![\"pioneer1.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-93576700-1349420507.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThere’s a slight decrease in difficulty, but an almost 40% increase in entries over 2011 for the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Nick Muzik<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The international entries make up 25% of the total field, with Switzerland boasting almost half of the international representation and the second biggest nation entry after South Africa. The remaining nations represented are The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, Namibia and Austria.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very excited about the growing numbers, both in total and the international segment,\u201d said Henco Rademeyer of Dryland Events, the organisers. \u201cOur decision to tighten up the stages in terms of overall distance and difficulty is likely to ensure even bigger numbers in 2013, since the experience should be more memorable and attractive.\u201d<\/p>\n Erik Kleinhans pushes his wife Ariane up a steep climb on their way to overall Mixed category victory in 2011. The Mixed is one of seven categories at the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek mountain bike stage race.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Nick Muzik<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The difficulty of the race was increasing each year and the 2011 six-day event had a total of 659 kilometres with 12 670 metres of vertical ascent \u2013 a significant challenge, even for the professionals. But the organisers decided to take a new approach and focus instead on quality, not quantity. So the 2012 edition will take place over seven days with a total of 534km and 11 516m of vertical ascent.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the abundance of brutal terrain at our disposal, it\u2019s simple to make a race ridiculously hard. But there comes a tipping point where it starts to put the riders off. We decided less is more when it comes to the Cape Pioneer Trek and have revamped it to be more a race than a survival test,\u201d explained Rademeyer.<\/p>\n Swiss 2011 Marathon World Champion, Christoph Sauser and teammate Max Knox won four stages last year. Sauser’s participation in the first three editions has led to a large Swiss contingent entering the 2012 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Nick Muzik<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s still a quantity element in the race with Stage 2 offering a serious challenge and a substantial reward. The event\u2019s signature stage invites riders to climb a massive 2 760 metres in just 85 kilometres. The first team to the mountain top finish on the peaks of the Swartberg Pass will pocket R100 000 (US $12 000), the biggest stage win prizemoney for a mountain bike stage race anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n In addition to the Solo category, there is also a Masters category within the team division. This is for riders that are aged 50 and over, which is quite rare in stage racing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt requires a greater effort from a support perspective to offer a Solo category because as the race organisers, we need to keep track of the individual racers and ensure they\u2019re safe throughout each stage. With two-rider teams, each rider is aware of the safety of his\/her partner, which makes it a lot easier for the organisers,\u201d said Carel Herholdt of Dryland Events.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n