![\"ccs-62657-0-58185800-1413176099.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-58185800-1413176099.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Robyn de Groot (pictured) and Jennie Stenerhag won the women’s category at the 2014 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Sunday. \/\/ Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon\/Xtremedia.<\/span>\n<\/div>\nSweden\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and South Africa\u2019s Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota Cape Brewing Co.) secured the win in the women\u2019s category.<\/p>\n
The prologue time trial followed a fairly twisty 15.3km course around Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, an appropriate scene setter for the sixth edition of South Africa\u2019s newest UCI-graded mountain bike stage race.<\/p>\n
Starting fifth from last, Bohme and Stiebjahn clocked a time of 36 minutes 07 seconds, which turned out to be 19 seconds faster than South African stage favourites, Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes (SCOTT Factory Racing). South African marathon champion, James Reid and his Austrian teammate, Herman Persteiner (Asrin Cycling), rounded out the podium places for the event opener.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were actually going for a smooth stage and tried to limit our losses. We knew that SCOTT Factory Racing were the big favourites, as they know this course so well and they won this stage last year. It was a nice surprise!\u201d said a cheery Stiebjahn afterwards.<\/p>\n
After finishing third overall at the 2014 ABSA Cape Epic and enjoying good form in recent weeks, Bohme and Stiebjahn fancy their chances of overall victory at the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek and will incorporate that goal into their tactics from Stage 1.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Team Bulls riders, Simon Stiebjahn and Tim Bohme won the prologue at the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Sunday. \/\/ Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon\/Xtremedia.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\u201cIn mountain biking, nothing is certain. We will try and defend the Yellow Jersey from tomorrow for sure. There are another six hard days to come still, but we will make the most of every moment we can to keep the leader jerseys on our shoulders,\u201d added Stiebjahn.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s race, De Groot and Stenerhag, the national marathon champions of their respective countries, clocked a time of 44:45, also 19 seconds ahead of runners-up, Cherise Stander and Candice Neethling (#iride4burry). Former marathon world champion and Olympic medallist, Esther Suss (SUI) and Theresa Ralph (RSA), riding as Team Meerendal Wheeler 1, rounded out the podium places in 47:15.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat win was totally unexpected!\u201d remarked De Groot. \u201cWe really just wanted to ride a safe prologue more than anything else. To get the victory was a bonus and a good confidence booster for the rest of the race.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>James Reid and Herman Persteiner finished third in the prologue at the 2014 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Sunday. \/\/ Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon\/Xtremedia.<\/span>\n<\/div>\nIn the other team racing categories, South Africans Jaco Ferreira and Alexander Lamberts of Team Columbia Europcar Bridge were the top Amateurs; South Africans Kobus Barnard and Fienie Barnard (Klein Karoo Mixed) won the stage in the Mixed; Heinz Zorweg (AUT) and Bartie Bucher (SUI) of Team Meerendal Wheeler 2 were the top Masters and South Africans Johan Labuschagne and Gerrie Beukes of Team Klein Karoo Veterans, secured the Veteran men\u2019s win.<\/p>\n
In the Solo division, Travis Walker (RSA), Konny Looser (SUI) and Matthew Beers (RSA) were the top three men respectively, while Christine Janse van Rensburg (RSA), Gina Nixon (RSA) and Katja Cauwenbergh (BEL) where the top three women.<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s Stage 1 sees the riders tackle a distance of 100km with 1794m of ascent from Oudtshoorn to Calitzdorp.<\/p>\n
For more information on the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek, visit www.capepioneer.co.za<\/a>. For race updates, follow @BridgeCPT <\/a> on twitter and Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nPrologue time trial results:<\/h2>\n