![\"ccs-62657-0-99807400-1445633616.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-99807400-1445633616.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Erik Kleinhans and Chris Wolhuter of Asrin Pro Cycling encounter a herd of Blesbok during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\nAfter having faced the disappointment of a puncture while leading Stage 2, the two South Africans were on mission for some reprieve on Friday\u2019s 108km stage, the penultimate of the 2015 edition of the race.<\/p>\n
They attacked at halfway and charged across the finish line in a time of 04 hours 11 minutes 00 seconds.It was the first stage won by a team outside the SCOTT Factory Racing LCB stable, which won all five previous stages, either via Philip Buys and Arno du Toit, or Matthys Beukes and Gert Heyns. Beukes and Heyns finished the stage fifth, but retained their overall lead going into the final day.<\/p>\n
The Dutch duo of 3 Bram Rood and Mos Gerben (KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen) finished second almost two minutes later after edging out the Italian pair of Robert and Emanuele Crisi (Celeste Kento Avvenia) in the finale.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s race, Esther Suss (SUI) and Catherine Williamson (GBR) claimed the stage win to extend their overall lead over stage runners-up, Robyn de Groot and Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) of Ascendis Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter having to deal with a puncture while looking good for a stage win on Tuesday, we decided to take a couple of days a bit easier and then try once more for a stage win. With the last day being so short, we decided today\u2019s stage was our best option,\u201d explained Kleinhans, a former multiple overall Cape Pioneer Trek winner.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the attractive cash prize on the summit of the first big climb we knew the other teams would be spending a lot of pennies early on. So we decided to climb steady and save ourselves a bit. We then rejoined the leaders just before halfway and went straight on the attack. Chris and I worked well together and managed to build a decent lead, which we then managed towards the end as we had a puncture, but nothing too serious like the other day,\u201d added Kleinhans.<\/p>\n Suss and Williamson used their superior climbing ability to gain an advantage on the first climb, the tough haul to the top of the Swartberg Pass. But their advantage wasn\u2019t significant as they crossed the summit less than a minute ahead of De Groot and Stenerhag. The Sasol Racing pair then gradually extended their lead but were constantly aware of the intense pressure being applied by the Ascendis Health team, producing the closest women\u2019s category contest in the race\u2019s history.<\/p>\n In the other categories, Rob Sim and Doug Brown (Trek Robert Daniel) won their fifth stage to retain their overall Veteran\u2019s division lead, while Joao Mendes and Waleed Baker (PitstopSport24hrs) claimed another stage win to extend their lead in the Masters race. The Mixed division saw Kobus and Fienie Barnard grab another stage victory and confirm their commanding overall lead.<\/p>\n The Solo men\u2019s race was once again a two-man battle with Craig Uria beating Richard Damant by just over two minutes to extend his lead going into the final day. The Solo women\u2019s race saw Carmen Andrews claim her first stage win, but the overall lead still stays with Lara-Ann Everts-Van de Venter.<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s final stage is relatively short 68km leg from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn. Dubbed #RedstoneReward, it climbs a total of 950 metros and includes newly built sections of singletrack designed to give participants one last challenge before they finish.<\/p>\n For more information on the Cape Pioneer Trek, visit www.capepioneer.co.za<\/a>. For race updates, follow @CapePioneerTrek on twitter and for photo galleries, like Cape Pioneer Trek on Facebook.<\/p>\n Cape Pioneer Trek 2015<\/strong> Men:<\/strong> Women:<\/strong> Veteran men:<\/strong> Master men:<\/strong> Mixed:<\/strong> Solo men:<\/strong><\/a>Esther Suss (left) and Catherine Williamson of Sasol Racing celebrate winning Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The chase group, including overall leaders Matthys Beukes and Gert Heyns (in yellow), during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Riders descend a section of the Swartberg Pass early on during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Erik Kleinhans and Chris Wolhuter of Asrin Pro Cycling descend the Swartberg Pass during Stage 5 of the Cape Pioneer Trek from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp, South Africa on Friday. Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\n
Stage 5, 108km from Prince Albert to Calitzdorp<\/strong>
Leading results<\/strong><\/p>\n
1 Erik Kleinhans (RSA) \/ Chris Wolhuter (RSA) \u2013 Asrin Pro Cycling 4:11:00
2 Bram Rood (NED) \/ Mos Gerben (NED) \u2013 KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga-Stauwdam Assen 4:12:51
3 Robert Crisi (ITA) \/Emanuele Crisi (ITA) \u2013 Celeste Kento Avvenia 4:12:55
4 Dylan Rebello (RSA) \/ Thinus Redlinghuys (RSA) \u2013 Team Jeep 4:13:16
5 Matthys Beukes (RSA) \/ Gert Heyns (RSA) \u2013 SCOTT Factory Racing LCB 1 4:13:16<\/p>\n
1 Catherine Williamson (GBR) \/ Esther Suss (SUI) \u2013 Sasol Racing 4:50:40
2 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) \/ Robyn de Groot (RSA) \u2013 Ascendis Health 4:55:19
3 Marlene Lourens (RSA) \/ Desiree Loubser (RSA) \u2013 Fair Cape 6:11:40<\/p>\n
1 Rob Sim (RSA) \/ Doug Brown (RSA) \u2013 Trek Robert Daniel 4:37:41
2 Leon Erasmus (RSA) \/ Bradley Hemphill (RSA) 4:55:57
3 Greg Anderson (RSA) \/ Deon Kruger (RSA) Bus Boys 5:00:02<\/p>\n
1 Joao Mendes (RSA) \/ Waleed Baker (RSA) \u2013 PitstopSport24hrs 5:15:14
2 Jozef de Meyer (BEL) \/ Renaat Verbeke (BEL) \u2013 L4 5:20:31
3 Dirk Labuschagne (RSA) \/ Andre Taylor (RSA) \u2013 Rothwell-Risksolve 5:36:03<\/p>\n
1 Fienie Barnard (RSA) \/ Kobus Barnard (RSA) \u2013 Klein Karoo Mixed 5:00:35
2 Dalene van der Leek (RSA) \/ Igna de Villiers (RSA) \u2013 Sasol Mixed 5:10:00
3 Katja Cauwenbergh (BEL) \/ Ken van den Bulke (BEL) \u2013 Topbike 5:12:43<\/p>\n
1 Craig Uria (RSA) 4:33:01
2 Richard Damant (RSA) 4:35:11
3 Raoul de Jongh (RSA) 4:40:46<\/p>\n