![\"ccs-62657-0-82037900-1488733366.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-82037900-1488733366.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Photo credit: Sam Clark.<\/span><\/p>\nThe pace was hot right from the start with all the main protagonists represented in the front bunch of about eight riders. Beukes set the pace early, making his intentions clear, with the likes of Lourens Luus and David George, in the bunch with Grotts and Sauser.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthys threw in a really strong effort on probably the longest climb on the course,\u201d Grotts said. \u201cAfter that it was just him, Christoph and myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Grotts the trails rode dusty, but not overly loose. \u201cThese are the dustiest trails I\u2019ve ridden all year,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of rain in the States so the trails have been super tacky over there, and it was nice to slide around a bit today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grotts, Sauser and Beukes rode together through the spectacular singletrack trails of Knorhoek, and it was after the last spectator point \u2013 with less than 20 kilometres to go \u2013 that Beukes tried to break up the final big climb of the day. \u201cI went with him, counter-attacked and managed to get away,\u201d Grotts said. \u201cFrom there it was just a full on effort to the finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grotts stayed away with Sauser and Beukes finishing just over a minute back.<\/p>\n
If Grotts rode alone for the last part of the race, women\u2019s winner, Jennie Stenerhag (CBC\/\u00c5bro), spent all morning alone. Stenerhag led from start to finish to successfully defend her title ahead of the South African duo of Mariske Strauss and Cherie Redecker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a good start and was ahead of Mariske,\u201d commented a dusty Stenerhag after the finish. \u201cBut then at the second water point I heard I had only 30 seconds, so I realised I had to pace it a little bit,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter that I heard I had stretched the lead to two minutes and it stayed like that from there,\u201d Stenerhag said.<\/p>\n According to the Swede who now resides in South Africa, conditions were ideal for racing. \u201cIt was not too hot and not too dusty – a perfect day to make it two in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n 55km Men<\/strong> 55km Women <\/strong> 40km Men <\/strong><\/a>Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge Women’s winner Jennie Stenerhag. Photo credit: Ewald Sadie.<\/span><\/p>\nRace Results<\/h2>\n
1st: Howard Grotts (Specialized) 02:08:09
2nd: Christoph Sauser (Specialized) 02:09:20
3rd: Matthys Beukes (PYGA \/ Euro Steel) 02:09:21<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
1st: Jennie Stenerhag (CBC\/\u00c5bro) 02:26:20
2nd: Mariske Strauss (OMX) 02:29:37
3rd: Cherie Redecker 02:32:41<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
1st: Johann Trotzky 01:39:53
2nd: Joshua de Freitas 01:40:11
3rd: Thomas Hudson 01:43:33<\/p>\n