Chandelier finale at Cape Pioneer Trek
The final stage of the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen was a loop through the Chandelier Game Reserve outside Oudtshoorn. For the last time, we rustled around in our tents, wriggling into lycra, looking for clean socks, and applying suncream before dragging ourselves and our bikes to the start line. Photo […]
Dust, sweat and the Swartberg Showdown at Cape Pioneer Trek
Today was the queen stage of the 2017 Cape Pioneer Trek with a mountain top finish on the renowned Swartberg Pass. Morning routines are serious business. Photo credit: Oakpics.co.za And what a stage it was. The profile was too terrifying to comprehend. Over 90 kilometres, with the mammoth climb up the Swartberg Pass in the […]
Montagu momentum at Cape Pioneer Trek
The fifth stage of Cape Pioneer Trek took us from George to Oudtshoorn via Montagu Pass. Once again, the day started with a neutral zone to navigate riders safely through the George morning traffic to the start of the pass. While getting dropped by the bunch in the neutral zone, I had a moment of […]
Saasveld shennanigans at Cape Pioneer Trek
The fourth stage of Cape Pioneer Trek was a 31 kilometre team time trial through the Saasveld forest around George with teams starting two minutes apart. To our great relief, this meant a sleep in and a welcome chance to catch up on some admin as we were only starting after nine. Photo credit: Oakpics.co.za […]
Conquering the Outeniqua mud at Cape Pioneer Trek
Stage three got off to a subdued start. High winds and rain during the night meant that those of us in tents had at best fitful sleep. When I looked out in the morning flyaway tents were littered about the field, one even neatly placed on top of Ila Stow’s tent, where she was still […]
Drafty Diaz at Cape Pioneer Trek
The start of stage two of the Cape Pioneer Trek heads directly into a searing, steep tar climb, from the Milkwood Primary School alongside the sea in Mossel Bay, to the top of the ridge overlooking the bay. Not unexpectedly, this tore the midpack we ride amongst apart. And set the tone for the rest […]
Gondwana gallivanting at Cape Pioneer Trek
The first stage of Cape Pioneer Trek was preceded by ominously heavy rainfall. Just ten minutes before the start it was bucketing down, and showing no signs of clearing. Miraculously, as we were called to the line, the clouds lifted, leaving us with perfect, cool conditions for the rest of the day. Riders in the […]