it an exciting race,” added Kleinhans.
