{"id":16353,"date":"2017-10-21T18:10:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-21T17:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2017\/10\/21\/spurred-e-and-spurvalencia-win-the-2017-cape-pioneer-trek-r6936\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T06:22:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T06:22:08","slug":"spurred-e-and-spurvalencia-win-the-2017-cape-pioneer-trek-r6936","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/spurred-e-and-spurvalencia-win-the-2017-cape-pioneer-trek-r6936\/","title":{"rendered":"Spur\/Red-E and Spur\/Valencia win the 2017 Cape Pioneer Trek"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Spur\/Red-E and Spur\/Valencia teams of Alan Hatherly, Matt Beers, Ariane Luthi and Amy-Beth McDougall secured the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, titles on Saturday the 21st of October in the Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. Though both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s general classification champions were unable to win the final stage, surrendering stage victory to NAD Pro MTB and Ascendis Health, they still secured the overall victory by 1 minute 42 seconds and 1 minute 40 seconds respectively.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"w-full aspect-video\">\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mPgzyW5hVXo?feature=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The final stage of the race was a 64 kilometre long loop from Oudtshoorn, through the Chandelier Game Farm and back to the capital of the Klein Karoo. It featured 1 150 metres of climbing, most of which took place on a series of steep loose shale climbs in the game farm. The route was far from easy, despite its relatively short distance and in previous editions, the stage had caused general classification shake-ups with riders puncturing and haemorrhaging time as panic set in.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-52611600-1508608977.jpeg\" data-fileid=\"1073663\" data-fileext=\"jpeg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-fileid=\"1073663\" class=\"ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed\" alt=\"ccs-62657-0-52611600-1508608977.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-52611600-1508608977.jpeg\" title=\"\"><\/a><span class=\"italic text-sm text-slate-500 block mt-1 mb-4\">Alan Hatherly (left) and Matt Beers (right), of Team Spur\/Red-E, raced to victory with 6 stage wins at the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen. Photo by Hayden Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Once again the grand finale served up drama, this time it was pre-stage however as the third-placed women\u2019s team of Nicola Giliomee and Frankie du Toit were disqualified by the UCI commissaire for receiving outside assistance during stage 6. The Junto Ladies team had been forced to stop in the neutral zone to fix a broken valve stem. Team Spur mechanic JP Jacobs assisted Giliomee and du Toit in their repairs, as they were under the impression he could do so in the neutral zone, but the race commissaires ruled otherwise \u2013 evicting the third-placed team from the race.<\/p>\n<p>In the men\u2019s race there was fortunately no mechanical or rule infringement induced position changes on the general classification. In fact, the only major team to lose ground was the SPOT Africa combination of Timothy Hammond and Derrin Smith. Smith is a part-time mountain bike racer, fitting training in around his busy farming schedule, and the exertions of the week were clearly taking their toll. He and Hammond eventually finished in sixth position on the stage, but managed to hold off the KTM Pro Team who finished above them on the stage to retain fifth overall.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-31862300-1508609021.jpeg\" data-fileid=\"1073667\" data-fileext=\"jpeg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-fileid=\"1073667\" class=\"ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed\" alt=\"ccs-62657-0-31862300-1508609021.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-31862300-1508609021.jpeg\" title=\"\"><\/a><span class=\"italic text-sm text-slate-500 block mt-1 mb-4\">Gawie Combrinck attacks on a climb in Chandelier Game Farm in an final attempt to distance the Spur\/Red-E team of Matt Beers and Alan Hatherly. Photo by Hayden Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>At the front of the race Team Spur\/Red-E were keen to make the going tough for NAD Pro MTB. Hatherly and Beers took the fight to Nico Bell, Gawie Combrinck and the KMC Fruit to Go team of Bram Rood and Gerben Mos. \u201cWe stayed with them for the first fifteen kilometres or so and then they just went to hard\u201d Rood confessed. \u201cWe are happy with third place overall. The other teams are really strong so it\u2019s okay that we are the best of the rest,\u201d said the KMC rider.