Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

Insect Science’s Keagan Bontekoning (left) and Arno du Toit (right) celebrate their come from behind victory at the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Photo by Oakpics.com.

A dramatic final stage – on Saturday, 5 October – saw Insect Science race their way to victory on the day and overall, at the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen.

Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning put PYGA Euro Steel’s Jaedon Terlouw and Pieter du Toit under pressure, then drove home their advantage when the men who started the day endured an untimely puncture. In the women’s race the overnight leaders, Efficient Infiniti Insure, wrapped up their title in serene fashion with their fifth stage victory.

The 64 kilometre Stage 5 provided the terrain for an upset. “We saw a few years ago that anything can happen on the last stage,” Bontekoning had said earlier in the week. “We nearly won it on the last day, in 2022, when Imbuko punctured.”

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

Solo men’s category winner, Jordon Boshoff, taking flight on Stage 5. Photo by Oakpics.com.

This year pressure and a puncture played in Insect Science’s favour. “We pushed the tempo from early on and I went to the back of the group to see how PYGA [Euro Steel] were fairing,” Bontekoning explained. “Then out of nowhere Pieter [du Toit] punctured and we seized the opportunity. On the next descent I punctured too, so we didn’t know if they were right behind us. I couldn’t hear the time gap at the water point, so we had to go all in to the finish line.”

Pieter du Toit had been struggling with illness towards the end of the week and he was unable to counter the Insect Science attack after his puncture. “I was on the limit when I punctured, so I knew it was over as it happened,” he confessed. “Still, it was a great week racing with Jaedon. He’s a very talented rider and I think, along with Arno [du Toit] he was the strongest rider in the race this year.”

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

Arno du Toit (leading) put the PYGA Euro Steel team under pressure from the off, in the hope of forcing a mistake from the men in the yellow First Ascent leaders’ jerseys. Photo by Oakpics.com.

“Winning the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, alongside Keagan [Bontekoning] is very special,” Arno du Toit smiled. “It was his big goal for the year and has been a priority of ours as a team for the season too. We’ve come close twice before, so to take the title this year is very special.”

Arno du Toit and Bontekoning’s winning margin on the final stage was 5 minutes and 18 seconds over PYGA Euro Steel. This meant that Insect Science’s overall victory was achieved with a 4 minute and 1 second buffer. Valley Electrical Titan Racing were third on the stage, having looked good for a second-place finish until Rossouw Bekker’s saddle rattled loose. A trail side repair, consisting of a Biogen bidon serving as a make-shift saddle, allowed Bekker to ride to the Water Point 2 aid station. Though replacing the saddle cost him and Cronje Beukes a chance at their best result of the race.

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

The final stage was a hot and dusty affair, with the temperature reaching the mid-30’s. Photo by Oakpics.com.

The helter-skelter nature of the men’s race was offset by the calm conclusion to the women’s competition. Samantha Sanders and Danielle Strydom completed their clean sweep of stage wins with victory by nearly 5 minutes on the final stage. “I love this kind of riding,” Sanders emphasised. “The rocky terrain and heat don’t bother me at all, so I was looking forward to today’s stage. It’s great to wrap up the general classification with another stage win, especially for our sponsors. Both Liqui Moly and Biogen are partners of our team, Efficient Infiniti Insure, and Dryland Event Management. So, it’s nice to perform here. Being good ambassadors is obviously more important, but the result is a nice bonus.”

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

Stephanie Wohlters (leading) and Kelsey van Schoor, of Efficient Infiniti Pirtek, ensured a perfect week for the Efficient Infiniti Insure teams as they backed Sanders and Strydom up with five second place finishes. Photo by Oakpics.

Efficient Infiniti Insure’s week could not have been any better at the 2024 Race with Soul as Stephanie Wohlters and Kelsey van Schoor notched up five second place finishes on their way to second overall. “I thoroughly enjoyed every stage,” Van Schoor stated. “Stage 2 was particularly good, because I enjoy the climbing.”

The third placed team, of Ila Stow and Katie Lennard also climbed well throughout the race. “We had a few issues on Stage 1,” Stow reflected. “But we got into our rhythm on Stage 2 and rode nice and consistently for the rest of the race. It’s great racing with Katie [Lennard], she’s so consistent and we had a good week together.”

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

Samantha Sanders (leading) and Danielle Strydom (second wheel) were head and shoulders above the rest of the women’s field in the 2024 race. Photo by Jason Boulle.

