![\"ccs-62657-0-76218200-1518426319.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-76218200-1518426319.jpg\")
<\/a>The ASG-Ellsworth team of HB Kruger (left) and Stuart Marais celebrate with Eldorette Carinus of La Couronne Wine Estate after winning the UCI Elite men\u2019s category in the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\nIn today\u2019s stage, the French-German team of Antonin Marecaille and Julian Biefang (Chiru-Magura-Canyon) were second, followed by Hanco Kachelhoffer and Pieter Seyffert (Ellsworth-ASG).<\/p>\n
Kruger and Marais took the lead on the opening day and never looked back as they went about their business \u2013 completing the seven-day race in 19:32:36.<\/p>\n
In their debut in the race, they finished comfortably ahead of Eirik Fiskvik and Thomas Engelsgjerd of Norway (20:19:02) and Marecaille and Biefang (20:44:00).<\/p>\n
The Paarl-based Kruger said claiming the title in the 614km race was immensely satisfying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe came in with the big goal to win the race so we were very happy with the way it turned out,\u201d he said. \u201cGetting the stage wins were a bonus.<\/p>\n \u201cLuckily Stuart and I clicked well. We got a good partnership going and we really enjoyed riding together.\u201d<\/p>\n Kruger said the block of riding in the TransCape, which is supported by STANLIB and Volvo Cars, had fitted in perfectly with his programme for the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a different dynamic to the TransCape because it gives you an excellent test while preparing you for the other big events.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he would be competing in two road races \u2013 the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope and Cape Town Cycle Tour \u2013 before heading to the Cape Epic, all of which take place in March.<\/p>\n Marais, from Howick in KwaZulu-Natal, explained they had decided to go hard from the start of the ultimate stage, which set up their win.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was quite a lot of single-track and I went to the front from the beginning because I didn\u2019t want to get stuck behind on that section,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cActually, the single-track section was a bit further into the stage than I thought, but the three main teams did manage to break away.<\/p>\n \u201cUp a climb one of the Norwegian guys was not feeling great, so they dropped off.<\/p>\n \u201cWe rode with the French-German team and after the first water point HB went to the front and we managed to get away from them.\u201d<\/p>\n Marais, who concentrates on cross country racing, said he was now well set for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Stellenbosch in March.<\/p>\n \u201cI am trying to peak for the World Cup. I\u2019m looking forward to recovering from this and then to get in some speed work.\u201d<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s Udo Mueller said he had \u201ca fantastic week\u201d as he, too, led from the start to secure the solo men\u2019s title in 21:13:06.<\/p>\n He was followed home by Switzerland\u2019s Roland Mueller (21:35:20) and Conway Oliver (22:10:56).<\/p>\n The UCI Elite Women\u2019s title went to Pretoria riders Janine Muller and Mari du Toit (Oakley4), who finished in 27:14:29.<\/p>\n The mixed category was dominated by British star Catherine Williams \u2013 who successfully defended her title \u2013 and Belgian\u2019s Kristof de Neys for an overall time of 22:31:42.<\/p>\n Stage seven<\/strong><\/p>\n UCI Elite men<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>Stuart Marais (front) and ASG-Ellsworth partner HB Kruger (right) lead the bunch on the last day of the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Norwegian professionals Eirik Fiskvik (left) and Thomas Engelsgjerd were second overall in the UCI Elite category in the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter which ended today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Germany\u2019s Udo Mueller won the men\u2019s solo category in the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Pretoria riders Janine Muller (front) and Mari du Toit won the UCI Elite women\u2019s category in the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Britain\u2019s Catherine Williamson (left) and Belgian partner Kristof de Neys won the mixed category of the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter today. The 73km seventh and final stage of the 614km race started in Houwhoek and finished at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\nResults<\/h2>\n