![\"ccs-62657-0-34673000-1540142646.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-34673000-1540142646.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The impressive victory from Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys at the 2018 Cape Pioneer Trek. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\nAfter six spectacular stages and 530 km\u2019s in the saddle, Team Pyga Euro Steel\u2019s Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys stormed to victory at the 10th edition of the Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen.<\/p>\n
It was a first-time win as a team for South Africa\u2019s mountain biking giants. Buys enthused, \u201cIt feels so good to be back to racing form! I haven\u2019t done a serious stage race in ages, and was quickly reminded of how sore the legs get from competing at this level! I\u2019ve never won this event before – it\u2019s all been incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beukes, who grew up in Oudtshoorn, is a familiar favourite at the iconic event. With high-priority races like the ABSA Cape Epic coming up, he explained, \u201cI know these trails really well. We get to encounter some tough terrain out there that put our bikes and bodies to the test. This race is really good preparation for the major events on our international racing calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n
The highly competitive Team Spur Specialized made it a heart-fought win for Buys and Beukes.<\/p>\n After his 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen victory, Alan Hatherly teamed up with Denmark\u2019s Simon Andreassen with a strong drive to defend the coveted title.<\/p>\n After a week of fighting tooth and nail, Hatherly, Andreassen, Beukes and Buys set off for the final 64km stage through Chandelier Game Reserve.<\/p>\n With the brutal Klein Karoo terrain to conquer, a puncture or mechanical could have ended the race for either team. Caution was thrown the wind, however, as they threw down the gauntlet and engaged in a head-to-head battle with the hope of forcing a mistake from their competitors.<\/p>\n It was Hatherly who actually crossed the finish line first, but with Beukes and Buys only seconds behind him, Pyga Euro Steel secured the victory overall.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving such tight competition was great! It\u2019s 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,\u201d said Buys.<\/p>\n Taking the final spot on the podium was NAD MTB\u2019s Matt Beers and Gawie Combrinck.<\/p>\n<\/a>A very attentive Beukes keeping a close eye on proceedings during yet another climb in Chandelier. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n