Behind the podium places, the next three teams were closely matched. Nicola Freitas and Megan Scribante did enough on the first two stages to maintain fourth overall, despite finishing behind the First Ascent and SHEOVITA teams on Stages 3, 4 and 5. Tarryn Povey and Roxanne Kemp reduced the Science2Sport team’s advantage from 6 to just 3 minutes, but ran out of trail in which to overturn their deficit. Jessica Wilkinson and Rebecca van Huyssteen had to be content with sixth, just 2 minutes off the top five places.

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

Danielle Strydom (left) and Samantha Sanders (right) completed a perfect clean sweep of stage victories on their way to the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, title. Photo by Oakpics.com.

The conclusion of the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, does not mark the end of Dryland Event Management’s bicycle racing calendar. On the 19th of October the Klein Karoo will host the third edition of the Prince George, Monumental 100 Miler. The 2024 edition starts in Prince Albert, on the norther side of the Swartberg Mountains and finishes in Louvain, the host venue for Stage 2’s finish. To find out more visit www.princegeorge.co.za.

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

After two years of near misses and runner’s up finishes the Insect Science team completed their Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, goal. Photo by Jason Boulle.

Mountain biking fans wishing to recap on the 2024 race can do so on the event’s social media handles. Like the Cape Pioneer Facebook page or follow @capepioneer on Instagram. The Instagram story highlights contain the daily live updates, which serve as a reminder why the event earned its nickname: the Race with Soul.

Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, Men’s General Classification Podium (from left to right): Cronje Beukes, Rossouw Bekker, Keagan Bontekoning, Arno du Toit, Jaedon Terlouw, and Pieter du Toit. Photo by Oakpics.com.

2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen:

Men’s Stage 5 Results:

  1. Insect Science Cycling: Arno Du Toit & Keagan Bontekoning (2:21:42)
  2. PYGA Euro Steel: Pieter Du Toit & Jaedon Terlouw (2:27:35 | +5:18)
  3. Valley Electrical Titan Racing: Rossouw Bekker & Cronje Beukes (2:28:01 | +6:19)
  4. Team ACT: Pieter Korkie & Keegan Tullis (2:30:04 | +8:22)
  5. Insect Science Cycling 2: Alan Gordon & Jan Withaar (2:30:47 | +9:05)
Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer

2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, Women’s General Classification Podium (from left to right): Ila Stow, Katie Lennard, Samantha Sanders, Danielle Strydom, Kelsey van Schoor, and Stephanie Wohlters. Photo by Oakpics.com.

Women’s Stage 5 Results:

  1. Efficient Infiniti Insurance: Danielle Strydom & Samantha Sanders (2:58:13)
  2. Efficient Infiniti Pirtek: Stephanie Wohlters & Kelsey van Schoor (3:02:50 | +4:57)
  3. Fortress Real Estate Investments: Ila Stow & Katie Lennard (3:04:53 | +6:40)
  4. First Ascent: Tarryn Povey & Roxanne Kemp (3:06:55 | +8:42)
  5. SHEOVITA: Jessica Wilkinson & Rebecca van Huyssteen (3:07:45 | +9:32)

Men’s General Classification after Stage 5:

  1. ⁠ Insect Science Cycling: Arno Du Toit & Keagan (15:16:41)
  2. Bontekoning PYGA Euro Steel: Pieter Du Toit & Jaedon Terlouw ⁠ (15:21:42 | +4:01)
  3. Valley Electrical Titan Racing: Rossouw Bekker & Cronje Beukes (15:32:24 | +15:43)
  4. ⁠Imbuko: Rudi Koen & Lood Goosen (15:46:01 | +29:20)
  5. Team ACT: Keegan Tullis & Pieter Korkie (15:49:34 I +32:53)

Women’s General Classification after Stage 5:

  1. Efficient Infiniti Insurance: Danielle Strydom & Samantha Sanders (19:04:12)
  2. Efficient Infiniti Pirtek: Stephanie Wohlters & Kelsey van Schoor (20:03:14 | +59:02)
  3. Fortress Real Estate Investments: Ila Stow & Katie Lennard (20:35:36 | +1:31:24)
  4. Science2Sport: Megan Scribante & Nicola Freitas (21:08:33 | +2:04:21)
  5. First Ascent: Tarryn Povey & Roxanne Kemp (21:11:50 | +2:07:38)

For the full results from the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, click here. For more information visit www.capepioneer.co.za.