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<\/a><\/p>\nPhotographs from the finish line show the overwhelmed South African pair crossing the line as Schurter and Buys celebrate behind them with as much enthusiasm as they would a win for themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a really special day for sure,\u201d recalled Beukes. \u201cTo understand the emotion behind that win you must remember that stage in 2013 where Philip Buys and I were in a two-way sprint with (Spain\u2019s Jose) Hermida and (Dutchman Rudi) Van Houts for the win, but I couldn\u2019t find the power and lost the stage for us. To be back a year later and roll across the line with both our Scott teams in first and second was incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
That win lifted Beukes and Heyns to sixth overall and ensured that they took home the red Absa African special jersey \u2013 for the first team from the continent to finish the race. It was Beukes\u2019s second red jersey in two years and he was to add a third in 2015 when he rode to fifth overall with Buys.<\/p>\n
This year Beukes and Heyns will be reunited in Team SCOTT LCB Factory Racing and the former will no doubt be hoping to make it four red jerseys in four years.<\/p>\n But he is hoping to go even one better: \u201cWe are looking to step up from what we\u2019ve achieved over the past three years and, after being the top African team, we feel the next logic step is to go for an overall podium (top three). A couple of stage wins along the way would also be really cool,\u201d Beukes said.<\/p>\n Heyns added: \u201cWe would like to defend the Absa African jersey and try to finish high up on the General Classification as well: the possibility of an overall podium is definitely on our minds.\u201d<\/p>\n Does riding with a friend make a difference? \u201cYes. We\u2019re all good mates in the team and it helps the morale so much to have a good time on and off the bike,\u201d said Beukes. \u201cWe were both born on mountain bikes so, when it comes to the technical side, we\u2019re both fast riders. That helps a lot because we can either make up time or save energy on the rough stuff. When it comes to climbing we\u2019re also pretty evenly matched so basically our strengths are very similar.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n