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<\/a><\/p>\nTimo Cooper stormed to a dominant victory in the Solo men’s category and extended his lead overall after Stage 2 of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The riders, who hail from Europe, Great Britain, Australia and Southern Africa, tackled the event\u2019s queen stage with a sense of caution. Just 85km in distance, the third day of racing required they climb a total of 2 760 vertical metres, mostly over the rough terrain characteristic of the semi-arid Karoo region.<\/p>\n The final climb to the mountain top finish took in the 12km long Swartberg Pass, a dramatic twisty gravel road that climbs at a relentless gradient for a total of 1 100 metres.<\/p>\n The early part of Stage 2 saw the leading riders stick together before the major climbs splintered the field on Day 3 of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cObviously the prizemoney was a good motivator today, but we\u2019re always going to give our best in every stage we race. Frustratingly, what we earned today was a fraction of what professional golfers earn but kudos to the organisers and sponsors for upping the ante in mountain bike stage racing,\u201d said George.<\/p>\n George and Evans must finish the event and score a minimum number of points (awarded to the top five teams on each stage) in order to qualify for the handover of the generous stage prizemoney put up by title sponsor Bridge, a financial solutions company, when the event ends on Saturday.<\/p>\n Dutch riders Mattijs Eversdijk (front) and Liwald Doornbos (Cube Nutswerk 2) finished fourth overall on the stage and moved up to fifth position in the General Classification of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A lead group of 15 riders developed early on but at 30km into the 85km stage, Evans and George began to increase the pressure and moved into the lead on their own. They extended their lead by the finish to almost nine minutes and will go into the remainder of the seven-day tour with a margin of 10:39 over Swanepoel and Beukes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted a buffer just in case of mishaps so pushed from far out for the win. It was a challenging stage for sure with some technical ascents and descents and a lot of climbing. We are one of the few top teams in the race on full-suspension bikes which really has been to our advantage,\u201d added George.<\/p>\n Germans Max Fridrich and Nadine Rieder (Ergon 24H Racing Team) claimed victory in the Mixed category, while the Swiss team of Barti Bucher and Ernst Engeli (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) won the stage and extended their lead in the Masters division.<\/p>\n David George and Kevin Evans (Nedbank 360Life) negotiate one of the many turns on the Swartberg Pass during Stage 2 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race. They won the stage and collected a generous prize purse of R100 000 (US$ 12 000). They took at total of 44 minutes to ascend the formidable 12km\/1100m climb.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The South African-German pairing of Robert Sim and Nico Pfitzenmaier made up for time lost on Stage 1 with an impressive fifth place overall on Tuesday to reclaim their lead in the very competitive Veteran category. Timo Cooper and Desiree Loubser claimed the stage honours in the Solo men and women\u2019s categories respectively and lead those divisions overall.<\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s Stage 3 takes in a 109km route from Prince Albert, through the Karoo to De Rust, climbing a total of 1 555 metres and ending with the famous 8km singletrack descent into Meiringspoort.<\/p>\n Cheered by local school children, race leaders Kevin Evans (nearest camera) and David George (Nedbank 360Life) lead the field off the start line for Stage 2 of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Regular race updates are posted on twitter @BridgeCPT as well as daily photo galleries on Facebook \u2013 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012. There’s a daily race summary and information on the event website \u2013 www.capepioneer.co.za<\/a> as well as find fresh, insightful updates on the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek blog: http:\/\/blog.capepioneer.co.za\/<\/a><\/p>\n Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n Stage 2 \u2013 Calitzdorp to Swartberg Pass<\/strong><\/p>\n 85km; 2 760 metres ascent<\/strong><\/p>\n Leading results<\/strong><\/p>\n Open Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Kevin Evans \u2013 RSA \/ David George \u2013 RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 