Gallery Update
GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly won the first three stages of the Cape Pioneer Trek.
The race started at Milkwood Primary School in Mossel Bay on Sunday, 15 October. Hatherly and Beers, of Team Spur/Red-E, on Monday 16 October conquered the wind and rivals to again secure the stage victory while Ariane Lüthi and Amy-Beth McDougall, also secured back-to-back stage honours for Team Spur/Valencia, on stage two of the 2017 race.
The team of Hatherly and Beers again sprinted to victory in stage three of the race on Tuesday, when the "race village" consisting of many small tents for accommodation, moved from Milkwood Primary School in Mossel Bay, to George.
In this Momentum Health-sponsored event, the changed route for the 2017 Cape Pioneer Trek mountain bike stage race is longer, and features more climbing than the race in 2016.
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The 2017 race covers a total distance of 553km, 72km further than last year. Total vertical ascent is 11 420m. This is 1 030m more than in 2016.
The seven stages of the trek, presented by Biogen, feature two journey stages - from Mossel Bay to George and from George to Oudtshoorn - and five exploration stages, including a mid-race time trial at stage four and the queen stage at stage six.
The seven-day race features a time trial and a mountain top finish on the Swartberg Pass.
The race includes more time in the Mossel Bay area. In contrast to the 2016 race, this year does not feature a prologue.
The two stages in Mossel Bay proved very popular with the riders despite the headwind that battered them during stage two.
Team Spur's Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly proved a formidable combination when they won the first three stages of the Cape Pioneer Trek.
Monday's stage two was described by Henko Rademeyer, the race organiser, as the "easiest of the entire race".
Rademeyer told the Mossel Bay Advertiser he was extremely happy with the municipality and Milkwood Primary School's support of the race.
"These people went out of their way to make us feel welcome and to support the riders." He also thanked the municipal manager, "Advocate Thys Giliomee, for the sterling support of the municipal law enforcement officers throughout the race."
The riders whom the Advertiser interviewed, commended the marshalls and gave compliments on the scrumptious food they had along the route.
"The ostrich steak at water point three was so delicious. I could have cut it with a butter knife!"
Second stage
In a race far closer than the opening stage, Beers and Hatherly clocked a time of 3:02:17 after 71km.
NAD Pro's Nico Bell and Gawie Combrick followed right behind, six seconds back.
KMC FruittoGo's Bram Rood and Gerben Mos crossed the line two minutes later to take third place.
Spur Valencia's Ariane Luthi and Amy McDougall won the women's race, four minutes ahead of Ascendis Health's Sabine Spitz and Robyn de Groot.
Junto Ladies' Frankie du Toit and Nicky Giliomee filled the final step of the podium.
The mixed category saw Charles McFall and Carmen Buchacher take first place again as they finished in 3:21:00.
Joel Stransky and Yolande de Villiers improved on yesterday's result as they finished second, followed by Karen Brouwer and Ramses Bekkenk.
Tiaan Swart and Rentia Denissen won their respective solo categories.
After stage two the race participants bid Mossel Bay farewell, with many telling the Mossel Bay Advertiser they will be back next year.
The bikers set off on Tuesday on stage three, the first journey stage of the 2017 race. It took the riders 99 kilometres from Mossel Bay to George along the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains, along district and forest roads.
2017 Route details
Stage 1: Mossel Bay to Mossel Bay: 96km, 1 650m ascent
Stage 2: Mossel Bay to Mossel Bay: 71km, 1 550m ascent
Stage 3: Mossel Bay to George: 99km, 2 000m ascent
Stage 4: George to George: 31km, 720m ascent
Stage 5: George to Oudtshoorn: 97km, 1 650m ascent
Stage 6: Oudtshoorn to Swartberg Pass: 95km, 2 700m ascent
Stage 7: Chandelier Game Reserve to Oudtshoorn: 64km, 1 150m ascent
Read a previous article: Cape Pioneer Trek: Mossel Bay to George
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER NEWS EDITOR
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