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe stage really suited me as it was either up or down, so there was no real advantage in drafting\u201d Hatherly said. \u201cAs the yellow jersey wearers the unwritten rule is that we do not have to set the pace, we can just defend our lead. But we love to race so we helped NAD animate the racing\u201d Beers elaborated. \u201cIt was pretty much full gas all day\u201d Combrinck confirmed. \u201cI really enjoyed the stage. I love this hard rocky riding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-64384200-1508608984.jpeg\" data-fileid=\"1073664\" data-fileext=\"jpeg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-fileid=\"1073664\" class=\"ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed\" alt=\"ccs-62657-0-64384200-1508608984.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-64384200-1508608984.jpeg\" title=\"\"><\/a><span class=\"italic text-sm text-slate-500 block mt-1 mb-4\">Gawie Combrinck celebrates NAD Pro MTB\u2019s first stage win of the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen. Photo by Hayden Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>With both NAD Pro and Spur\/Red-E driving the pace; the leading two teams flew through the final kilometres and entered Oudtshoorn together. Once again it came down to a sprint finish but this time Bell and Combrinck emerged victorious after both riders outmaneuvered Alan Hatherly ahead of the sharp final turn. NAD Pro claimed a consolation stage win, but the 2017 Cape Pioneer Trek title went to Spur\/Red-E; by 1 minute and 42 seconds, after seven days of racing.<\/p>\n<p>The women\u2019s race was also tightly contested on the final day with the Ascendis Health duo Robyn de Groot and Sabine Spitz racing to reel in the remaining 2 minute and 29 second deficit to Spur\/Valencia. Try as they might though they could not shake L\u00fcthi and McDougall; even a spectacular crash by L\u00fcthi, which left her with a saddle pointing skywards for the final ten kilometres. Though De Groot and Spitz crossed the finish line first, 49 seconds ahead of L\u00fcthi and McDougall the Swiss and South African paring had done enough to win the UCI women\u2019s competition by 1 minute and 40 seconds.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-40870300-1508608998.jpeg\" data-fileid=\"1073666\" data-fileext=\"jpeg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-fileid=\"1073666\" class=\"ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed\" alt=\"ccs-62657-0-40870300-1508608998.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-40870300-1508608998.jpeg\" title=\"\"><\/a><span class=\"italic text-sm text-slate-500 block mt-1 mb-4\">Amy-Beth McDougall (left) and Ariane L\u00fcthi (right) put in a defensive racing master class to hang on to their lead in the Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen. The pair eventually won by 1 minute and 40 seconds over Ascendis Health. Photo by Hayden Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>When asked if she dug deep to fight back from being physically and emotionally spent to rise to the level of her Ascendis Health rivals, to match the level of her partner L\u00fcthi, or to prove a point to herself McDougall responded: \u201cA bit of all of those really. I gave everything every day and finished completely broken after each stage. I started the next stage knowing I would have to give everything again. It was really tough but I think I have proved something to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-68327400-1508609045.jpeg\" data-fileid=\"1073669\" data-fileext=\"jpeg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-fileid=\"1073669\" class=\"ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed\" alt=\"ccs-62657-0-68327400-1508609045.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-68327400-1508609045.jpeg\" title=\"\"><\/a><span class=\"italic text-sm text-slate-500 block mt-1 mb-4\">Amy-Beth McDougall and Ariane Luthi celebrate their 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, title. Photo by Hayden Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In a category where both De Groot and McDougall suffered from injury or illness during the event, their ability to battle through the pain barrier to not just complete the stages but to compete at the highest level displayed once again the courage required to race as a professional mountain biker.