Pieter du Toit (left) and Jaedon Terlouw (right) won the opening stage of the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Photo by Oakpics.com.
Stage 1 of the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, was raced under cloudy skies on Tuesday, 1 October, on the tracks and trails of the Outeniqua Mountain above George.
The opening day was a fiercely contested affair in the men’s race with PYGA Euro Steel winning out after seizing an opportunity during a lull in action, in the final kilometre. For Efficient Infiniti Insurance the margin of victory was more commanding, having distanced their rivals for stage honours within the first 20 kilometres of the 56-kilometre-long course.
The first stage was a deceptive one. It appeared short and possibly even easy on paper, but in reality, it was anything but. Sharp climbs and rooty, wet, descents made for challenging conditions. Samantha Sanders was among the many who lost their grip and fell during the stage, but the Efficient Infiniti Insurance rider was unhurt by either of the two tumbles she took.
Pieter du Toit (leading) and Jaedon Terlouw exercised remarkable patience on their way to stage victory. Photo by Oakpics.com.
“It was quite wet, but still such a beautiful day out there,” Sanders smiled after completing the stage win. “The conditions kept you on your toes and you had to be careful not to overcook it, but it was amazing and so beautiful. It was good that we were able to build a buffer today, but our main goal going into the stage was just to keep it safe, with a week of racing to come.”
Thabiso Rengane (leading) and Zola Ngxakeni, of Tshenolo Pro Cycling Team 1, scaling one of the many steep climbs of Stage 1. Photo by Oakpics.com.
Sanders and Danielle Strydom had managed to slip off the front of the women’s group within the first 20 kilometres. Their lead was increased by misfortune behind them as Sarah Hill and Aurelie Halbwachs had to turn around and return to Water Point 1.
Halbwachs’ seatpost broke during the stage and despite riding back to the neutral mechanics at the aid station the Complete Cyclists team was unable to repair the damage. The Mauritian thus withdrew from the race, leaving Hill to continue alone.
Danielle Strydom (leading) and Samantha Sanders (following) stormed to stage victory and into the first pink, First Ascent, leaders’ jerseys of the five-day race. Photo by Oakpics.com.
Kelsey van Schoor and Stephanie Wohlters had ridden their way into second on the trails already and continued strongly, securing the second step of the podium behind their teammates, Sanders and Strydom. Sanchia Malan and Hayley Smith were third on the day, ahead of the Fortress Real Estate Investments and Science2Sport teams.
In the men’s race Pieter du Toit and Jaedon Terlouw were the most patient of the stage’s main protagonists. The PYGA Euro Steel team joined an elite front group, which also included the Insect Science and Imbuko Toyota Specialized teams. Terlouw explained that he was happy to let the others set the tempo. “I just didn’t really feel the need to fight for the singletracks today,” the PYGA Euro Steel man smiled. “It might be different tomorrow, but today I was happy for the others to lead and to give them a bit of a gap.”
This clearly paid dividends as Johan van Zyl and Arno du Toit did the lion’s share of the pace making for the Imbuko Toyota Specialized and Insect Science teams. Their efforts were enough to distance Valley Electrical Titan Racing and the rest of the chasers, but they could not split the top three teams. With three squads entering the final kilometre together a sprint finish seemed inevitable.
A lull in the pace on the streets leading back to the race village allowed Terlouw and Pieter du Toit to attack from the back of the group. “We had to slow slightly as we came into town and when we sped up the PYGA [Euro Steel] guys came flying by,” Arno du Toit explained. “They got a flier and we couldn’t close them back down.”
Roxy Kemp, of team First Ascent, in action in the Saasveld singletracks of George. Photo by Oakpics.com.
The move allowed the day’s victors to seize a handy 9 second advantage over Van Zyl and Wessel Botha, with Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning 3 seconds further back. Rossouw Bekker and Cronje Beukes were next over the line, in fourth, with the impromptu combination of Herman Fourie and Julian Jessop in fifth.
Stephanie Wohlters secured second on the day, alongside Kelsey van Schoor. Photo by Oakpics.com.
The results set up a fascinating Stage 2 as the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, crosses the Outeniqua to Louvain. Taking on a new route the course will head east towards Wilderness before utilising an old waggon trail crossing of the mountains into the Langkloof. The second day of the event features a 73.5 kilometre long route with 2 350 metres of climbing.
To follow the action, from the Denneoord Primary School, in George, to Louvain, in the Langkloof, like the Cape Pioneer Facebook page or follow @capepioneer on Instagram. For more information visit www.capepioneer.co.za.
2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen:
Men’s Stage 1 Results:
- PYGA Euro Steel: Pieter Du Toit & Jaedon Terlouw (2:34:47)
- Imbuko Toyota Specialized: Johan Van Zyl & Wessel Botha (2:34:56 | +9)
- Insect Science Cycling: Arno Du Toit & Keagan Bontekoning (2:34:59 | +12)
- Valley Electrical Titan Racing: Rossouw Bekker & Cronje Beukes (2:38:19 | +3:32)
- Valley Electrical Insect Science: Herman Fourie & Julian Jessop (2:41:43 | +6:56)
Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, Men’s Stage 1 Podium (from left to right): Johan van Zyl, Wessel Botha, Jaedon Terlouw, Pieter du Toit, Keagan Bontekoning and Arno du Toit. Photo by Oakpics.com.
Women’s Stage 1 Results:
- Efficient Infiniti Insurance: Danielle Strydom & Samantha Sanders (3:15:29)
- Efficient Infiniti Pirtek: Stephanie Wohlters & Kelsey Van Schoor (3:32:16 | +16:47)
- Index Bell Racing: Sanchia Malan & Hayley Smith (3:36:55 | +21:26)
- Fortress Real Estate Investments: Ila Stow & Katie Lennard (3:41:49 | +25:20)
- Science2Sport: Megan Scribante & Nicola Freitas (3:49:19 | +33:50)
Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, Women’s Stage 1 Podium (from left to right): Kelsey van Schoor, Stephanie Wohlters, Samantha Sanders, Danielle Strydom, Hayley Smith and Sanchia Malan. Photo by Oakpics.com.
For the full results from the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, click here.
