![\"ccs-62657-0-42054900-1445722616.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-42054900-1445722616.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Matthys Beukes (left) and Gert Heyns of SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 1 celebrate their overall victory at the end of Stage 6 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon<\/span><\/p>\nBeukes and Heyns won a total of three stages. Their combination of power and skill on Stage 3 from Oudtshoorn to De Rust, which they won comfortably, was the defining day for them. And a win on Stage 4 at the summit of the Swartberg Pass confirmed their superiority in a race that delivered tight podium battles daily.<\/p>\n
Stage 3 also proved the defining stage in the women\u2019s race when the powerful pairing of Suss and Williamson conceded their increasingly solid lead due to punctures. But a gritty Stage 4 effort saw them climb back into the lead with a stunning ascent of the Swartberg Pass.<\/p>\n
Philip Buys and Anro du Toit of SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 2 won the final stage, a 68km haul from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn to secure their third stage win of the seven-day event. Dylan Rebello and Thinus Redlinghuys of Team Jeep finished second for their best stage result of the week with the Dutch duo of Bram Rood and Mos Gerben (KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen) rounding out the podium places for the day.<\/p>\n Italian brothers Roberto and Emanuele Crisi (Celeste Kento Avvenia) were second in the overall race, 14:33 down on Beukes and Heyns, with Rood and Gerben rounding out an international podium blend.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race on Saturday, Suss and Williamson secured their fifth stage win to grab their first overall title by what is the closest ever victory margin in the women\u2019s division. After seven days and 541km of racing, their lead was a relatively slim 7min14sec over the Team Ascendis Health pairing of Robyn de Groot (RSA) and Jennie Stenerhag (SWE). South Africans Marlene Lourens and Desiree Loubser (Fair Cape) were third.<\/p>\n With six stage wins, including the final leg, South Africans Rob Sim and Doug Brown (Trek Robert Daniel) dominated the Veteran\u2019s category, while Waleed Baker and Joao Mendes (PitstopSport24hrs), stage winners on the final day, secured the Masters\u2019 crown with a measured consistency that saw them claim five stage wins.<\/p>\n The Mixed category saw Oudtshoorn residents Kobus and Fienie Barnard (Klein Karoo Mixed) claim a comfortable overall victory, neatly concluded with a win on the final stage, which finished in their home town. It was their sixth stage win of the event underlining their superiority in the division.<\/p>\n Lara-Ann Everts-Van de Venter made the Solo women\u2019s race her own, with four stage wins, while Craig Uria triumphed after a race-long battle in the competitive Solo men\u2019s category, securing victory on the final stage too.<\/p>\n A total of 78 two-rider teams and 27 solo competitors completed the seven-day race, which took place in mostly warm to hot, dry conditions and included some of the Western Cape\u2019s most dramatic landscapes, ranging from the beaches of Mossel Bay to the forests in George to the monstrous climb of the Swartberg Pass, which separates the Small Karoo and the Great Karoo semi-deserts.<\/p>\n Riders from 15 nations contested the event, which holds an International Cycling Union grading offering rankings points to the top 25 overall finishers in the men and women\u2019s team divisions, a useful boost for nations in their quest to secure Rio Olympic Games quota allocations.<\/p>\n For more information on the Cape Pioneer Trek, visit www.capepioneer.co.za<\/a> and for photo galleries, find Cape Pioneer Trek on Facebook.<\/p>\n Cape Pioneer Trek 2015<\/strong> Leading results<\/strong><\/p>\n Men:<\/strong> Women:<\/strong> Veteran men:<\/strong> Master men:<\/strong> Mixed:<\/strong> Solo men:<\/strong><\/a>Philip Buys (left) and Arno du Toit of SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 2 on their way to winning Stage 6 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Esther Suss (left) and Catherine Williamson celebrate winning the overall women’s race and Stage 6 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Riders descend beneath the red stone rock formations during Stage 6 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The leading riders get to grips with a tight left turn on Stage 6 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon<\/span><\/p>\n
Stage 6, 68km from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn<\/strong><\/p>\n
1 Philip Buys (RSA) \/ Arno du Toit (RSA) \u2013 SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 2 2:25:21
2 Dylan Rebello (RSA) \/ Thinus Redlinghuys (RSA) \u2013 Team Jeep 4:13:16
3 Bram Rood (NED) \/ Mos Gerben (NED) \u2013 KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen 2:27:25
4 Roberto Crisi (ITA) \/Emanuele Crisi (ITA) \u2013 Celeste Kento Avvenia 2:30:10
5 Erik Kleinhans (RSA) \/ Chris Wolhuter (RSA) \u2013 Asrin Pro Cycling 2:33:02<\/p>\n
1 Catherine Williamson (GBR) \/ Esther Suss (SUI) \u2013 Sasol Racing 2:44:25
2 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) \/ Robyn de Groot (RSA) \u2013 Ascendis Health 2:44:33
3 Marlene Lourens (RSA) \/ Desiree Loubser (RSA) \u2013 Fair Cape 3:29:18<\/p>\n
1 Rob Sim (RSA) \/ Doug Brown (RSA) \u2013 Trek Robert Daniel 2:38:21
2 Frank Schmaehling (GER) \/ Felix Prinz (GER) \u2013 Epic Fighters 2:44:15
3 Greg Anderson (RSA) \/ Deon Kruger (RSA) Bus Boys 2:47:44<\/p>\n
1 Joao Mendes (RSA) \/ Waleed Baker (RSA) \u2013 PitstopSport24hrs 2:52:10
2 Dirk Labuschagne (RSA) \/ Andre Taylor (RSA) \u2013 Rothwell-Risksolve 3:00:59
3 Anton Terblanche (RSA) \/ Hein Giliomee (RSA) \u2013 Seattle 3:03:15<\/p>\n
1 Fienie Barnard (RSA) \/ Kobus Barnard (RSA) \u2013 Klein Karoo Mixed 2:49:39
2 Monica Glover (RSA) \/ Danny Fowler (RSA) \u2013 The Bicycle Service Company 2:52:03
3 Dalene van der Leek (RSA) \/ Igna de Villiers (RSA) \u2013 Sasol Mixed 2:52:13<\/p>\n
1 Craig Uria (RSA) 2:34:07
2 Shane Daniel (RSA) 2:38:00
3 Raoul de Jongh (RSA) 2:38:31<\/p>\n