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image\" href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-67442900-1508608991.jpeg\" data-fileid=\"1073665\" data-fileext=\"jpeg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-fileid=\"1073665\" class=\"ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed\" alt=\"ccs-62657-0-67442900-1508608991.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-67442900-1508608991.jpeg\" title=\"\"><\/a><span class=\"italic text-sm text-slate-500 block mt-1 mb-4\">Sabine Spitz (left) and Robyn de Groot (right) won the final stage of the Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen on Saturday the 21st of October. Photo bye Hayden Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>With the conclusion of the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, the mountain biking fans can relive the drama of the race for a final time with the daily highlight video. The stage 7 highlights can be viewed on the Cape Pioneer Trek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CapePioneerTrek\/?ref=br_rs\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a> page and the Dryland Event Management <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCxwuyVVCikX8joqyKjnAlFQ\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a> Channel from 20:00, Central African Time, on Saturday the 21<sup>st<\/sup> of October. For more information on Cape Pioneer Trek please visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.capepioneer.co.za\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">www.capepioneer.co.za<\/a>.21<\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-slate-100 p-5\">\n<strong>Results: 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>UCI Men | Stage 7<\/strong><br \/>1. NAD Pro MTB, Nico Bell &amp; Gawie Combrinck (2:25:03)<br \/>2. Team Spur\/RedE, Alan Hatherly &amp; Matthew Beers (2:25:05 | +00:02)<br \/>3. KMC Fruit to Go, Bram Rood &amp; Gerben Mos (2:31:39 | +06:36)<br \/>4. Kelly\u2019s Bikeranch Team, Jiri Krivanek &amp; Marek Rauchfuss (2:34:18 | +09:14)<br \/>5. KTM Pro, Moritz Bscherer &amp; Manuel Pliem (2:34:36 | + 09:32)<\/p>\n<p><strong>UCI Women | Stage 7<\/strong><br \/>1. Team Ascendis Health, Robyn de Groot &amp; Sabine Spitz (2:42:16)<br \/>2. Team Spur\/Valencia, Ariane Luthi &amp; Amy-Beth McDougall (2:43:06 | +00:49)<br \/>3. Team Cape Brewing Company, Ila Stow &amp; Marianne Bergli (3:15:41 | +33:24)<br \/>4. Team Bicycling, Jenna Borrill &amp; Tandy Kitching (3:23:37 | +41:20)<br \/>5. Anderson Transport, Louise Bezuidenhout &amp; Anneke Viljoen (3:32:41 | +50:24)<\/p>\n<p><strong>UCI Men | General Classification after Stage 7<\/strong><br \/>1. Team Spur\/RedE, Alan Hatherly &amp; Matthew Beers (21:52:57)<br \/>2. NAD Pro MTB, Nico Bell &amp; Gawie Combrinck (21:54:39 | +01:42)<br \/>3. KMC Fruit to Go, Bram Rood &amp; Gerben Mos (22:17:03 | +24:06)<br \/>4. Kellys Bikeranch Team, Jiri Krivanek &amp; Marek Rauchfuss (22:36:14 | +43:17)<br \/>5. SPOT Africa, Derrin Smith &amp; Timothy Hammond (22:51:43 | +58:45)<\/p>\n<p><strong>UCI Women | General Classification after Stage 7<\/strong><br \/>1. Team Spur\/Valencia, Ariane Luthi &amp; Amy-Beth McDougall (24:25:36)<br \/>2. Team Ascendis Health, Robyn de Groot &amp; Sabine Spitz (24:27:17 | +01:40)<br \/>3. Team Cape Brewing Company, Ila Stow &amp; Marianne Bergli (29:34:16 | +5:08:40)<br \/>4. Team Bicycling, Jenna Borrill &amp; Tandy Kitching (31:21:37 | +6:56:00)<br \/>5. Anderson Transport, Louise Bezuidenhout &amp; Anneke Viljoen (32:09:03 | +7:43:27)<\/p>\n<p>For all the results from the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen please click <a href=\"http:\/\/timing.mobii.com\/results\/CPT2017\/\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Spur\/Red-E and Spur\/Valencia teams of Alan Hatherly, Matt Beers, Ariane Luthi and Amy-Beth McDougall secured the 2017 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, titles on Saturday the 21st of October in the Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. Though both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s general classification champions were unable to win the final [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":33563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[134,893,304,30,155,483],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-16353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-alan-hatherly","tag-amy-beth-mcdougall","tag-ariane-luthi","tag-cape-pioneer-trek","tag-matt-beers","tag-team-spur"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16353"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=16353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}