A dramatic final stage \u2013 on Saturday, 5 October \u2013 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\u2019s 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\u2019s race the overnight leaders, Efficient Infiniti Insure, wrapped up their title in serene fashion with their fifth stage victory.<\/p>\n
The 64 kilometre Stage 5 provided the terrain for an upset. \u201cWe saw a few years ago that anything can happen on the last stage,\u201d Bontekoning had said earlier in the week. \u201cWe nearly won it on the last day, in 2022, when Imbuko punctured.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year pressure and a puncture played in Insect Science\u2019s favour. \u201cWe pushed the tempo from early on and I went to the back of the group to see how PYGA [Euro Steel] were fairing,\u201d Bontekoning explained. \u201cThen out of nowhere Pieter [du Toit] punctured and we seized the opportunity. On the next descent I punctured too, so we didn\u2019t know if they were right behind us. I couldn\u2019t hear the time gap at the water point, so we had to go all in to the finish line.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cI was on the limit when I punctured, so I knew it was over as it happened,\u201d he confessed. \u201cStill, it was a great week racing with Jaedon. He\u2019s a very talented rider and I think, along with Arno [du Toit] he was the strongest rider in the race this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, alongside Keagan [Bontekoning] is very special,\u201d Arno du Toit smiled. \u201cIt was his big goal for the year and has been a priority of ours as a team for the season too. We\u2019ve come close twice before, so to take the title this year is very special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arno du Toit and Bontekoning\u2019s winning margin on the final stage was 5 minutes and 18 seconds over PYGA Euro Steel. This meant that Insect Science\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The helter-skelter nature of the men\u2019s race was offset by the calm conclusion to the women\u2019s competition. Samantha Sanders and Danielle Strydom completed their clean sweep of stage wins with victory by nearly 5 minutes on the final stage. \u201cI love this kind of riding,\u201d Sanders emphasised. \u201cThe rocky terrain and heat don\u2019t bother me at all, so I was looking forward to today\u2019s stage. It\u2019s 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\u2019s nice to perform here. Being good ambassadors is obviously more important, but the result is a nice bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Efficient Infiniti Insure\u2019s 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. \u201cI thoroughly enjoyed every stage,\u201d Van Schoor stated. \u201cStage 2 was particularly good, because I enjoy the climbing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The third placed team, of Ila Stow and Katie Lennard also climbed well throughout the race. \u201cWe had a few issues on Stage 1,\u201d Stow reflected. \u201cBut we got into our rhythm on Stage 2 and rode nice and consistently for the rest of the race. It\u2019s great racing with Katie [Lennard], she\u2019s so consistent and we had a good week together.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The conclusion of the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, does not mark the end of Dryland Event Management\u2019s 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\u2019s finish. To find out more visit www.princegeorge.co.za.<\/p>\n
Mountain biking fans wishing to recap on the 2024 race can do so on the event\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Image: Samantha Sanders (leading) and Danielle Strydom (second wheel) were head and shoulders above the rest of the women\u2019s field in the 2024 race. Photo by Jason Boulle.<\/em><\/p>\n Men\u2019s Stage 5 Results:<\/p>\n Insect Science Cycling: Arno Du Toit & Keagan Bontekoning (2:21:42) Women\u2019s Stage 5 Results:<\/p>\n Efficient Infiniti Insurance: Danielle Strydom & Samantha Sanders (2:58:13) Men\u2019s General Classification after Stage 5:<\/p>\n \u2060 Insect Science Cycling: Arno Du Toit & Keagan (15:16:41) Women\u2019s General Classification after Stage 5:<\/p>\n Efficient Infiniti Insurance: Danielle Strydom & Samantha Sanders (19:04:12)2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen:<\/h3>\n
\nPYGA Euro Steel: Pieter Du Toit & Jaedon Terlouw (2:27:35 | +5:18)
\nValley Electrical Titan Racing: Rossouw Bekker & Cronje Beukes (2:28:01 | +6:19)
\nTeam ACT: Pieter Korkie & Keegan Tullis (2:30:04 | +8:22)
\nInsect Science Cycling 2: Alan Gordon & Jan Withaar (2:30:47 | +9:05)<\/p>\n
\nEfficient Infiniti Pirtek: Stephanie Wohlters & Kelsey van Schoor (3:02:50 | +4:57)
\nFortress Real Estate Investments: Ila Stow & Katie Lennard (3:04:53 | +6:40)
\nFirst Ascent: Tarryn Povey & Roxanne Kemp (3:06:55 | +8:42)
\nSHEOVITA: Jessica Wilkinson & Rebecca van Huyssteen (3:07:45 | +9:32)<\/p>\n
\nBontekoning PYGA Euro Steel: Pieter Du Toit & Jaedon Terlouw \u2060 (15:21:42 | +4:01)
\nValley Electrical Titan Racing: Rossouw Bekker & Cronje Beukes (15:32:24 | +15:43)
\n\u2060Imbuko: Rudi Koen & Lood Goosen (15:46:01 | +29:20)
\nTeam ACT: Keegan Tullis & Pieter Korkie (15:49:34 I +32:53)<\/p>\n
\nEfficient Infiniti Pirtek: Stephanie Wohlters & Kelsey van Schoor (20:03:14 | +59:02)
\nFortress Real Estate Investments: Ila Stow & Katie Lennard (20:35:36 | +1:31:24)
\nScience2Sport: Megan Scribante & Nicola Freitas (21:08:33 | +2:04:21)
\nFirst Ascent: Tarryn Povey & Roxanne Kemp (21:11:50 | +2:07:38)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"