Imbuko ChemChamp\u2019s Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje crossed the Kaleo finish line second on the
\nfinal stage of the Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, on Sunday \u2013 9
\nFebruary \u2013 to seal the 2025 title in fine style. Their firm grip on the race was only superseded by the
\nUCI Women\u2019s champions; She Sends. Kate Courtney and Candice Lill complete a clean sweep of
\nstage victories to win by nearly 40 minutes after four days of rugged Koue Bokkeveld mountain
\nbiking.
\nThe last day of the twelfth edition served up drama as the Honeycomb 226ers lost their podium
\nplace when Wessel Botha crashed 15 kilometres into the 57-kilometre-long stage. Botha and Marc
\nPritzen had been Imbuko ChemChamp\u2019s closest rivals and had pushed the team from Wellington
\nthroughout much of the race. On two key occasions they faltered though, which served to highlight
\nnot only their lack of luck but also the benefit of using attack as the best form of defence.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s the saying? \u2018Attack is the best form of defence\u2019,\u201d Joubert queried after wrapping up the
\noverall victory. \u201cWe know from previous years that the light and dust can make visibility difficult on
\nthis stage. The only way to be safe is to race from the front and control the pace, which is what we
\ndid today.\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t see Wessel [Botha] crash,\u201d Pritzen confessed. \u201cOn the first descent I looked back and he
\nwasn\u2019t there. When he didn\u2019t catch up, I stopped and riders passing me while I waited said he was
\non his way but didn\u2019t look good. When he got to me, I had to convince him not to continue and get
\ninto the ambulance.\u201d
\nBotha appears to have crashed on a relatively innoxious section of dual track. \u201cI think he just
\nmisjudged a line in the dust, riding into the sun,\u201d Matt Beers speculated. \u201cIt looked quite bad, but he
\nwas adamant that he needed to finish the stage. So, I\u2019m glad Marc [Pritzen] and the medics
\nconvinced him to stop.\u201d The Honeycomb 226ers rider was taken to the race doctor for a check-up
\nand has been treated for concussion.
\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t realise Wessel had crashed, so we stuck to our pre-stage plan and pushed hard for the
\nfirst hour,\u201d Nortje explained. \u201cWhen we got to Water Point 1, at the 24 kilometre mark, we had a
\nlook around and saw that only Singer [KTM Racing] and Toyota Specialized were with us. We went to
\nthe line with those two teams and were happy that Simon [Stiebjahn] and Martin [Frey] won the
\nstage. They\u2019re two of the nicest guys in the peloton and really deserved the stage victory today.\u201d
\n\u201cPeople don\u2019t see the long hours of training and all the work which goes on behind the scenes,\u201d
\nJoubert added. \u201cThe whole Imbuko ChemChamp team put in a massive amount of effort to get us
\nhere and help us throughout the week. This victory is a good way of paying back all their hard work
\nand support.\u201d
\nSinger KTM Racing edged out Imbuko ChemChamp in the closing metres, which allowed Martin Frey
\nand Simon Stiebjahn to win the final stage. Joubert and Nortje were second on the day, but won the
\noverall by 10 minutes and 36 seconds from Frey and Stiebjahn. Beers and Johan van Zyl, of Toyota
\nSpecialized, were third on the stage, and moved up to fifth overall. Computer Mania Cannondale Pro
\nMTB\u2019s Daniel van der Walt and Ursin Spescha were sixth on the day but moved up to third overall.<\/p>\n
Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning also moved up following Honeycomb 226ers\u2019 withdrawal.
\nInsect Science Cycling thus finished fourth.
\nShe Sends\u2019 four of four stage wins put an exclamation point on their time in the Bokveld. \u201cToday was
\nanother good day,\u201d Courtney smiled. \u201cWe pushed hard and I really enjoyed the riding. Racing
\nalongside Candice [Lill] has been great. She kept me honest and ensured that we were always
\npushing.\u201d
\n\u201cThe Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, is my favourite stage race,\u201d Lill
\nstated. \u201cIt has been so much fun coming from the training camp with Greta [Seiwald], Martina
\n[Berta], Tyler [Jacobs] and Sara [Cortinovis] to the race. The riding has been tough, as always, but it
\nwas superbly organised and as a Biogen athlete it was great to represent a co-sponsor here. They,
\nalong with Dryland and Momentum really look after everyone so well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Courtney and Lill\u2019s winning margin on the final stage was 6 minutes and 5 seconds, which took their
\noverall winning margin to 40 minutes and 37 seconds. Spaghetti M&G\u2019s Greta Seiwald and Martina
\nBerta overcame two puncture disrupted days to secure silver behind the dominant champions. The
\nyoung Ghost-Liv Racing combination, Tyler Jacobs and Sara Cortinovis were third on the day and
\noverall. Sarah Hill and Vera Looser were fourth, ahead of Ila Stow and Cherise Willeit in fifth.<\/p>\n
Singer KTM Racing\u2019s Martin Frey (leading) and Simon Stiebjahn raced to stage honours on the final day of the 2025 race. Photo by Max Sullivan.<\/em><\/p>\n UCI Men | Stage 4: UCI Women | Stage 4: UCI Men's General Classification after Stage 4: UCI Women's General Classification after Stage 4: For the full results from the 2025 Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen,Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, Results<\/h3>\n
\n1. Singer KTM Racing: Martin Frey & Simon Stiebjahn (2:13:40)
\n2. Imbuko ChemChamp A: Marco Joubert & Tristan Nortje (2:13:45 | +5)
\n3. Toyota Specialized: Matt Beers & Johan van Zyl (2:14:07 | +27)
\n4. Team Bulls: Axel Roudil-Cortinat & Simon Schneller (2:17:01 | +3:21)
\n5. Insect Science Cycling: Keagan Bontekoning & Arno du Toit (2:17:06 | +3:26)<\/p>\n
\n1. She Sends: Candice Lill & Kate Courtney (2:36:21)
\n2. Spaghetti M&G: Greta Seiwald & Martina Berta (2:42:26 | +6:05)
\n3. Ghost-LIV Racing: Tyler Jacobs & Sara Cortinovis (2:44:02 | +7:41)
\n4. Efficient Infiniti: Sarah Hill & Vera Looser (2:54:44 | +18:23)
\n5. Kolisi\/Songo Foundation: Ila Stow & Cherise Willeit (2:56:27 | +20:06)<\/p>\n
\n1. Imbuko ChemChamp A: Marco Joubert & Tristan Nortje (10:40:04)
\n2. Singer KTM Racing: Martin Frey & Simon Stiebjahn (10:50:40 | +10:36)
\n3. Computer Mania Cannondale Pro MTB: Daniel van der Walt & Ursin Spescha (10:59:12 | +19:08)
\n4. Insect Science Cycling: Keagan Bontekoning & Arno du Toit (11:03:24 | +23:20)
\n5. Toyota Specialized: Matt Beers & Johan van Zyl (11:10:16 | +30:12)<\/p>\n
\n1. She Sends: Candice Lill & Kate Courtney (12:43:17)
\n2. Spaghetti M&G: Greta Seiwald & Martina Berta (13:23:55 | +40:37)
\n3. Ghost-LIV Racing: Tyler Jacobs & Sara Cortinovis (13:33:15 | +49:58)
\n4. Efficient Infiniti: Sarah Hill & Vera Looser (13:51:45 | +1:08:28)
\n5. Kolisi\/Songo Foundation: Ila Stow & Cherise Willeit (14:23:25 | +1:41:08)<\/p>\n
\nclick here. For more information on the event visit www.tankwatrek.co.za.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"