South Africans HB Kruger and Stuart Marais won the UCI Elite title in their first appearance in the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter which finished in Franschhoek in the Western Cape today.
Collecting their sixth stage victory of the 614km race – the fifth stage was neutralised – the ASG-Ellsworth pair finished the 73km route from Houwhoek to La Couronne Wine Estate in 2:50:16.
After setting the pace from the opening day in Knysna on Sunday, they had an overall time of 19:32:36, ahead of second-placed Eirik Fiskvik and Thomas Engelsgjerd of Norway (20:19:02).
The ASG-Ellsworth team of HB Kruger (left) and Stuart Marais celebrate with Eldorette Carinus of La Couronne Wine Estate after winning the UCI Elite men’s category in the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Full Stop Communications
In today’s stage, the French-German team of Antonin Marecaille and Julian Biefang (Chiru-Magura-Canyon) were second on the podium, followed by Hanco Kachelhoffer and Pieter Seyffert (Ellsworth-ASG). Marecaille and Biefang finished third overall.
The Paarl-based Kruger said the win was satisfying, achieving a goal they had set themselves before the start.
“Luckily Stuart and I, riding together for the first time, clicked well and everything went according to plan.”
Marais, from Howick in KwaZulu-Natal, said they took the lead from the start today, not wanting to get behind on a single-track section fairly early in the stage.
“Actually, the single-track section was a bit further into the stage than I thought, but the three main teams did manage to break away.
“After the Norwegians dropped off, we rode with the French-German team until the first water point when HB went to the front and we managed to get away from them.”
Britain’s Catherine Williamson (left) and Belgian partner Kristof de Neys won the mixed category of the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Full Stop Communications
Germany’s Udo Mueller, who led from the start, was crowned men’s solo champion and said it had been “a fantastic week”.
Mueller finished in 21:13:06 and was followed home by Switzerland’s Roland Mueller (no relation) in 21:35:20.
The UCI Elite women’s title went to Pretoria riders Janine Muller and Mari du Toit (Oakley4), who finished in a time of 27:14:29.
The mixed category was again dominated by British star Catherine Williams, who successfully defended her title. She joined forces with Belgian rider Kristof de Neys to set an overall time of 22:31:42.
