Pioneer Trek spectacular

Gallery

MOSSEL BAY CYCLING NEWS - Cyclists participating in the 11th Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen, have enjoyed it thoroughly so far, judging by comments on social media.

The event has been called #RaceWithSoul.

On Saturday, as riders streamed into the "race village" at Milkwood Primary School, which was extremely professionally set up, the atmosphere was vibrant.

The event is battled out over 548.1km during the seven race days and comprises a total climb of 11 870m.

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The prologue of the event, on Sunday, 8 September held during sweltering heat, offered a spectacular urban and coastal cliff circuit. The prologue route is said to have been the most spectacular in all the years of the trek, with an added cliff-hanging single track from the St Blaize lighthouse.

Monday's Stage 1 or #GondwanaGlory, was 97km and included an ascent of 1 950km. Focusing on pure enjoyment, the emphasis was shifted to include more scenic areas to ride through. Here Gondwana, with its free roaming Big Five, did not disappoint although none of these beauts were among the spectators. Giraffe and roaming antelope seemed unperturbed as the cyclists wound their way through the reserve.

The race included desert scapes of the Great Karoo, the mountains of the Little Karoo and forests of the Garden Route, proving why the Cape Pioneer Trek claims to "have it all".

Stage 6 of the event concludes today.

Fun facts
This year 13.3% of the cyclists were women.. The oldest male rider was 72-year-old Fred van Zyl and the youngest, the 19-year-old Keagan Bontekoning. The oldest woman participating is 62-year-old Aryna Edwards. Edwards celebrates her birthday today. The average age of participants this year is 43.

Grubby after Stage 1, #GondwanaGlory.