![\"ccs-62657-0-24137400-1476990108.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-24137400-1476990108.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Encounters with wildlife continued as the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race moved into the Karoo region during Stage 4 on Wednesday. Photo credit: www.zcmc.co.za.<\/span><\/p>\nDay 5 of the race took riders on a 94km leg from the lush green forests of George to the hot, dry Karoo region and the finish in Oudtshoorn. The mercury was in the high 30s, adding a further challenge to the riders who were also faced with unforgiving, rough terrain that saw numerous riders suffer tyre problems, including the leaders in three categories \u2013 Men, Women and Mixed.<\/p>\n
Kleinhans and Beers (Full Sus\/Topeak Ergon\/Red-E), clearly the strongest team in the race on Thursday, clocked a winning time of 03 hours 23 minutes 35 seconds. They were followed home 2:39 later by the Swiss\/German pair of Konny Looser and Daniel Gathof, who out-dashed Team Spur\u2019s James Reid and Julian Jessop for the runner-up spot.<\/p>\n
Combrinck and Bell (NAD Pro) finished 7:16 down, leaving a noticeable dent in the 10-plus-minute lead they held at the start of the day. They still hold a relatively comfortable 8:05 gap over second-placed Looser and Gathof, with the Dutch pairing of Erik Groen and Jeroen Boelen (Stappenbelt Specialized) at 10:39 back in third.<\/p>\n After leading the race on Day 1, Kleinhans and Beers dropped well down on Day 2 due to Kleinhans suffering with illness. Kleinhans is clearly back to full health but they\u2019re still too far down on time to be a threat to the overall podium. However, their aggression is certainly adding pressure to the other teams, which is making for an exciting contest at the sharp end and could still see a further shake up in the podium dice over the final two days.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo days ago the sealant in our tyres wasn\u2019t doing its job and we had to stop and plug small holes. Today was a different story. The rough terrain through the Chandelier Reserve saw Gawie smack something, which resulted in a small cut. We repaired it, but it the tyre lost pressure and he damaged it again. We didn\u2019t panic though. We have quite a decent buffer and didn\u2019t overextend ourselves today. We still feel good for the last two days,\u201d smiled Bell.<\/p>\n \u201cAt about 60km, as we turned off the gravel road onto a rough farm road, Erik just laid down the hammer. I was a bit shocked. What is he doing? I thought. There\u2019s more than 30km to go still!\u201d explained Beers afterwards.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I just had to go with him. It was a complete gamble, but it paid off. Erik\u2019s racing experience and knowledge of this event put us at an advantage for sure. We didn\u2019t know there was all that mechanical carnage happening behind us, so we just kept focussed on staying steady and holding everyone off. It was a bit upsetting that we lost so much time on Day 2, but that\u2019s racing and now we are just making the most of what\u2019s on offer,\u201d concluded Beers.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race, Mariske Strauss and Cherie Redecker (OMX Pro) recorded their fifth stage win, but it required the repair \u2013 and subsequent replacement \u2013 of Strauss\u2019s tyre to get them across the finish line. They still hold a significant lead over stage runners-up, Catherine Williamson and Leana de Jager (Klein Karoo Ladies).<\/p>\n<\/a>Competitors climbed over the Outeniqua Mountains via the iconic Montagu Pass during Stage 4 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race in South Africa on Thursday. Photo credit: www.zcmc.co.za.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Encounters with wildlife continued as the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race moved into the Karoo region during Stage 4 on Wednesday. Photo credit: www.zcmc.co.za.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Stage 4 of the Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race took competitors to Oudtshoorn via the semi-arid lands of the Karoo on Thursday. Photo credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n