The Queen Stage of the 2022 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, finished at 1 575 metres above sea level, at the summit of the Swartberg Pass on Friday, 9 September. Imbuko {type}DEV B were the fastest team up the day’s final climb, sealing their second successive win of the race. While the Efficient Insure Infiniti Racing combination won the event’s most iconic stage to all-but secure the overall Women’s title with a day to spare.
It was not all plain sailing for Wessel Botha and Rudi Koen however. The Imbuko {type}DEV B riders worked for their stablemates, Marco Joubert and Pieter du Toit, before being granted the freedom to race to stage honours. Initially they had to help keep the Insect Science Pro combination, of Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning, in check.
After a rolling, at times technical and always testing first 65 kilometres, of the 84 kilometre stage, one of the Imbuko {type}DEV B riders punctured. It was moments before the group – which had been made up of the Imbuko {type}DEV A, Insect Science Pro and Valley Electrical Titan Racing teams – turned onto the asphalt on the run in to the foot of the Swartberg Pass. This left Botha and Koen with a frantic chase to close the 1-minute gap, which developed while they were fixing the puncture.
The pair caught the leading group after the water point at Kobus se Gat, 72 kilometres in. As they did so Arno du Toit attacked, hoping to surge clear so that Keagan Bontekoning could solo across to him later. Insect Science Pro needed to make up 3 minutes and 46 seconds to regain the general classification lead, which forced them to race aggressively. Botha still had energy to spare though and closed the gap to Arno du Toit for his teammates. Bontekoning then attacked as the catch was made, but that move came to nothing under the relentless tempo of the Imbuko {type}DEV squad.
“I didn’t give our support crew any gels to give me at the feed zones today,” Bontekoning admitted. “I was starting to feel the bonk coming from before water point 3, so it wasn’t a surprise when I went totally flat on the Swartberg Pass.”
As Bontekoning started to slow, the two Imbuko {type}DEV teams maintained their pace, establishing what was clearly a winning buffer by the time they reached the 1 kilometre-to-go banner. “With the Insect Science guys behind us we knew we were making up time on the general classification,” Marco Joubert explained. “We had a chat to Wessel [Botha] and Rudi [Koen] with about 100 metres to go and decided that they should take the win. They deserve it for all the hard work they’ve done this week. For them to win their second stage and for us to be in the yellow jerseys… it’s pretty much perfect.”
The result sees Joubert and Pieter du Toit gain another 39 seconds on Arno du Toit and Bontekoning. This means Imbuko {type}DEV A lead Insect Science Pro by 4 minutes and 37 seconds on the general classification. The Imbuko {type}DEV B team are third, Valley Electrical Titan Racing are fourth and KMC are fifth, after Varsity College faltered on Stage 5.
In the women’s race the Efficient Insure Infiniti Racing team added a further 6 minutes to their general classification lead. Kim le Court and Theresa Ralph were placed under pressure at times during the stage, but were always able to distance their rivals again. Le Court’s prowess has allowed her to aid Ralph in the moments when the 2019 Race with Soul winner struggled. The Mauritian champion’s ability to push her partner may not have been the decisive factor in their race to overall victory, but it has certainly padded their advantage.
Efficient Insure Infiniti Racing lead Madmacs/Coopetto/Bester Performance’s Yolande de Villiers and Stephanie Wohlters by 32 minutes and 22 seconds. Ila Stow and Robyn Williams, of Clickatell, are third; Action Cycles Scotrho Brokers are fourth and the Echotel Communications team are fifth, despite Kylie Hanekom suffering a severe puncture which relegated them to sixth on the stage.
The final stage of the 2022 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, is a 65 kilometre loop through the Chandelier Game Reserve. It includes 1 150 metres of climbing and finishes on the main road of Oudtshoorn, in from of the Queens Hotel. To follow the action from the final stage of the Race with Soul, like the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, Facebook page, follow @CapePioneerTrek on Twitter and follow @capepioneer on Instagram. For more information visit www.capepioneer.co.za.
Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, Leading Results
Elite Men | Stage 5:
- Imbuko {type}DEV B: Wessel Botha & Rudi Koen (3:18:22)
- Imbuko {type}DEV A: Marco Joubert & Pieter du Toit (3:18:31|+09)
- Insect Science Pro: Arno du Toit & Keagan Bontekoning (3:19:10 | +48)
- Valley Electrical Titan Racing: Matthew Keyser & HB Kruger (3:21:19| +2:57)
- Insect Science Pro 2: Herman Fourie & Alan Gordon (3:29:45 | +11:23)
Elite Women | Stage 5:
- Efficient Insure Infiniti Racing: Theresa Ralph & Kim le Court (4:06:52)
- Madmacs/Coopetto/Bester Performance: Yolande de Villiers & Stephanie Wohlters (4:13:06 | +6:14)
- Clickatell: Ila Stow & Robyn Williams (4:28:11 | +21:19)
- Action Cycles Scotrho Brokers: Nicola Freitas & Juanita Mackenzie (4:52:14 | +46:22)
- De-Rail-Ed: Auralia Edwards & Denni Cartwright (5:11:12 | +1:05:20)
Elite Men | General Classification after Stage 5:
- Imbuko {type}DEV A: Marco Joubert & Pieter du Toit (15:12:21)
- Insect Science Pro: Arno du Toit & Keagan Bontekoning (15:16:58 | +04:37)
- Imbuko {type}DEV B: Wessel Botha & Rudi Koen (15:20:36 | +08:15)
- Valley Electrical Titan Racing: Matthew Keyser & HB Kruger (15:35:39| +23:18)
- KMC: Teus Ruijter & Gerben Mos (16:01:54 | +49:33)
Elite Women | General Classification after Stage 5:
- Efficient Insure Infiniti Racing: Theresa Ralph & Kim le Court (18:58:26)
- Madmacs/Coopetto/Bester Performance: Yolande de Villiers & Stephanie Wohlters (19:30:48 | +32:22)
- Clickatell: Ila Stow & Robyn Williams (20:30:51 | +1:32:25)
- Action Cycles Scotrho Brokers: Nicola Freitas & Juanita Mackenzie (21:40:01 | +2:41:35)
- Echotel Communications: Tarryn Povey & Kylie Hanekom (22:07:13 | +3:08:47)
For the full results from the 2022 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, click here.
Intro image caption: The giraffe of Swartberg Game Reserve provided added excitement on the Queen Stage. | Photo: Sage Lee Voges for zcmc.co.za.
Source: Seamus Allardice Media
