Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes sealed the Cape Pioneer Trek victory when the sixth and final stage ended at the Queen’s Hotel in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, today.
They covered a total of 530km over the seven days in 21:14:14 to beat Spur’s Alan Hatherly (who won the event in 2017) and Simon Andreassen by three minutes and 10 seconds.
Philip Buys (left) and Matthys Beukes, pictured at the finish of the final stage, sealed the Cape Pioneer Trek victory in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, today. Photo: ZC Marketing Consulting
It was a hard-fought battle between the two teams as they alternated with stage wins throughout the week. View all the results here.
However, Hatherly and Andreassen could not make up enough time even after Hatherly crossed the finish of today’s stage first. The Pyga-Euro Steel duo of Buys and Beukes finished seconds behind him to secure the title.
Buys, who stays in Pretoria, said he enjoyed the tight competition.
“It is really good for mountain-biking as a sport in South Africa and it forced us to push beyond what we thought we were actually capable of.”
He added that it felt good to be back to his best racing form and that it was incredible to have won the race for his first time.
“I had not done a serious stage race in ages and was quickly reminded of how sore the legs get from competing at this level.”
NAD MTB’s Matt Beers and Gawie Combrinck took the final spot on the podium with a time of 21:24:55.
The women’s event was won by international German-Dutch pair Cemile Trommer and Karen Brouwer in 25:26:25.
Yolandi du Toit and Catherine Williamson (26:24:17) finished second with Simone Rhoda van Aardt and Sarita Louw (30:41:32) third.
Yolande de Villiers and Charles McFall (24:07:46) claimed the honours in the mixed category ahead of Fienie and Kobus Barnard (25:29:45). They were followed home by Kevin Taljaard and Siska van der Bijl (26:50:44).