03hr 54min 15sec<\/p>\n 2 Matthys Beukes \u2013 RSA \/ Melt Swanepoel \u2013 RSA (Cango MTB.com) 04:03:07<\/p>\n 3 Nico Bell \u2013 RSA \/ Gawie Combrinck \u2013 RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 04:14:41<\/p>\n 4 Mattijs Eversdijk \u2013 NED \/ Liwald Doornbos \u2013 NED (Cube Nutswerk 2) 04:24:25<\/p>\n 5 Chris Wolhuter \u2013 RSA \/ Oliver Munnik \u2013 RSA (Asrin Cycling) 04:25:28<\/p>\n Women:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Ischen Stopforth \u2013 RSA \/ Catherine Williamson \u2013 GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 04:51:34<\/p>\n 2 Yolande de Villiers \u2013 RSA \/ Yolande Speedy \u2013 RSA (Klein Karoo Chicks) 05:02:32<\/p>\n 3 Sarah van Heerden \u2013 RSA \/ Jackie Church \u2013 RSA (Wilde 2) 05:23:13<\/p>\n Mixed:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Max Fridrich \u2013 GER \/ Nadine Rieder \u2013 GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 04:37:45<\/p>\n 2 Kathrin Stirnemann \u2013 SUI \/ Sandro Soncin \u2013 SUI (BH \u2013 Halbike \u2013 Tigers) 04:45:14<\/p>\n 3 Craig Gerber \u2013 RSA \/ Jennie Stenerhag \u2013 SWE (Newlinesport) 04:51:32<\/p>\n Veteran:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Robert Sim \u2013 RSA \/ Nico Pfitzenmaier \u2013 GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 04:25:02 <\/p>\n 2 Micha de Vries \u2013 NED \/Willem van Heerdt \u2013 NED (Cube Nutswerk 1) 04:49:05<\/p>\n 3 Rex Benson \u2013 RSA \/ Mark Langman \u2013 RSA (Bridge USN) 04:54:59<\/p>\n Masters:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Barti Bucher \u2013 SUI \/ Ernst Engeli \u2013 SUI (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) 04:29:57<\/p>\n 2 Neville Ackermann \u2013 RSA \/ Charles Nienaber \u2013 RSA (Bridge Masters) 05:13:26<\/p>\n 3 Tony Conlon \u2013 RSA \/ Peter Stopforth \u2013 RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 05:29:41<\/p>\n Solo Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Timo Cooper \u2013 RSA 04:13:58<\/p>\n 2 Heinz Zoerweb \u2013 AUT 04:15:46<\/p>\n 3 Petrus Malherbe \u2013 RSA 04:24:50<\/p>\n Solo Women:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Desiree Loubser \u2013 RSA 05:42:34<\/p>\n 2 Diana Carolin \u2013 RSA 05:46:14<\/p>\n 3 Dianna Ineman \u2013 SUI 06:07:29<\/p>\n General Classification after Stage 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Open Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Kevin Evans \u2013 RSA \/ David George \u2013 RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 08hr 24min 20sec<\/p>\n 2 Matthys Beukes \u2013 RSA \/ Melt Swanepoel \u2013 RSA (Cango MTB.com) 08:35:19<\/p>\n 3 Nico Bell \u2013 RSA \/ Gawie Combrinck \u2013 RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 08:47:08<\/p>\n 4 Chris Wolhuter \u2013 RSA \/ Oliver Munnik \u2013 RSA (Asrin Cycling) 09:09:44<\/p>\n 5 Mattijs Eversdijk \u2013 NED \/ Liwald Doornbos \u2013 NED (Cube Nutswerk 2) 09:31:53<\/p>\n Women:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Ischen Stopforth \u2013 RSA \/ Catherine Williamson \u2013 GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 10:11:44<\/p>\n 2 Yolande de Villiers \u2013 RSA \/ Yolande Speedy \u2013 RSA (Klein Karoo Chicks) 10:31:12<\/p>\n 3 Sarah van Heerden \u2013 RSA \/ Jackie Church \u2013 RSA (Wilde 2) 11:10:09<\/p>\n Mixed:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Max Fridrich \u2013 GER \/ Nadine Rieder \u2013 GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 09:37:06<\/p>\n 2 Kathrin Stirnemann \u2013 SUI \/ Sandro Soncin \u2013 SUI (BH \u2013 Halbike \u2013 Tigers) 09:50:23<\/p>\n 3 Craig Gerber \u2013 RSA \/ Jennie Stenerhag \u2013 SWE (Newlinesport) 10:03:17<\/p>\n Veteran:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Robert Sim \u2013 RSA \/ Nico Pfitzenmaier \u2013 GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 09:35:42 <\/p>\n 2 Micha de Vries – NED \/Willem van Heerdt \u2013 NED (Cube Nutswerk 1) 09:42:51<\/p>\n 3 Rex Benson \u2013 RSA \/ Mark Langman \u2013 RSA (Bridge USN) 10:08:51<\/p>\n Masters:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Barti Bucher \u2013 SUI \/ Ernst Engeli \u2013 SUI (Bix-Sherpa Tensing Pedalerie) 09:31:30<\/p>\n 2 Neville Ackermann \u2013 RSA \/ Charles Nienaber \u2013 RSA (Bridge Masters) 10:21:36<\/p>\n 3 Tony Conlon \u2013 RSA \/ Peter Stopforth \u2013 RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 11:16:51<\/p>\n Solo Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Timo Cooper \u2013 RSA 04:43:3<\/p>\n 2 Petrus Malherbe \u2013 RSA 04:52:11<\/p>\n 3 Jonathan Wallace \u2013 RSA 05:06:10<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n