The course at this year’s Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek, which starts in Oudtshoorn on Sunday, will likely determine the final outcome in the very competitive international field.
The 2014 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race starts on Sunday, taking over 400 riders from 15 countries through some of the most dramatic landscapes in South Africa.
Photo: Zoon Cronje / Nikon / Xtremedia
This field is attracted by the event’s new UCI-grading status, daily TV coverage, and over R450 000 (US$45 000) in prize money.
Last year, torrential rain during the last two days turned the stages into character, skills and perseverance tests. Luckily, the prospects of heavy rain are slim this year.
The course will be varied, taking mountain bikers through three different eco-regions, covering a distance of 574km with 11958 metres of vertical ascent in seven days.
The iconic mountaintop finish at the summit of the Swartberg Pass on stage two will give a tactical challenge to the top racers.
The main contenders in the men’s race are the Team Bulls pairing of Tim Bohme and Simon Stiebjahn, the Team RECM pair of Erik Kleinhans and Nico Bell, the Cannondale Blend duo of Waylon Woolcock and Darren Lill, and the SCOTT Factory Racing team of Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes.
In the women’s race it will be Team Meerendal’s Esther Suss (SUI) and ex-multiple ABSA Cape Epic podium finisher, Theresa Ralph (RSA), to watch. They’ll be up against the Biogen Toyota Cape Brewing Co. pairing of Robyn de Groot and Jennie Stenerhag.
View the full race schedule here.
