![\"pioneers1_1.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-01975600-1350302277.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nKevin Evans (front) and David George of Nedbank 360Life won the prologue time trial stage through Buffelsdrift Game Reserve at the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race, 2011 winners, South African Ischen Stopforth and her British teammate, Catherine Williamson (Bridge bizhub Ladies), secured first place by just three seconds over the Klein Karoo Chicks pairing of Yolande de Villiers and Yolande Speedy.<\/p>\n The German team of Max Fridrich and Nadine Rieder (Ergon 24H Racing Team) claimed the opening stage win in the Mixed category; Robert Sim and Nico Pfitzenmaier (Robert Daniel Momsen) claimed fifth overall and first place in the Veteran division; and Swiss teammates, Barti Bucher and Ernst Engeli (Bixs-Sherpa Tensing Pedelarie) took the early lead in the Master category.<\/p>\n The solo men\u2019s division was won by Petrus Malherbe in 40:09 with 1 Diana Carolin (50:03) taking the solo women\u2019s race lead into Stage 1 on Monday.<\/p>\n A rider negotiates a rocky descent during the prologue time trial stage at the start of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race on Sunday.<\/em><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a challenging, but fun route. Rocky and loose with off-camber stuff, but a well thought out lap that wasn\u2019t too hard. Well done to Matthys for his handy work,\u201d said George, referring to stage runner-up Matthys Beukes who designed the prologue route, which runs through his family\u2019s property.<\/p>\n Starting last, most racers would ask for time splits on their rivals to give them an idea of how they\u2019re doing and whether they need to push harder, but George and Evans opted for the alternative.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just wanted to ride without taking too many chances, choosing smooth lines and being careful on the tricky stuff and then using as much power as possible to make up the difference where we could. Turns out it was a good tactic,\u201d smiled George.<\/p>\n Matthys Beukes gets a rare opportunity to race on the trails he built on his family’s land on his way to second place with Cango MTB.com teammate Melt Swanepoel in the prologue time trial stage of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race. <\/em><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/p>\n George and Evans secured a maximum 10 points for the stage win. Points will be accumulated during the event by the top daily finishers. These will be used to award the R100 000 ($US 12 000) prize up for grabs on the event\u2019s signature Stage 2. This is to discourage teams from only focussing on Stage 2 success.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great that the race was so close in the women\u2019s category today. Three seconds is a very slim lead and we\u2019re not going to get too caught up in defending it tomorrow. Stage racing is best taken one day at a time. Catherine and I will give it our best shot though and we look forward to an interesting race this week,\u201d said Stopforth.<\/p>\n Stage 1 on Monday takes the riders from Buffelspoort Game Lodge, Oudtshoorn over a distance of 103km with an elevation gain of 1 720 metres to the Calitzdorp High School in Calitzdorp. It promises to be a challenging route to set the tone for the remainder of the week.<\/p>\n Melt Swanepoel of Team Cango MTB.com crosses a wooden section of trail during the opening prologue time trial stage of the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek international mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/p>\n Photo credit: Karin Schermbrucker\/Slingshot Media <\/strong><\/p>\n Regular race updates will be posted on twitter @BridgeCPT and as well as daily photo galleries on Facebook \u2013 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 2012; and a daily race summary and information the event website \u2013 www.capepioneer.co.za<\/a>. Also expect 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 Leading results<\/strong><\/p>\n Open Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Kevin Evans \u2013 RSA \/ David George \u2013 RSA (Nedbank 360Life) 37min 08sec<\/p>\n 2 Matthys Beukes \u2013 RSA \/ Melt Swanepoel \u2013 RSA (Cango MTB.com) 37:32<\/p>\n 3 Louis Knipe \u2013 RSA \/ Craig Boyes \u2013 RSA (Contego 28E) 38:43<\/p>\n 4 Nico Bell \u2013 RSA \/ Gawie Combrinck \u2013 RSA (Westvaal Columbia) 38:54<\/p>\n 5 Chris Wolhuter \u2013 RSA \/ Oliver Munnik \u2013 RSA (Asrin Cycling) 39:51<\/p>\n Women:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Ischen Stopforth \u2013 RSA \/ Catherine Williamson \u2013 GBR (Bridge bizhub Ladies) 47:31<\/p>\n 2 Yolande de Villiers \u2013 RSA \/ Yolande Speedy \u2013 RSA (Klein Karoo Chicks) 47:34<\/p>\n 3 Sarah van Heerden \u2013 RSA \/ Jackie Church \u2013 RSA (Wilde 2) 49:18<\/p>\n Mixed:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Max Fridrich \u2013 GER \/ Nadine Rieder \u2013 GER (Ergon 24H Racing Team) 42:27<\/p>\n 2 Kathrin Stirnemann \u2013 SUI \/ Sandro Soncin \u2013 SUI (BH \u2013 Halbike \u2013 Tigers) 43:07<\/p>\n 3 Craig Gerber \u2013 RSA \/ Jennie Stenerhag \u2013 SWE (Newlinesport) 45:41<\/p>\n Veteran: <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Robert Sim \u2013 RSA \/ Nico Pfitzemaier \u2013 GER (Robert Daniel Momsen) 38:57<\/p>\n 2 Rex Benson \u2013 RSA \/Mark Langman \u2013 RSA (Bridge USN) 44:48<\/p>\n 3 Stehan Khunel \u2013 SUI \/ Marcel Frel \u2013 SUI (Farrad\u2013Schmidt Bike-Tigers) 46:06<\/p>\n Master:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Barti Bucher SUI \/ Ernst Engeli SUI (Bixs-Sherpa Tensing Pedelarie) 42:28<\/p>\n 2 Neville Ackermann \u2013 RSA \/ Charles Nienaber \u2013 RSA (Bridge Masters) 44:30<\/p>\n 3 Tony Conlon \u2013 RSA \/ Peter Stopforth \u2013 RSA (Marsilio Projects Masters) 46:34<\/p>\n Solo Men:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Petrus Malherbe \u2013 RSA 40:09<\/p>\n 2 Timo Cooper \u2013 RSA 40:37<\/p>\n 3 Heinz Zoerweg \u2013 AUT 40:51<\/p>\n Solo Women:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Diana Carolin \u2013 RSA 50:03<\/p>\n 2 Claudia Gmuer \u2013 SUI 54:04<\/p>\n 3 Elsie Bezuidenhout \u2013 RSA 55:38<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n